Monday, 4 a.m.
Yeah, that’s the Tampa Bay Rays you know.
A day after their offense flexed its muscles, the Rays returned to what they have shown too many times this season. The Rays managed just four hits in a 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres.
The Rays have now lost three consecutive series this season and are 67-69 on the season.
The Rays’ pitchers walked 10 batters, including Jake Cronenworth the runner who scored the winning run in the ninth inning on a sacrifice fly.
Tampa Bay got six walks themselves, which allowed them to score three runs in the sixth to tie the game. In that frame, the Rays walked twice and had a hit batter. They scored on a double play, the hit batter and a walked pitch.
The Rays were oh-for-10 with runners in scoring position and struck out eight times. The Rays stranded four runners in the eighth and ninth, which isn't new. The Rays are 28th in the majors at stranding runners at second or third.
Ryan Pepiot started, but he lasted only three innings. He walked four and gave up four hits.
Manny Rodriguez took the loss. He opened the ninth by walking Jake Cronenworth. A fly ball by Xander Bogaerts brought home pinch-runner Tyler Wade.
Minnesota’s Twins come to town tonight to start a three-game series at 6:50 p.m. at Tropicana Field. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Simeon Woods Richardson.