Thursday, 4 a.m.
Once, he was the king of the hill. These days, he is in danger of being demoted.
He was the ace of the staff, a star in the majors, an unhittable force of nature.
Now, Shane McClanahan is struggling.
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McClanahan lost again Wednesday night, giving up a five-run third inning in a 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees. Frankly, it is becoming a familiar sight.
It didn't used to be like this. McClanahan started his season 11-1. As the Rays surged into the lead in the AL East, McClanahan was leading the parade.
But it was now been 47 days -- and six starts -- since McClanahan has won a game. This time, he was chased after four innings, the fourth time in his last six that he hasn't gotten into the fifth inning.
McClanahan has had injury problems in the streak, leading one to question his health. But in his last 25 2/3 innings, he's given up 30 hits and five home runs.
Two of those came against the Yankees, who salvaged their only game of the series.
The Rays took a 2-0 lead off of Gerrit Cole when Wander Franco hit a two-run homer in the first inning. But Cole allowed just three other hits afterward, and two of those were erased as they tried to stretch singles into doubles.
Rene Pinto had a three-hit night for the Rays.
The Rays now move to Detroit to face the Tigers in a Friday game at 6;40 p.m. Zack Littell will start for the Rays against Reese Olson.