Sunday, 4 a.m.
As easy as things have come, as smooth as the road has been, there is a message for the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the long season ahead, things may not always be a stroll in the park.
If nothing else, the Rays' latest loss, a 3-2 disappointment at the hands of the New York Yankees, shows that. The Rays were coasting along with a 2-0 lead entering the eighth inning, six outs away from shoving the Yankees to 11 games behind them.
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The Yankees, however, exploded with five hits -- three to the opposite field -- and scored three runs to come from behind and beat the Rays. The primary victim in the comeback was Kevin Kelly, who gave up four hits, including a two-run double by Harrison Bader.
The Rays had taken a 2-0 lead in the first on Manny Margot's double, but couldn't add to it. The Rays were just one-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
The last one of those came when Luke Raley doubled in the ninth, but Isaac Paredes popped out to right to end the game.
The Rays wasted a good start from Drew Rasmussen, who allowed two hits and no runs in his 5 2/3 innings.
"The big hit didn't come easy today," Rays' manager Kevin Cash said.
The Rays play New York again today at 1:40 p.m. at Tropicana Field. The Rays have not announced a starting pitcher, but Gerrit Cole will pitch for the Yankees.