First, they lost the argument. Later, they lost the game.
And, one more thing, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a chance to gain in the American League wild-card race.
The Rays dropped a 3-2 decision to the Kansas City Royals in a game that will be remembered for the ejection of Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash, who was tossed for arguing that Logan Forsythe was safe on a groundout in the third inning, a play that would have brought home the tying run. Replays seemed to support Cash’s argument.
But Cash was out of challenges, having used his earlier. And the game was not yet into the seventh inning, when replays are viewed as a matter of course. So Cash was overruled and thrown out of the game for the third time this season.
As it was, neither team scored afterward, each throwing up six zeroes.
The Rays fell 3 ½ games behind the Texas Rangers for the second wild-card berth with two games left against the AL Central-leading Kansas City.
Tampa Bay seemed to lose this one on the base paths, with Daniel Nava being thrown out at second, James Loney being doubled off second and Evan Longoria not scoring on a dropped fly ball.
The game also marked a return to the Trop of fan favorite Ben Zobrist, who had two hits in the victory. Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer for the Royals off the C-ring of the catwalk.
Matt Andriese pitched three innings of no-hit baseball in relief. Jake Odorizzi, who is 6-6 on the season, will pitch for the Rays today at 6:10 p.m. against Kansas City’s Kris Meldin.
