Here’s a simple question:
Will the Tampa Bay Rays win another baseball game? Ever?
The bashing to the Rays continued Saturday, when the team was humbled by the Baltimore Orioles in defeats of 5-0 and 8-6. It stretched the Rays loss to 10 games, a stretch in which they have surrendered 60 runs.
In the nightcap, the Rays led 4-0 after three innings. But then the Orioles turned it on, outscoring Tampa Bay 8-2 the rest of the way. The Rays now trail Baltimore by 12 ½ games in the AL East.
“Long day at the ballpark,” Rays’ manager Kevin Cash said. “It’s longer when you lose a game like that. We just came up short. We’re competing. The effort is there. We’re just not making the big pitch or getting the big hit.”
The Rays led 4-0 and had a chance to increase it by two, maybe three runs, but Baltimore centerfielder Adam Jones made a diving catch on a ball hit by Jaff Decker.
Baltimore’s comeback centered around the home run ball. Matt Wieters hit two out for the O’s. Jones and Chris Davis also hit homers.
The Rays had a good night hitting the ball, too, with 14 hits. Logan Morrison and Brad Miller each had three hits. Logan Forsythe, Corey Dickerson and Desmond Jennings all had two. However, the Rays did not score after the fifth inning.
“I wouldn’t say anyone is playing tight,” Cash said.
Pitcher Jake Odorizzi gave up five earned runs in five innings. Erasmo Ramirez took the loss, his sixth in 13 decisions.
Today, Drew Smyly of the Rays pitches against Tyler Wilson.
