TAMPA, Fla. – Following a 7-0 drubbing at the hands of the Phillies on Wednesday evening at Steinbrenner Field, Rays’ manager Kevin Cash said he does not feel as though his club has any answers for a stretch of futility at their temporary residence.
The many Phillies fans sure to be in attendance again Thursday night hope answers do not arrive at least for another day, as their team looks to sweep its third three-game series in as many years against the Rays.
How bad has it been at Steinbrenner for Cash’s team? Consider….
- The Rays have lost six straight at home and are 1-10 in their last 11 at Steinbrenner with the only win 10-8 in 10 innings against the Yankees on April 19.
- The Rays have been shut out five times in the last 10 home games.
- The Rays have scored seven runs in their last six home games during which they are 2-for-26 (.076) with runners in scoring position.
- The Rays have been outscored 48-14 in the 10 losses.
- Wednesday evening marked their largest home shutout defeat since 9-0 to the Yankees in 2015.
READ: Long Ball Blues Continue At Steinbrenner, But Rays Refuse To Blame The Venue
It has gotten to the point that Cash had catcher Danny Jansen in the cleanup spot and Curtis Mead, who played first base, batting fifth Wednesday night. While Jansen has indeed shown some pop during a career in which he has hit 75 home runs, he went into the game hitting .147 with one homer in 68 at-bats. He went 0-for-3 and drew his team-leading 16th walk. Mead went into the game hitting .163 in 49 ABs and promptly struck out three times in going 0-for-4.
“We have to keep rolling with it,” said Jansen, of the trying to shake out of it. “It’s going to happen. This team is too talented offensively, defensively. Keep plugging and keep pulling for each other.”
The Rays will have Ryan Pepiot (2-4, 4.23 ERA) on the mound Thursday night (7:05) with lefty Jesus Luzardo (3-0, 1.94) going for the Phils. Speaking of lefties, the Rays have been blanked six times overall this season and each time the opposition started a southpaw.
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