In losing two of three in Baltimore, the Rays lost a series for only the third time in the season’s first six weeks. The other series losses were at Toronto (April 14-16) and at home against Houston (April 24-26).
The Rays allowed only six runs in the series against the Orioles, but lost Tuesday (4-2) and Wednesday (2-1). The defeats marked the third time this season they lost two in a row with the first two instances taking place in the aforementioned series against the Blue Jays and Astros.
While the pitching remained stellar, the Rays (29-9) went 1-for-20 in the series with runners in scoring position. The only time Tampa Bay came through with a runner in scoring position was Wednesday evening when Wander Franco’s eighth-inning single scored Yandy Diaz from second to make it a 2-1 game.
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“We’re going to have some quiet nights,” said manager Kevin Cash, following Wednesday’s game. “They just kind of come here back-to-back, but would expect we’ll bounce right back.”
Cash’s team has the opportunity to bounce right back Thursday night in the Bronx when the Rays begin a four-game series against the Yankees. The teams met at Tropicana Field last weekend with the Rays taking two of three, including Sunday’s rubber game when they stormed back from a 6-0 deficit against Gerrit Cole to win, 7-6, in 10 innings.
Drew Rasmussen (3-2, 3.11 ERA) takes the mound Thursday night (7:05) against Domingo German (2-2, 4.35). The righties opposed each other last Saturday and exited by the time the Yankees scored three runs in the eighth of a 3-2 win. Rasmussen blanked the Yankees for 5 2/3 innings before being lifted.
Following their four-game series in the Bronx, the Rays have Monday off before opening a three-game series against the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday.
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