There isn’t much to say about this game: the Rays simply stunk. David Price pitched one of his worst outings of the year, allowing 11 baserunners and four runs in only six innings, and the Rays’ offense never managed to put a rally together. It was a lackluster performance all around.
The Rays managed to scrape together nine baserunners last night (seven hits, two walks), but seven of those baserunners came from three players: Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce, and Casey Kotchman. When two thirds of your offense isn’t contributing, it can be rather tough to hold and sustain a rally. Sadly, though, this has been the problem plaguing the Rays for the past month.
The Rays and Athletics face off again tonight at 10:10pm. The Rays have to win tonight and tomorrow to prevent them from losing their fifth series in a row.
Game Notes:
- Ben Zobrist had a good day, going 1-2 with a homerun and two walks. He’s quietly putting together a very solid season this year and ranks among the league leaders in WAR. It’s a shame the rest of the team around him isn’t playing as well as he is.
- Poor B.J. Upton. Trade talks and rumors keep swirling around his head, and it’s got to make it tough to concentrate on playing ball. He went 0-4 last night, and I can’t really blame him.