The Tampa Bay Rays dropped a series loss at Tropicana Field this evening in the form of an 8–4 score against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Rays pitching allowed 17 hits and struck out nine. Meanwhile, the offensive only produced seven hits. The Rays extended their losing streak to four for the first time this season. Here’s how it happened.
On The Mound
Zack Littel got the opener slot this evening for game two against the Phillies. Littel started his performance off strong sending all three batters down in order with one strikeout. However, his second inning proved to be more of a challenge. The righty secured his second strikeout but then allowed four consecutive hits to tie the game up 2–2. The four-hit allowance is his most this season.
Yonny Chirinos entered the mound in the third and allowed his first batter a base hit. Chirinos managed to get two strikeouts on the board when B. Lowe turned a double play to 1B Raley. However, the Phillies tied it up 3–3 when Chirinos allowed a double and then an RBI single to score it. The righty had a 1–2–3 comeback inning in the fourth with one strikeout. However, Chirinos allowed the eighth hit of his outing in the fifth and triggered a mound visit to introduce the next pitcher.
Jake Diekman became the next puzzle piece. His performance was brief when he provided just one strikeout and then was replaced by Robert Stephenson in the sixth. Stephenson started his outing strong striking out the second batter of the inning. But, his next batter sent his pitch out of the park to bring the Phillies leading 6–4.
Luis Patino was tasked with the next two innings and did not leave the mound as he found it. Patino allowed three hits and two runs to widen the gap further with the Rays behind 8–4.
At The Plate
The Rays got the scoring started first and quickly in the first. A leadoff walk from Diaz and a base hit from Arozarena put runners on for Brandon Lowe’s bloop double to score both.
In the second, the Rays took a 3–2 lead thanks to some patience at the plate and then aggressive base-running by Walls. He walked and then stole second where Mejia scored the Walls go-ahead run with a base hit.
Heading into the third, the Rays were looking to regain the lead after the Phillies tied it up. Luke Raley sent out his 15th home run of the season to give the Rays a one-run lead. Then, B.Lowe doubled for the second time in the game but was left stranded there.
The scoring began to reach a halt when the Rays went hitless for the next four innings. Finally, Franco sent out the next base hit in the eighth but that was all the Rays could produce in that inning. It all came down to the ninth inning to make something happen. Josh Lowe sent out his first of the night and then took second on a defensive indifference. However, that is all that happened and the score finalized 8–4.
