TAMPA, Fla. – While a front-loaded home schedule with 19 of the first 22 games at Steinbrenner Field was crafted with the idea of avoiding the inevitable summertime discomfort and interruptions resulting from heat, humidity, and thunderstorms, it was also an opportunity to pile up some early-season wins.
Well, not only did the Rays stumble along during a 5-8 homestand that included going 2-5 versus division rivals Red Sox and Yankees, but it underscored how much the lineup has struggled putting something, anything, together.
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While they erupted for a 16-1 win over Boston last Monday, the Rays were blanked three times in the final five games of the 13-game homestand. In fact, the Rays failed to get a runner to third base, let alone across the plate, in two of the games they were held off the board.
“I don’t know how many must-win games you have in the month of April, but it was starting to feel that way,” said manager Kevin Cash, following Saturday evening’s exhilarating 10-8 win over New York in 10 innings.
The unlikely win – the Rays scored four runs in the ninth to tie the game before Johnathan Aranda’s two-run homer in the 10th decided the outcome — prevented being swept by their fellow AL East resident.
At 9-13 and pulling up the bottom of the division, Kevin Cash’s team heads west for a pair of three-game series against National League West members Arizona and San Diego. The Diamondbacks (13-9) had won five straight and seven of eight before losing two of three to the Cubs over the weekend. The Padres (16-7), who boast MLB’s best record and began a three-game series with a loss at Detroit on Monday evening, are 12-1 at home.
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“I am ready to get on the road, a change of scenery will maybe do us some good,” said Cash. “At the end of the day, we have to play better baseball. We had 13 games here at home and we were not consistent in any aspect of our game and we have to turn it around.”
The six-game trip gets underway Tuesday night (9:40 ET) when Zack Littell (0-4, 5.48 ERA) is opposed by Brandon Pfaadt (3-1, 3.04).
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