Host Rays struggle in loss to Marlins
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays’ offense never found its footing against the Marlins on Wednesday.
Hits weren’t coming, and when they did, strikeouts and double plays swiftly followed. Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara ruled the contest, holding Tampa Bay to just 5 hits while recording 7 strikeouts in a complete-game victory.
Rays players recognized the greatness of Alcantara, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2022. But that didn’t ease the sting of the 7-1 loss –– their eighth in 12 games since the All-Star break.
“He was working in and out and doing all the things he needed to be doing,” Rays first baseman Luke Raley said of Alcantara, who is just 4-9 in 2023. “I think even when people have their good stuff we can manufacture more than one run, but that’s how it went.”
The lack of offense, combined with pitcher Zach Eflin’s ineffectiveness and early exit due to left knee discomfort, proved impossible for the Rays (62-43) to overcome. They fell to 5-15 in July — tied with the Pirates for worst in Major League Baseball — and were two games behind the Orioles in the American League East before Baltimore’s game against Philadelphia Wednesday night.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe took over the leadoff spot from Yandy Diaz, who is day-to-day with left groin tightness. But the retooled lineup didn’t provide the Rays with the spark they were looking for. The top of the lineup –– Lowe, shortstop Wander Franco and leftfielder Randy Arozarena –– went just 1-for-12.
Alcantara was dialed in from the start, striking out
three of the first six batters he faced. He threw just 97 pitches (74 for strikes). His mix of pitches made for a “very challenging” day at the plate, Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Alcantara also was effective at attacking hitters, Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt said.
“He did what he was supposed to do,” Bethancourt said. “We just didn’t have much offense against him.”
The lack of offense was a change from Tuesday’s series opener when the Rays’ offense came to life with a 3-run second inning. Aside from that 4-1 win, Tampa Bay has struggled
to strike early and ignite its offense. The Rays have scored three or fewer runs in 12 of their last 20 games, including six games with just one run.
Raley said he had hoped Tuesday’s win would be the start of an offensive turnaround.
“I don’t know exactly how many hits we had [9], but we sure hit the ball well [Tuesday],” Raley said. “It’s tough. It’s no excuse, but it’s little things like coming back at 12:10 [Wednesday] after a 6:40 game — you just never know.”
Hagerty High alum Eflin was efficient in the first inning, facing three batters and striking out one. But
things unraveled from there as the Marlins opened up a 2-0 lead in the second and then added three more on four hits in the fourth. Eflin, who has a history of knee injuries, exited after that frame.
Cash said Eflin was “not quite as crisp” as his last outing against Baltimore when he allowed just two hits over seven innings. But that happens, Cash said, and the Marlins put together strong at-bats, too.
Frustration is beginning to mount because the Rays are now 33-36 after starting the season 29-7.
Bethancourt said the Rays’ recent problems are difficult, given the work
they’re putting in.
“We’ve got to do better,” he said. “It’s not that we’re not working. It’s not that we’re not putting in extra work. It’s not that we’re not putting in extra swings. It’s not like we’re not going through videos and everything. We are. We’re just not getting the results.”
Tampa Bay’s woes can’t be fixed by a “flip of a coin,” Raley said. The struggles have to run their course, he said, but he’s looking to this weekend’s series at the Astros as a chance to turn it around.
“Hopefully, we show up to the yard and start stringing hits together on Friday and it doesn’t stop,” he said.