The Tampa Bay Rays faced a tough loss against the Cubs, falling short in the ninth inning despite a late-game rally attempt. Manager Kevin Cash acknowledged the team’s efforts but admitted they came up short once again.
While pitcher Aaron Civale and lefty Garrett Cleavinger put in solid performances, the recurring issue of home runs continues to plague the Rays. All runs allowed by Tampa Bay in the game came from homers, highlighting a concerning trend in their pitching staff.
The Rays have given up an alarming 91 home runs this season, leading the MLB in this category. This statistic echoes the struggles of past seasons, with the team facing challenges in preventing opponents from hitting the long ball.
Despite the disappointing loss, Civale’s strong pitching performance was a silver lining for the Rays. The pitcher showcased his skills on the mound, striking out six batters and keeping the Cubs at bay for most of the game.
Offensively, the Rays managed to put up a fight with multi-homer performances from Jose Siri and Jose Caballero. However, their overall home run count still remains low compared to other teams in the league.
As the Rays look to bounce back from this defeat, Cash emphasized the need to address the issue of home runs and focus on improving their pitching strategy. With a string of losses in recent games, the team is determined to regroup and work towards a stronger performance in the upcoming matches.