TAMPA — In a lot of ways, this was exactly the way the Rays envisioned success in 2025.
Strong starting pitching? Check. Tight defense? Check. Aggressive baserunning? Check. Low-scoring games? Check.
So, why are the Rays tied for last place in the American League East?
For the same reason they finished below .500 last season.
An inability to capitalize in scoring situations.
The Rays blew all kinds of opportunities against the Braves Saturday, and when the bullpen collapsed late they blew the lead, too, in a 5-4 loss before an announced sellout crowd of 10,046 at Steinbrenner Field.
Tampa Bay led from the first inning after a Junior Caminero home run but continually failed to add a bigger cushion and eventually gave up a home run in the seventh, two in the eighth and another in the ninth.
“The frustration starts to mount,” manager Kevin Cash said. “There’s a big difference between a 5-1 (lead) and 3-1 (lead), and we couldn’t get it there. At 2-0, then 2-1, then 3-1, we added on one (run). And, two swings of the bat, that gets eliminated.
“The way we’re seeing balls fly out of here, we’ve got to find ways to capitalize when we get guys in scoring position.”
The Rays are not built to get into home run-hitting contests with teams, and that’s exactly the way Steinbrenner Field has been playing in the season’s second homestand.
Opponents have outhomered the Rays 17-7 in the past five games, which makes it pretty remarkable that they have actually won twice so far on the homestand.
“They’re working. It’s a hard game, and technology right now is helping pitching staffs more than it is offense,” said Rays starter Drew Rasmussen. “But, man, they’re putting together good at-bats. They’re competing for us every single inning. At some point, something’s going to budge and we’re going to break through, and then we’re going to find some sustained success.”
That’s the optimistic viewpoint. The more sour — some might say realistic — view is that the Rays are scoring a below-average number of runs and hitting a below-average number of homers.
That was evident in a number of ways on Saturday. The Rays had the bases loaded with one out in the third and with no outs in the sixth and went 0-for-5. The only run they scored in those two innings was when Jonathan Aranda drew a bases-loaded walk.
“Anytime you have a runner on third and less than two outs, you’ve got to try to get as much production as you can,” said shortstop Taylor Walls. “Unfortunately, we didn’t cross as many over as we could have.”
How frustrating was it? Walls got a sign from the bench to bunt with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth but put the ball right in front of pitcher Rafael Montero, who easily threw out Aranda at the plate.
“I’ve got to execute a little better,” Walls said. “Try to kill it a little better or maybe go third-base side.”
That certainly wasn’t the only missed opportunity. Jose Caballero had a strong night at the plate with three singles but also got thrown out three times on the bases. Caballero was caught stealing in the second, was doubled off first when he tried to steal in the fourth but Walls popped the ball up, and then was picked off trying to steal third in the eighth.
“I’m always aggressive,” Caballero said. “It’s not a secret for anyone.”
The hitters and baserunners were not the only group who failed to capitalize on a third consecutive strong start from Rasmussen. The Rays are mindful of Rasmussen’s history with elbow problems and pulled him when his pitch count reached a season-high 80 after five innings.
Five relievers then combined to allow the Braves to go 11-for-20 with three walks, four home runs and five runs in the final four innings.
Hunter Bigge gave up a pair of homers to tie the game in the eighth, and ...
