Advertisement

Matt Moore struggles again as Rays lose to Orioles (w/video)

 
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore leaves the field after giving up a two-run home to Baltimore Orioles' Caleb Joseph during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla.  Orioles' Jonathan Schoop also scored. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)  SPD113
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Matt Moore leaves the field after giving up a two-run home to Baltimore Orioles' Caleb Joseph during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 26, 2015, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Orioles' Jonathan Schoop also scored. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) SPD113
Published July 27, 2015

ST. PETERSBURG — Starter Matt Moore was staring at his locker with his hands on his head after the Rays' 5-2 loss to Baltimore when reliever Kevin Jepsen walked over to give a fist bump of encouragement.

Then Jepsen shrugged. There wasn't much else to offer Sunday after the Rays lost for the 21st time in their past 30 games, dropping eight of their past nine series as Friday's trade deadline approaches.

"There's no (one) finger to blame on it all," rookie outfielder Steven Souza Jr. said.

But there was plenty of blame to go around after Sunday's defeat, in front of an announced crowd of 18,613 at Tropicana Field.

Moore lasted only five innings, becoming the second starter in club history to open a season with five consecutive starts of no more than five innings. He allowed a season-worst five runs, hit his third batter of the year (on a bounced ball to Manny Machado) and threw his fifth wild pitch in as many starts.

Manager Kevin Cash said some of Moore's missed spots were expected as he works his way back from 2014 Tommy John surgery.

"We'd ideally not like it to burn us every time," Cash said, "but it seems like right now it is."

Moore's trouble started early, when he walked Chris Davis and Adam Jones singled on a check swing. Nolan Reimold capped the three-run rally with a double that dropped in front of centerfielder Brandon Guyer. Moore's other problem came in the fourth, when he yanked a changeup that No. 9 hitter Caleb Joseph blasted 415 feet for a two-run homer.

"I'm frustrated," Moore said. "I feel way more excited for these games and way more up for what's about to happen. Being in there after a loss, giving up three early like that, it's not where I want to be. But I think I'm encouraged by the way I feel physically and just to see the way our guys, we were threatening more than two or three innings there."

But — as has become a monthlong trend — the Rays (49-51) couldn't capitalize on those threats.

They fell to 39-for-their-past-211 (.185) with runners in scoring position. Their stretch of 13 games with four or fewer runs ties the longest drought in the majors this season, and their 351 runs are the fewest through 100 games in club history.

Aside from two flashes of power, when Evan Longoria and Logan Forsythe homered on back-to-back pitches in the fourth, the Rays' afternoon was defined by the eight runners they stranded. They left Joey Butler on after his double in the second and spoiled a near-ideal chance the next inning.

Rookie Tim Beckham hit a leadoff double on a fly that seemed to fool Reimold in rightfield, and the Rays loaded the bases with only one out. But Souza took a borderline 3-and-2 pitch for strike three — his ninth strikeout in five games since coming off the disabled list — and Longoria grounded out to end the threat.

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Stay updated on Tampa Bay’s sports scene

Subscribe to our free Sports Today newsletter

We’ll send you news and analysis on the Bucs, Lightning, Rays and Florida’s college football teams every day.

You’re all signed up!

Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all your options

"I just need to play better," Souza said. "That's the bottom line."

And it's one that could be repeated throughout the Rays clubhouse.

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.