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The Tampa Bay Rays were on a roll. They had won 13 consecutive games, surpassing the previous club record of 12 victories in a row. But that streak was snapped on Thursday night, when the Rays fell to the Seattle Mariners 5-1.
The Rays had been dominant during their winning streak, winning games in a variety of ways. They got clutch hitting, stellar starting pitching, and lockdown relief performances. They even had a game where they scored 10 runs in the first inning.
So how did the Rays’ streak come to an end? It was a combination of factors, including a lack of timely hitting and a rare off night from their pitching staff.
The offense had been carrying the Rays during their streak, but on Thursday they couldn’t get anything going. They managed just one run on six hits, and were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff struggled for the first time in weeks. Starter Drew Rasmussen lasted just 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. The Rays’ bullpen was solid, but the damage had already been done.
Despite the loss, the Rays are still in a good position in the American League playoff race. They currently hold the top wild card spot, and are just one game behind the Boston Red Sox for first place in the AL East.
However, the end of the streak does highlight some areas where the Rays can improve as they head down the stretch. They need to get more consistent starting pitching, and they need to find a way to generate offense when their bats go cold.
The Rays have shown that they are capable of winning in all kinds of ways, and their deep and versatile roster gives them a lot of options. They are a team that can beat you with power, speed, defense, and pitching.
But as they learned on Thursday, even the best teams can have off nights. The key is to bounce back quickly and get back to playing winning baseball.
Overall, the end of the Rays’ winning streak is not a cause for concern. It was a remarkable run, and it served as a reminder of just how talented and resilient this team is. With just over a month to go in the regular season, the Rays are poised to make a deep run in the playoffs.
As manager Kevin Cash said after the game, “It was a great run. Obviously, we’d love to keep it going, but now it’s time to start a new streak.”
