If this wasn’t rock bottom for the Rays, you better close your eyes

TAMPA Meet the new loss, same as the old loss.For all the changes in recent days trade acquisitions, Triple-A call-ups, escapees from the injured list the Rays ended up with the same type of result that made July one of the darkest months in franchise history.The bats were silent, the starting pitching was spotty and the mood was morose.Also, the scoreboard was perpetually taunting.Four batters into Friday night, the Rays were already trailing the Dodgers and, from that point, little went right in a 5-0 loss.

Tampa Bay has now dropped eight of its last nine games and 22 of 30.

The postseason hopes are growing dimmer by the day, with teams passing the Rays on what feels like an hourly basis.Were just at a point right now where were not able to overcome, manager Kevin Cash said.

We dont make a play defensively, we dont overcome; we dont make a pitch, were not overcoming it.

We got guys on base and opportunities, and were not getting a big hit.Its kind of a snowball effect.

Its the opposite of where we were ...

a month ago.Its not quite the opposite, but its getting close.From May 20 to June 26, the Rays were the most successful team in the majors with a 25-9 record.

Since then, its like theyve stepped into baseballs parallel universe.

After Fridays loss, the Rays are 8-22 since their hot streak.Put it this way, rightfielder Josh Lowe said.

Being a competitor, anytime you fail, you lose a game, you dont do something right to help the team, youre frustrated.Thats a fairly good description of starting pitcher Shane Baz.

On the one hand, he got eight strikeouts in five innings with an impressive 16 swing-and-misses.

On the other hand, he allowed 10 baserunners and five runs without even making it through the Dodger lineup twice.At one point this season, the Rays had won 12 of Bazs 16 starts.

Since July, the team has lost six consecutive games when he starts.You want to win, you want to give the team a chance to win, and it sucks when I go out and give up two runs in the first inning and were playing from behind all night, Baz said.

Just makes it harder on everybody.It didnt help that Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw had his best outing in more than a month.

At 37, hes no longer the guy who won three Cy Youngs and one MVP in a four-year span, but Kershaw can still spin a mean curveball and hit locations in every corner of the strike zone.He has as much pitch-ability as any pitcher in baseball over the last two decades, and he had it going on (Friday), Cash said.

He threw the cutter where he wanted, the fastball, the split and certainly the curveball.

I know hes a little different version of himself now, but he can still really pitch and change eye levels, change speeds, and just kept us off balance.The Rays put some runners on base in the early innings but failed to get a clutch hit.

By the time the night ended, they had zero extra-base hits, and Dodgers reliever Justin Wrobleski retired nine of the 10 batters he faced for his first save of the season.(Kershaw) is a really good pitcher, always has been, said leftfielder Jake Mangum.

Just sucks we couldnt get some runs on the board.

It was a tough night.Its not as if the Rays arent seeking ways to change their fortune.

Between IL stints, new acquisitions and Triple-A call-ups, there were eight players in the clubhouse who werent active a week ago.

And none of it mattered.Its almost as if their timing is designed for ultimate heartbreak.

Their biggest offensive explosion of the last two weeks was nine runs against the White Sox on July 23.

And they lost 11-9.

The bullpen was brilliant Friday night, with four innings of one-hit, shutout ball and seven strikeouts.

But when they needed that type of performance on Wednesday, they blew saves in three consecutive innings.So whats the answer?Show up to work, tie your cleats, put your jersey on, get out there and get after it, Lowe said.

The game doesnt feel bad for you; nobody feels bad for you.

Got to go out there and compete and rely on teammates in here to get each other going and give it our best every single day.John Romano can be reached at [email protected].

Follow @romano_tbtimes.

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