ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Maybe the Rays should have traded for more hitters.
With the two they picked up in advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline — David Peralta and Jose Siri — in the lineup, they continued their massive offensive struggles.
Tuesday, that meant a 3-1 loss to the Blue Jays with just two hits along the way — a sixth-inning single and a ninth-inning homer by Taylor Walls.
By the end, it was the eighth time in their last 10 games the Rays scored three or fewer runs. They have totaled 11 over their last five games and 26 over their last 10.
Related, they have lost eight of those last 10, dropping to 54-49 and four games behind Toronto for the top American League wild-card spot.
Jays starter Kevin Gausman made things tough on them, allowing just three baserunners over eight innings. He walked leadoff man Randy Arozarena and hit No. 3 batter Isaac Paredes in the first, then allowed only the Walls single.
Jordan Romano took over in the ninth, allowing the leadoff homer to Walls then nothing else.
The Jays took the lead in the first off Rays starter Drew Rasmussen.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled with one out, went to third on a ground out and scored on a two-out single by Bo Bichette.
And that was it for the scoring until the ninth. The Jays added two more off reliever Shawn Armstrong, getting a one-out walk, a two-out single, then a blooper to shallow center that landed just in front of a hard-charging and diving Siri.
Rasmussen worked six innings, allowing just the one run with six hits and two walks, striking out three.
On the plus side, it was just the second time in his last seven starts he worked at least six innings. But efficiency again was an issue, as he needed 97 pitches to get his 18 outs.
