ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays tried a lot of things Wednesday to break their latest losing streak and head home with some semblance of momentum.
But nothing seemed to work, and they instead trudged toward the buses having lost a fourth straight game, this one 5-1 to the Rangers, and the sole grip on first place in the American League they’d held since the third day of the season.
Instead, the Rays (60-39) are now tied with the Orioles (58-37), against whom they open a four-game series at Tropicana Field on Thursday.
“It’s a big series,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Wednesday’s game. “I’m not going to lie. It is a big series. They’ve played incredibly well. Four-game series presents its challenges in itself. We want to go in there and play well. ...
“We’ve played really good at home. Hopefully our fans are out there loud for us and supporting us.’’
Aside from a solid pitching performance from reliever turned starter Zack Littell, nothing really went right for the Rays, who have lost 11 of 14 games and 19 of 31. Since a 29-7 start (through May 8), they have gone 31-32.
Offense has been the major issue, and they had several opportunities Wednesday, including a couple when they tried to force the action, with no success.
In the second inning, when Josh Lowe, on first with two outs, tried to score on Manuel Margot’s double to right and was thrown out at the plate.
In the third, when the Rays had two on and one out, and Taylor Walls strayed too far off second and was picked off.
In the fourth, when they had two on and no outs, but Jose Siri grounded into a double play and, after Josh Lowe walked, Margot struck out.
In the fifth, when they got two on with one out — and Rangers starter Jon Gray had to leave after being hit on the left shin by Yandy Diaz’s single — and Cash sent up Randy Arozarena, who had the day off. But Arozarena swung at the first pitch from lefty Brock Burke, a former Rays minor-leaguer, and flied out; Isaac Paredes also failed.
And in the seventh, when Margot bunted his way on and, with one out, the Rangers brought in debuting right-hander Alex Speas. Cash turned to the other All-Star who was on the bench. But Wander Franco, who started up 2-0 in the count, struck out, and Margot was caught stealing.
The Rays got their only run when Jose Siri homered with one out in the ninth, his team-leading 19th.
Having parted ways Monday with Yonny Chirinos, who had been pitching in the fifth spot in their rotation, the Rays turned to Littell as somewhat of an extended opener.
And that turned out pretty well, as Littell, claimed off waivers from Boston in mid-May, got them the three-plus innings they were hoping for.
Littell’s only costly mistake came on the first pitch of the third, when he left a splitter up and No. 9 hitter Leody Taveras knocked it over the rightfield wall.
The Rangers added another run in the seventh off reliever Calvin Faucher, who was called up earlier Wednesday. And then three more in the eighth when Jonah Heim, a former Rays minor-leaguer, hit a three-run homer off rookie Kevin Kelly, ending his 20 1/3-inning scoreless streak, which had been the longest active streak in the majors.
