The Braves’ second loss further slips the Rays, and shrinks the AL East lead

street. PETERSBURG – Zack Evelyn will take the hill in the final game Sunday before the All-Star break saying there’s nothing to worry about.

Aside from Saturday’s 6-1 loss to the Braves, the Rays’ season-high losing streak increased to seven games and fell to 57-35.

Or that, since starting 29-7 through May 8, they’re getting very pedestrian 28-28.

Or that their once-comfortable American League East lead over the Orioles is down to two games (and tied in the loss column).

“Things like this will happen in a 162-game season. We gave ourselves a good enough cushion in the first half to take a little slip like that,” said Evelyn. “So, we don’t change anything in the club, on the field. Nobody in the dumps or anything. We are still focused on getting better every day and going out and winning.

“So, as long as we have that mentality throughout the rest of the year, we’ll be absolutely fine.”

Things will be better if they can rediscover their offense, having been suspended once or not played for the fourth time in their last five games. Spencer Stryder did most of the work against them on Saturday, scattering four hits and striking out 11 while working the seventh. One night before, Charlie Morton did the same thing.

“Look, it’s hard to see signs (of progress) when you’re up against Charlie Morton and Spencer Stryder,” said Ray’s principal Kevin Cash. “They’re really good bowlers. We can hit good wickets. We’re not doing that now.”

“We’re a good team. We’re going to stay positive and kind of try to find a way to win the game (Sunday) and then go to the break and pick it up again.”

The Rays need something, as their total of eight innings over five games is their lowest since August 2017. For the first time since April 2016, they’ve been held to one innings or no innings in three straight games. They’ve been injuryless for the last 16 games with runners in the scoring position.

“At the moment, it’s not going well for us,” All-Star Yandy Diaz said via team interpreter Manny Navarro.

The Rays didn’t have much of a chance.

They got their run in the eighth, when Wander Franco’s hustle forced an errant throw and scored on a groundout.

But he also made a huge mistake in the first. He was running from first base on a ground out when Luke Raleigh doubled. Franco got a big hit from Orlando Arcia going slow in second and only got into third place. Cash said he didn’t think Franco would have scored anyway. Franco refused to speak to reporters about the play or anything else after the game.

Stay up to date on the Tampa Bay sports scene

Sign up for our free sports newsletter today

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

You are all signed up!

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

Explore all of your options

Rays starter Taj Bradley converted in a better overall walk than in the previous two starts, but was hit in the fourth in which he allowed four runs.

After allowing 12 runs on 17 hits (including five homers) while lasting only 7-1/3 innings in his previous two innings, Bradley — who grew up a Braves fan in the Atlanta area — got off to a stellar start. He put in the first nine batters, four in batters.

But things changed dramatically in the fourth.

Bradley gave up the leadoff double to Ronald Acuna Jr., then walked Ozzie Alpes. After Austin Riley’s pop-up, Bradley allowed a leadoff leadoff single to Matt Olson. Two plays later, Shaun Murphy hit a 406-foot homer to leave to make it 4-0.

“I was really touched by Taj,” said Cash. “He’s beefed up. … I was really impressed that he controlled himself, threw batters, and a lot of power. They got him in the fourth inning. For a small pitcher, it’s just hard to avoid that big a turn when a guy gets in, or he walks, or he runs on his land.”

Bradley was as skeptical about pitch selection in that role as anything else.

“It’s only one step per batter during those four strikes that, you know, you can go back and change,” he said. “I read The Swing and didn’t go with that first idea.”

Considering how his previous two starts were, Bradley (5-5, 5.43) took some solace coming off the fourth inning, after batting nine batters and throwing 31 pitches, then completing the fifth.

“I feel better,” he said. “The first three innings showed well. I was talking about my performances well and things like that. But, yeah, in the fourth inning I just got myself sideways and I felt like I was out of it. … I was glad I could go five, but, Yeah, I just got back from the All-Star break and I just know what I have to go on.”

This can be said for all rays.

• • •

Sign up for Today’s Sports Newsletter to get daily updates on Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Don’t miss the latest news with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Twitter And Facebook.