Rays fall behind in 1st, can't rally against Roenis Elias, Mariners
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- The Tampa Bay Rays remain in first place, but it doesn't feel much like it.
Monday night's 4-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners extended the winless streak to three, during which the Rays have scored just three runs.
"The last three games have been similar. We can't piece anything together offensively," said manager Kevin Cash. "We left 10 men on base today. Generally when you do that and you're only getting one across, it doesn't amount to many good things."
The Rays got at least one man on base in every inning except the first and left runners in scoring position five times while their lead in the AL East dropped to a half-game over the New York Yankees.
Logan Forsythe led off the sixth inning with his fifth home run for Tampa Bay's only run.
Jake Odorizzi pitched into the seventh inning for the ninth time in 10 starts, but the two runs he gave up in a shaky first innings were enough to get him the loss.
After the game started with an error on shortstop Tim Beckham and a walk, Seattle took a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz. It was the second straight game in which the Rays fell behind before recording an out. A double play helped Odorizzi (3-5) get out of the inning without further damage.
"I just had to restart the game in my head and make good pitches," he said. "It kind of spring boarded me to go seven. That's what I'm most proud about, that I was still able to go deep into this game after a rough start."
Cano, who entered the game hitless in 12 at bats, drove in two runs and Roenis Elias threw six solid innings for the Mariners.
Elias (2-1) gave up one run and six hits. Mark Lowe, Carson Smith and Fernando Rodney, who pitched the ninth for his 13th save, completed an eight hitter.
Odorizzi allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. He is the only major leaguer to pitch into the seventh inning nine times so far this season.
"Incredible how consistent he's been throughout the year," Cash said.
Forsythe has driven in all three Tampa Bay runs over the last three games.
Elias worked out of two-on, one-out jams in the second and fourth by retiring Kevin Kiermaier and Nick Franklin in both innings. Rene Rivera, who had a leadoff double off Elias in the fifth but was left stranded at third base, hit a grounder with two on to end the sixth.
Seattle's Kyle Seager extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a sixth-inning double.
This was the first-ever matchup of major league managers -- Lloyd McClendon of Seattle and Tampa Bay's Kevin Cash -- who played in the Little League World Series. McClendon was with Gary, Indiana, in 1971, while Cash was part of the 1989 Tampa, Florida, team.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: CF Austin Jackson (sprained right ankle) was reinstated from the 15-day DL after the game and will join the team Tuesday. "From a physical point he's ready," McClendon said. Jackson had a nine-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. To make room on the roster, RHP Danny Farquhar was optioned to Tacoma.
Rays: Three players were hurt Sunday, 1B James Loney (broken finger), RF Steven Souza Jr. (wrist) and SS Asdrubal Cabrera (groin), were all out of the lineup. Loney went on the 15-day DL and could miss four to six weeks. ... LHP Matt Moore (elbow surgery) is expected to make his second extended spring training start Thursday.
UP NEXT
Mariners LHP J.A. Happ (3-1) and Rays RHP Alex Colome (3-1) are Tuesday night's scheduled starters.
