PHOENIX — The Rays have been impressed and even a bit amazed by how well rookie Taj Bradley performed through his first 10 starts after joining their injury-depleted rotation.
After his last outing, arguably his best in the majors, catcher Christian Bethancourt leveled lavish praise in comparison to the their top starter, calling Bradley “the right-handed (Shane) McClanahan.”
Tuesday night, Bradley was anything but in a rough 8-4 loss.
Struggling from the start against the National League West-leading Diamondbacks, Bradley lasted only four innings, allowing seven runs — five in the first inning — and four home runs.
And the Rays — while still holding the majors’ best record at 54-28 as they open the second half of their schedule — continued their recent struggles, losing for the sixth time in nine games and eighth in 14. Since a 30-9 start, the Rays are 24-19.
The series marked the Rays’ first visit to face their 1998 expansion twins since 2016, and it was their second matchup with franchise great Evan Longoria since trading him to the Giants in December 2017.
The game was odd and eventful early on, with nine runs scored before nine outs were made.
The Diamondbacks struck first. So much so, they scored five runs in their opening inning.
Bradley was off from the start.
He allowed a single, a walk and a three-run home run to Corbin Carroll, then another to Christian Walker before getting an out. A one-out single, a botched fly ball by centerfielder Jose Siri and a sac fly made it 5-0.
Then Zac Gallen, one of the majors’ top starters, gave just about all of it back.
Walks on either side of an Isaac Paredes double loaded the bases, then Gallen threw consecutive wild pitches that let in runs. A Bethancourt groundout scored another. Then with two outs, Siri — sporting his new blonde dreadlocks — made amends for the error with his team-leading 15th homer to make it 5-4.
The pace slowed, but the Diamondbacks kept adding on.
Their run in third looked very familiar, as Longoria launched a one-out homer to left. That was the 342nd of his storied career, and it completed his circuit of homering against all 30 teams.
Ketel Marte homered with two outs in the fourth, which led to the end to Bradley’s rough night. Over four innings, the 22-year-old allowed seven runs (six earned) with seven hits (including the four homers), one walk and two strikeouts.
Arizona added another run off reliever Shawn Armstrong in the sixth.
Rays infielder Taylor Walls was scratched from the original lineup due to mid-back tightness.
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