CINCINNATI — The Rays just don’t have much fun in Cincinnati.
Last year’s visit turned into a lost July weekend that was the low point of their season.
They were swept by the last-place Reds in three games, two ending on walkoffs (one on a balk call) and the other a lopsided margin. And three key players — centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier, shortstop Wander Franco and starter Shane Baz — sustained serious injuries.
“It was a rough three days,” manager Kevin Cash said Monday. “It was hot. We had way too many injuries. We didn’t play well; they played well. And they beat us in separated games, they beat us in close games. A lot of things.”
And this year’s return trip didn’t start any better with an 8-1 defeat.
Losing for the third time in four games after a 13-game win streak that tied the modern-day, major-league record to start a season, the Rays (14-3) couldn’t do much offensively, didn’t pitch all that well and were outshined defensively by the Reds.
The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Kevin Newman homered off opener Jalen Beeks.
They made it 4-0 in the fourth when Rays rookie Rule 5 reliever Kevin Kelly took over and made a mess. He allowed a leadoff double to Newman, walked Jake Fraley and Nick Senzel to load the bases and then, after a strikeout, a three-run double to No. 9 hitter TJ Friedl.
The Rays had runners on over a five straight inning stretch, but nothing to show for it, despite Reds starter Hunter Greene leaving after being hit on the leg by a comebacker in the third.
The Rays’ best chance came in the sixth, with they loaded the bases with one out (on two singles and an error) against lefty Alex Wood. After lefty Josh Lowe struck out, Manuel Margot lined a ball to right but got robbed as Jake Fraley — a former Rays minor-leaguer traded to Seattle in the November 2018 Mike Zunino deal — made a running and diving catch.
Worse for the Rays, the Reds then added on four more runs off Cooper Criswell.
