Tampa Bay dropped the series, and got shut out for the first time this season, 2-0, at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. Tampa Bay is now 2-4 in intraleague play against the Braves since 2010.
Though Price had a solid start posting a 7 IP/6 H/2 R (1 ER)/3 BB/7 K line, he still got the loss. Price is now 6-2 with a 3.10 ERA on the season. Blame the loss on lack of offense, exacerbated by a gem of a start by Tim Hudson. Price threw a career high 123 pitches on the day.
Tampa Bay ended the day stranding eight men on the bags, while going 1-4 with runners in scoring position. “1-4 and a shut out, you may ask?!” Chalk it up to bad luck. Luke Scott hit a bases loaded ground ball destined for right field which happened to hit Carlos Pena while he made his way to second. The Rays also had men on the bags in the sixth with two outs, however Pena’s blast to center couldn’t quite make it over the wall, presumably because the game wasn’t sold out.
More on this in a little.