Looking Backward While Moving Forward: Rays Fall 5-4; Franklin and Bellatti Expected to Join the Team

At a time when the Tampa Bay Rays cannot afford to lose winnable games, under no circumstances should the pitching staff allow runs in the most inopportune times ― especially when the team still considers itself to be in the postseason hun. Yet for the second consecutive game, the Rays’ hurlers allowed the long ball to get the best of them. And though Tampa Bay twice came back from two-run deficits against Detroit, the Tigers went on to win 5-4. The Rays now are 3-4 on a nine-game, three-city road trip.