Streak of series wins ends at 9 after D-backs struggle vs. Rays

ST. PETERSBURG -- After a six-week stretch in which most everything seemed to come so easily to the D-backs, their first visit to Tropicana Field in more than five years has been a real grind.

The offense hasn’t come through in a few crucial situations. The pitching has been uneven. There have been rare misplays in the field.

Those types of things were largely unfamiliar to this club as it strung together nine consecutive series wins and entered this weekend unbeaten in its past 13 series. But that streak ended Saturday with a 6-1 loss to the Rays. Combined with Friday’s defeat, Arizona has dropped back-to-back games for the first time since July 21-22.

The feeling of consecutive losses must be a weird sensation for a team that arrived in Florida with a 30-10 record over its past 40 games. So, in a way, it’s appropriate that Saturday’s contest was “kind of a weird game,” according to right fielder Randal Grichuk.

There were multiple moments you don’t see every day. In the second inning, Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe hit a fly ball to right that still hasn’t come down. That’s because it landed and stayed atop one of the catwalks at Tropicana Field, resulting in a ground-rule double on a ball that Grichuk thought he had a bead on.

Two innings later, starter Zac Gallen got Yandy Díaz to hit into what appeared to be a 4-6-3 double play. But since the 100.1 mph liner nicked the leg of second base umpire John Bacon, the ball was ruled dead and Díaz was awarded first base.

“I don't remember any time I’ve had to get five outs in one inning,” Gallen said.

The right-hander was able to work past each misfortunate event without a run being scored, but he fell behind in the first inning once Josh Lowe knocked an RBI triple into right-center field and then scored as the back end of a double steal when catcher Jose Herrera tried to nab Junior Caminero at second base with two outs. Herrera's throw short-hopped shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, allowing each runner to slide in safely. It was the first steal of home the D-backs had allowed since July 25, 2023.

“They are an aggressive team and we knew that,” manager Torey Lovullo said of the Rays, who stole four bases Saturday. “We know that they use their legs and it gives them a ton of energy. … Sometimes, you’ve got to play pitch-and-catch and do it crisply and accurately. We didn’t do that today, and it was the difference in a couple of potential outs that equaled runs. Those are things we’re normally very good at.”

In the second inning, Gallen gave up a two-run single to Díaz immediately before Brandon Lowe’s fly ball got stuck in the rafters. He was able to work through the fifth without being touched up for another run, but it was never a smooth ride for the right-hander, who allowed nine hits, walked two batters, hit another with a pitch and needed 98 pitches to get through five frames.

“Felt like I was grinding,” Gallen said. “... I don't know if I had a great feel for anything, to be honest with you.”

The silver lining is that Gallen felt no ill-effects from his most recent start in which he departed in the fifth inning due to general body cramps. His four-seamer, which averaged 92.9 mph on the day, clocked in at 89 or 90 mph during his final two innings, but he said that had nothing to do with how he felt physically.

Offensively, the D-backs were stymied by left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who gave up one run and struck out seven across five innings. He combined with four relievers to limit Arizona to five hits -- all singles.

The D-backs also left the bases loaded in the fifth and eighth innings.

Entering this series, Arizona was averaging an MLB-best 6.45 runs per game since June 29, which was the start of that successful 40-game stretch. Their 158 extra-base hits during that span were the second-most in the Majors. Through two games against the Rays, the D-backs have a total of five runs and one extra-base hit -- Corbin Carroll’s game-tying home run in the ninth inning Friday.

In the big picture, these past two games represent a small blip for a team that owns a Wild Card spot and is well within striking distance of the NL West-leading Dodgers. They will have an opportunity to end this weird weekend on a high note Sunday.

“I know everybody wants to talk about us losing a series; I'm not concerned about that,” Lovullo said. “I'm concerned about us playing our best baseball game. Today, we didn't do that.”