Yarbrough's struggles, tough luck lead to loss

ANAHEIM -- When the Rays’ starting rotation got hit with injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell and Yonny Chirinos, Ryan Yarbrough stepped into a traditional starter’s role for Tampa Bay, and the left-hander began to shine.

Yarbrough entered Sunday’s start with a 2.49 ERA in 11 outings (six starts) since the All-Star break and has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the American League over that span. On Sunday, however, Yarbrough had a rare off outing in the second half of the season as the Rays dropped the series finale, 6-4, to the Angels at Angel Stadium.

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With the loss and a 7-5 Indians win against the Twins, the Rays’ lead for the second American League Wild Card spot is now 1 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland. Tampa Bay also fell to 1 1/2 games behind the A’s, who beat the Rangers, 6-1, on Sunday.

“It just kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” Yarbrough said. “All in all, it was a struggle to get going today and it’s one of those tough outings that you try and forget, and you realize you kind of let the team down a little bit.”

Yarbrough, who relies on his command and producing soft contact, wasn’t particularly sharp on Sunday, allowing six runs on 10 hits over just five innings of work during his third-shortest outing since the beginning of August. He also issued two walks, tying his most in any outing this season.

“Yarbs wasn’t his sharpest today. The command just wasn’t there. He just didn’t look crisp for whatever reason,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “The home run by [Albert] Pujols, he’s a Hall of Famer. He’s going to get his home runs and RBIs; he’s done it for almost decades now. But the walk to [David] Fletcher to lead off the [fifth] inning, that’s uncharacteristic of Yarbs.”

The left-hander allowed five hard-hit balls on Sunday, including a dagger three-run home run to Pujols in the fifth inning that put the Angels ahead, 6-1. But aside from his uncharacteristic lack of command, Yarbrough also ran into some bad luck on Sunday.

Four of the 10 hits allowed by Yarbrough had an expected batting average of .200 or lower, including an infield single from Andrelton Simmons that was followed by Pujols’ three-run home run. Pujols also had an RBI double in the first inning that appeared to be a routine flyout, but Avisail Garcia, who was shifted heavily into the right-center gap, was unable to make the long run.

“Those ones can get kind of frustrating, but at the same time, I had a couple that were hit really well,” Yarbrough said. “They just seemed to hit the ones really well right after [the] ones finding holes and stuff like that. But that’s part of the game, and that’s why you have to go out there and execute a little bit better.”

Offensively, the Rays were held quiet for most of the game by starter Patrick Sandoval and the Angels’ bullpen. Tampa Bay had three hard-hit balls in the first inning and took a quick lead on a Jesus Aguilar sacrifice fly that scored Tommy Pham, who singled to lead off the game.

The Rays went hitless afterward until Willy Adames opened the eighth inning with a single. Brendan McKay notched his first career big league hit in the frame, and Austin Meadows' two-out, three-run homer that followed extended his hit streak to 15 games.

Tampa Bay had the tying run at the plate in the eighth and ninth inning, but Angels closer Hansel Robles struck out Ji-Man Choi to end the eighth and worked around a leadoff walk to shut the door in the ninth.

“We had the guys that we wanted up there in those situations, even the guys off the bench we felt good with,” Cash said. “It just didn’t happen today. They made some big pitches.”

The Rays weren’t able to secure their 10th sweep of the season, but came away with a series win in Anaheim, improving their record to 3-3 on the current road trip. Tampa Bay now finishes off the eight-game road trip with a two-game series against the Dodgers beginning Tuesday.

“We realize wins are important,” Meadows said. “Today was tough. [The way] we fought back at the end just again showed how resilient we are, and we came that close to getting a sweep here. It is what it is. We’ll continue to enjoy our off-day [Monday] and come back ready to go in L.A.”