The San Francisco Giants' losing streak continues as Tampa Bay Rays pick up 5-1 win at Tropicana Field.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The San Francisco Giants fell to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday, 5-1.
The loss marks San Francisco’s fifth in a row. What led to it?
A Stolen Home Run
In the top of the second inning, it looked as if the Giants would strike first after Heliot Ramos launched a fly ball toward the roof of Tropicana Field.
The ball ended up hitting the catwalk before falling to Rays center fielder Cedric Mullins. Mullins made his way back toward the wall in center before reversing course across the warning track to make the catch.
Due to hitting the catwalk, Ramos should have been credited with a home run. Instead, after review and deliberation amongst the umpires, Ramos was called out, and the ruling led to subsequent ejections in the Giants’ dugout.
The call led to the ejections of Giants right-hander Adrian Houser and director of major-league pitching Frank Anderson after they voiced their anger and grievances over the decision by the umpires.
Manager Tony Vitello was also seen exchanging words with the umpires, but he was not tossed. It marked the first career ejections for Anderson and Houser.
Tough Middle Innings
Heading into the fourth inning, offense had been difficult to come by for the Giants.
After Ramos did not earn the home run, San Francisco remained scoreless into the fourth and had managed only two hits. Then, the Rays struck first.
After Tampa Bay won a challenge in favor of Junior Caminero beating out a throw at first base by third baseman Matt Chapman, Giants right-hander Landen Roupp allowed back-to-back singles to Jonathan Aranda and Jake Fraley that eventually got Caminero across home plate to put the Rays on the board.
Roupp bounced back by striking out Richie Palacios and Jonny DeLuca to end the inning, but the Rays’ offensive effort in the fourth inning would merely be a preview for the pressure they would put on the Giants in the fifth.
Tampa Bay ramped up its offensive onslaught after keeping the Giants off the board in the top of the fifth by opening with a double off Roupp. The Rays followed it up with a walk and a single that loaded the bases and prompted a mound visit.
After the visit, Roupp allowed another walk that got Hunter Feduccia across the plate to put the Rays up 2-0. After striking out Caminero, Roupp allowed a two-RBI single to Jonathan Aranda to give Tampa Bay a 4-0 advantage.
After Aranda’s two-RBI single, Roupp’s night ended, and he was assessed the losing decision, which ended his streak of four-straight wins and brought him to 5-2 on the season.
Breaking the Cold Spell
After falling into a four-run hole, the Giants demonstrated some life in the top of the sixth inning.
Luis Arraez created momentum with a double down the right field line, and Rafael Devers hit a ball toward Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson afterward that turned into an RBI double after Simpson hit the wall and failed to keep the ball in his glove.
The RBI by Devers snapped a scoreless drought for the Giants that lasted 16 innings. Yet, it would not be enough in the end. For the second time in the series, San Francisco had more strikeouts than hits and went just 7-33 at the plate.
The Giants have lost the series, but they have a chance to end their losing streak when they wrap things up against the Rays on Sunday at 1:40 ET.
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