Rays

Loss ends dismal 2-4 homestand

ANGELS 9, RAYS 4: "Let's just hope it gets better. Quickly," a somber Lou Piniella says.

ST. PETERSBURG - The mood of Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella the past several days fell somewhere between crabby and brooding. It was as if he woke up each day with no coffee, a flat tire and sore tooth.

But after Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Angels before 15,313 at Tropicana Field, Piniella's disposition shifted. No longer did he seem mad at the world. He just appeared to be downright somber. Looking tired and dejected in his office after Sunday's game, Piniella had few answers for a Rays team in the midst of a tailspin.

"I don't know what to tell you," Piniella said. "I really don't know what to tell you. Let's just hope it gets better. Quickly."

Perhaps it would've been more appropriate if the Piniella bobblehead handed out before Sunday's game had Piniella's head shaking from side to side instead of up and down. With Sunday's loss, the Rays put to sleep a 2-4 homestand, and have fallen 13 games below .500 after losing for the ninth time in the past 12 games.

Sunday's loss might have been the most disheartening of all for the Rays, as symbolized by one play in the eighth inning.

Already trailing 7-2, follow this chain of events:

With Angels on first and second, Rays second baseman Marlon Anderson snagged a tough grounder between first and second but threw wildly past first base. Catcher Toby Hall retrieved the ball more than 20 feet from home plate.

Pitcher Al Levine didn't cover home, and a run scored. Hall tried to catch a runner going to third, but launched the ball into leftfield. Leftfielder Carl Crawford wasn't backing up third, and another run scored.

One hit ball, two errors, two fundamental breakdowns.

"We worked on that play in spring training," Piniella joked.

Piniella knew there would be days like Sunday when the Rays wouldn't pitch well, or hit in key situations, or play flawlessly in the field. But knowing it and accepting it are different things.

"It wasn't a pretty game," Piniella said. "We're going to have games like this. You don't like to see them. I'm sure the players don't want to go through them either."

The Rays were in trouble right from the start. Making his second start, Tampa native Carlos Reyes didn't perform nearly as well as he did in his season debut Tuesday. Reyes gave up two homers to leadoff hitter Jeff DaVanon in five so-so innings, and has given up five homers in 12 innings.

"He's got to keep the ball in the ballpark," Piniella said.

Sunday, Reyes allowed seven hits and five runs.

"Just poor judgment on my part," Reyes said about the two homers. "I've got some work to do before the next start. Other than that, I'll just go back out there and go at it again, and try to limit my mistakes and try to make better pitches."

That sounds like a good game plan for the entire team.

"I don't know how to explain it," Hall said. "We even talk amongst ourselves and try to figure out what we're doing wrong. Right now, (the opponent) is just scoring a couple more runs than we are."

That adds up to a lot of losses. And one unhappy manager.