ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ The Rays spent time before Wednesday's game working on the little things, pitchers and infielders doing drills more commonly seen on the back fields in Port Charlotte.
That was only appropriate because they've been losing games _ way too many games _ by the slightest of margins, 12 by one run already.
That their latest loss on Wednesday was by a larger margin, 5-2 to the Braves, doesn't change the storyline, become some small mistakes cost them big in that game as well.
"Part of the reason we're out here doing some of these little things, little fundamentals is because those impact one-run ballgames _ executing those types of plays," manager Kevin Cash said. "We've got to execute at the plate also when we have opportunities. And we've got to execute when we're on the mound.
"The more that we can practice in theory we're going to be better for it, and kind of change that around to where we're finding ways to win tight ballgames."
Playing 17 one-run games in this short of a stretch to open a season is historically noteworthy � the first American League team to do so since the 2005 White Sox. Also, currently interesting: While half of the Rays games were decided by one, less than 30 percent of the others in the majors have been.
But, losing 12 almost defies logic.
"Pretty surprising," Cash said.
To find an AL team that lost as many as 12 one-run games in its first 33, you have to go back to the 1953 St. Louis Browns, the Marty Marion managed squad that went 54-100 _ and moved the next season t Baltimore. (Hold your Montreal jokes.).
Cash knows the players knew there was a reason for the extra work.
"They are fully aware how these little things can show up, especially the style that we're playing here currently," he said.
Also, they Rays staff made clear the extra work before batting practice was not viewed as punitive.
"You try to give a message before they do the drills," Cash explained.
"Saying that, you work so hard in spring training to check all these boxes and make sure they go through all these different drills and it's pretty easy to get into the season and just not visit it again. I don't know how productive that is when you get to July and August and those same play still need to be made.
"We want to keep it fresh in their mind."
That lesson didn't appear to take hold.
The Braves scratched out one run in the first that the Rays might have been able to do something about, as Nick Markakis reached on a slow roller second baseman Joey Wendle couldn't make a play on, moved to second on a ground ball Brad Miller could only get an out at first on, and scored on a two-out single.
But then they added four in the third that really only starter Ryan Yarbrough could have prevented.
Charlie Culberson and Ozzie Albies quickly rapped singles, then Yarbrough hit _ or, perhaps more accurately, threw a pitch pretty much over the plate that struck _ Ronald Acuna Jr, to load the bases, all within his first five pitches of the inning. A Freddie Freeman first-pitch sac fly got one run home, which was tolerable given the situation.
But then Yarbrough made the big mistake, a 2-1 fastball that lefty Nick Markakis launched for a three-run homer, which led to his departure after the fifth.
The Rays, dropping to 15-19 in losing for the sixth time in their last nine games, made it at least slightly interesting in the eighth. They loaded the bases on singles by Denard Span and C.J. Cron and a 13-pitch walk by Matt Duffy. After Miller struck out for the second out, Wilson Ramos delivered a single that extended his hitting streak to 16 games and scored two runs.
The Rays seem unsure whether they want to put Yarbrough in the rotation as the replacement for injured Yonny Chirinos or use him however seems more appropriate.
When Chirinos' spot came up for the first time Friday, the Rays had Andrew Kittredge begin the game and had Yarbrough take over in the third, and he worked an impressive five innings, allowing just one hit.
This time they had Yarbrough start, and he wasn't as effective, allowing the five runs on six hits, albeit with no walks and seven strikeouts.
