ARLINGTON, Texas — Ryan Yarbrough gave the Rays the good start they were hoping for in a matchup with Texas ace Martin Perez, retiring the first seven Rangers, and nine of 10, while allowing only one to reach as a hit batter.
But things went awry in a 10-pitch span to start the fourth inning. Yarbrough allowed two home runs, and the Rays went on to lose, 3-0, Tuesday night.
The second straight loss dropped the Rays to 28-21 and six games behind the division-leading Yankees. Conversely, the Rangers improved to 24-24, reaching the .500 mark for the first time in more than a year, since they were 18-18 on May 9, 2021.
The Rays knew they would be in for a tough battle against Perez, the veteran lefty who came into the game leading the majors with a 1.60 ERA.
But they got a single in the first inning from Yandy Diaz with two outs. And two more in the second, by Francisco Mejia with one out, then Taylor Walls with two.
Walls lined a ball that hit Perez on the right leg, and based on his initial reaction seemed to hurt him. But Perez was able to stay in, and he shut the Rays down the rest of the way, working seven strong innings against a Tampa Bay lineup that was missing Wander Franco, who was placed on the injured list earlier in the day.
The first hit off Yarbrough was a homer by lefty Corey Seager leading off the fourth. Yarbrough then allowed a double by Mitch Garver, and after getting Kole Calhoun to pop out, a two-run homer to Adolis Garcia.
