Giants feeling sense of urgency after MLB-high 7th shutout loss

ST. PETERSBURG – In a familiar refrain, the Giants were shut down and shut out on Friday night at Tropicana Field.

The Rays prevailed 3-0, making for a quick (two hours, three minutes) and painless dismissal of a Giants offense that was shut out for an MLB-leading seventh time (in 32 games). The Giants, who tied their season high with a four-game losing streak, have scored the MLB’s fewest runs (104) this season.

“We’ve got a lot of good hitters in this clubhouse,’’ said hard-luck loser Robbie Ray (2-4), who worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed just four hits, although two of them were solo home runs. “We have a lot of guys who have track records of being good hitters. You know, it’s just one of those things where maybe a little bit of sense of urgency is needed.’’

Giants manager Tony Vitello contended that proper urgency has been present.

But the results are lacking.

“With all due respect, I think that [urgency] has been going on, whether it just be conversations that are behind the scenes so it doesn’t leak out as much or the vibe isn’t there as much to the whole group,’’ Vitello said. “[Ray] is not a part of those conversations. Those guys [position players] have chimed in as much as the coaches have.

“It’s a new month, a new series and [we’re] just trying to make sure the environment is as positive and fresh as it can be. It has certainly been a challenge. Having said that, I know where [Ray] is coming from. Part of it, when you’ve been in the league long enough, being around these guys, they’re very good at turning the page and understanding there’s a length of season [where] you can’t freak out about this or that. So I definitely get where [Ray] is coming from as it relates to being a veteran big leaguer.’’

Vitello and Ray agreed that the Giants ran into a tough pitcher in Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan (3-2), who scattered five hits over six scoreless innings, walking none with five strikeouts (and 14 swing-and-misses).

The Giants had limited opportunities. In the fourth inning, Luis Arraez smacked a one-out double, but was thrown out easily while trying to stretch it into a triple. In the fifth, Rafael Devers and Jung Hoo Lee singled, putting two runners on with one out, but Jerar Encarnacion bounced into a double play. The Giants only had two more baserunners the rest of the way. In three innings, the Rays’ bullpen surrendered only a bloop seventh-inning single to Casey Schmitt.

Meanwhile, the Rays cashed in with solo homers from Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero, who led off the fourth inning by depositing Ray’s full-count fastball a Statcast-projected 432 feet away into the left-field bleachers.

“Solo homers usually don’t beat you,’’ Ray said. “It’s one of those things where it’s probably magnified when we’re not hitting as well.’’

At least the Giants could count on a good night’s sleep. After getting swept in Thursday’s doubleheader at Philadelphia, where they lost both games in walk-off fashion, they arrived to their hotel at 2:15 a.m.

What do the Giants need for an offensive turnaround?

“We certainly have tried some things,’’ Vitello said. “We haven’t tried everything. So all ideas are welcome, no matter where they come from.

“It’s kind of like we talked about in Spring Training about being in barbed wire. Extra effort in the wrong direction can get you even more tangled up than you already are. So I hate to say it, but coming to work with the same approach they did today, just finding a little better way to execute, whether it’s in the cage or conversations or literally [making adjustments] in the batter’s box.’’

Encarnacion said he and his teammates will stay the course.

“We’re putting forth all our efforts, but things are just not working out,’’ Encarnacion said through a team interpreter. “Every single day, we come with the same approach. We’re just hoping that, with the help of God, things will work out for us tomorrow.’’