Rookie Bradley dazzles in first start after break

ARLINGTON -- A similar storyline unfolded for the Rays for the second time in as many nights on Tuesday. A starter turned in a strong outing, only to see it spoiled by another lackluster night by the offense in a 5-3 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field.

Rays rookie Taj Bradley became the latest tough-luck loser despite striking out nine over five-plus innings of two-run ball. But Bradley reflected on the overwhelming positives more than the negatives to start his second half.

“It’s exciting, getting that breather coming back and having a strong outing like this,” Bradley said.

Bradley was reeling going into the All-Star break. He had nine strikeouts combined and allowed 16 runs in 12 1/3 innings over his previous three starts.

On Tuesday, though, he looked like one of baseball’s most promising pitchers. He retired the first five batters to start the game. Rangers All-Star Corey Seager was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in his at-bats against Bradley.

In fact, Bradley allowed only one run through five innings against baseball’s highest-scoring team. The Rangers’ run came on a solo home run by All-Star Marcus Semien, who sent Bradley’s first-pitch fastball into the left-center-field seats with one out in the third inning. It was the ninth home run Bradley has allowed in his past five starts.

However, Bradley responded by striking out the next two batters -- Seager and Nathaniel Lowe -- to end the inning.

“Semien whacks the homer, but I was encouraged after that that he didn’t miss a beat,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He was still very committed to the strike zone with all of his pitches.”

Bradley credited his changeup for being the difference-maker throughout the night. It got him swings and misses and groundouts.

“I threw it a lot more than I did my cutter today,” he said. “Had some good action on it.”

Bradley started the sixth inning, but the first two batters reached. Robert Stephenson entered in relief, allowing one of the runners to score.

Bradley wasn’t overly concerned with that, though, telling Stephenson he cares more about winning than his ERA. In the end, Bradley was happy he was able to throw a career-high 95 pitches and keep the Rays in the game.

“I like that they allowed me to go back out there after seeing I had 84 after the fifth,” Bradley said. “Just that alone, I was excited about. Go longer, stretch me out longer, stay on the field longer.”

While Bradley followed Shane McClanahan in providing strong starts for the Rays, the offensive woes are a concern. The Rays were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

It’s a topic that a couple of hitters addressed afterward.

“We’re just not playing the greatest baseball right now,” said Brandon Lowe, who had a solo home run in the eighth. “The best way to fix that is just to flush today, don’t worry about it. It happened. It’s over. Show up tomorrow like we’re starting the season fresh with no wins, no losses, and attack the day.”

Added Yandy Diaz through interpreter Manny Navarro: “We're trying to do the job, but it looks like it's not kind of happening. But, just got to keep on working.”

That’s the mindset that Cash seems to want from the offense. After all, once the hitters find their rhythm again, the wins should come if the rotation delivers starts such as Bradley did on Tuesday.

“It's just not coming easy right now for the guys. I really don't know what else to say other than that,” Cash said. “Nothing has changed. They're working, so just gotta let it play out a little bit, I guess.”