ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ offense entered Monday’s game having scored six or more runs in their previous six games, but the bats were held quiet as Tampa Bay dropped the series opener against the Blue Jays, 2-0, snapping a six-game winning streak. 

Tampa Bay had plenty of scoring chances against Blue Jays starter Jacob Waguespack, but Toronto’s right-hander found ways to get through the lineup unscathed. The Rays were unable to capitalize on their opportunities, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position against him.

“Just a quiet night,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash. “We weren’t able to capitalize in those situations, but it was one of those nights.”

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The best chance of the night came in the fifth inning as the Rays had two on with nobody out, but a Mike Zunino popup and a double play grounded into by Willy Adames ended the threat for Tampa Bay. In the sixth inning, Kevin Kiermaier flew out to center field with runners on first and second to end the frame.

Tampa Bay had just one ball with an exit velocity of 100 mph or more, which is its fewest in a game this season. 

“It was a tough game for us offensively,” Adames said. “We had an opportunity a couple of times and we didn’t take advantage like we could have, but that’s going to happen.” 

It marks the fifth time this season that the Rays’ offense has been shut out, and first since June 28 against the Rangers. It was also just the fourth time this season that Tampa Bay lost a game when allowing two runs or fewer.

Mike Brosseau, who led the team to a win on Sunday with two RBIs, committed a baserunning error in the seventh inning, costing the team a potential rally. With runners on first and second with one out, Blue Jays catcher Reese McGuire threw behind Brosseau and picked him off at second base. 

“Looking back at it, [I] was probably a little too aggressive,” Brosseau said. “With the point of view at second base, if there was a bad throw and it kicked away two or three feet, you get the runners at second and third. But at the same time, I know that my run isn’t the tying run so I have to be a little more cautious on the basepath.”

Tampa Bay starter Charlie Morton picked up his fourth loss of the season, but the right-hander delivered with his 14th quality start, allowing just two runs and striking out nine over seven innings.

“I didn’t feel like I was pitching poorly,” Morton said of his early innings. “I did feel like I had better momentum going a little bit later. All in all, I felt like I threw the ball OK. Nothing spectacular, nothing bad.”

Morton threw 107 pitches and recorded 18 swings and misses on Monday, but the Blue Jays' offense was able to score early, as Bo Bichette hit a leadoff double and Cavan Biggio drove him in with a single. Bichette’s solo homer in the third inning was the last run Toronto scored against Morton, but it was enough to edge past the Rays.

“Morton’s a great pitcher,” Bichette said. “Obviously, he’s got incredible numbers and he’s done some awesome things in the past. Going into the game, it was kind of like, ‘OK, I made it. I’m facing the guy, right?’ I mean, there are not a whole lot of pitchers better than him. It was fun to go out there and compete against one of the best pitchers in the game.”

Now the challenge for the Rays is to not let Monday’s performance linger into Tuesday as the club looks to rebound and close out the five-game homestand on a positive note, with two games remaining against the Blue Jays.

“Tomorrow we have to come with a better mentality and attack a little bit earlier in the game and try to get a couple of runs and try and get on top of them,” Adames said. “I know we’re better than that, and I know tomorrow we’re going to come back with a dog mindset -- ready to eat.”