sloppy play derails rays
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon leaves the field after a fifth-inning pitching change against the Boston Red Sox during a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivers to the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays tripped themselves up yet again Tuesday night as they fell even farther behind in the playoff race with a 7-5 loss to the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
The loss, Tampa Bay’s seventh in its last eight games, put the Rays (78-70) six games behind first place New York in the American League East and 51⁄2 games behind Baltimore, which played Seattle on Tuesday night, in the Wild Card standings.