By Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — Manager Joe Maddon might call the bullpen’s recent funk a “hiccup” or a “bump in the road.”
But the unit, one of the best in the American League earlier this season, is in a significant slump at the worst possible time for the Rays, who hit the road for a 10-game trip with their playoff hopes slipping away like the games they seemingly had in their grasp the past two days.
Sunday, Maddon took his matchup-style bullpen to another level, using five relievers to get the final three Detroit outs — but not before Brandon Inge’s grand slam lifted the Tigers past the Rays 5-3 and spoiled an impressive major-league debut by Wade Davis before 28,059 at Tropicana Field.
The right-hander said he was calmer than he thought he’d be while giving up just one run and striking out nine over seven innings.
But the hard-thrower left the Trop empty-handed, and Edwin Jackson picked up the win in his first start against his former team since being traded in December. He lasted eight innings, then benefited from the Rays’ bullpen meltdown. More – TampaBay.com
