Evan Longoria notches 2 triples but Rays come up short against Rockies
DENVER (AP) -- Tampa Bay had five chances to bring in the tying run from third late in the game.
Four strikeouts and a ground out later and the Rays were on their way to a 7-4 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, extending their road skid to 11 in a row.
"We've got to find a way to get those guys in," Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. "The guys know that. They're doing everything they could to get the big hit, the big fly ball, it just didn't happen."
Tampa Bay's 11th straight road loss is the third-longest streak in team history. The club record is 13 in a row in 2002.
Drew Smyly (2-11) had another rough outing, surrendering five runs in five innings to remain winless over his last 10 starts.
"I didn't pitch very well today," Smyly said. "I got behind a lot of hitters. It's hard to pitch when you're behind in the count."
Trevor Story's 22nd homer of the season in the fifth gave the Rockies a 5-1 lead. The bullpen made it hold up to make a winner out of Tyler Anderson (2-3), who ran into trouble in the seventh and surrendered three of his four runs.
Reliever Adam Ottavino got two outs in the seventh with the tying run on third. Jason Motte allowed a leadoff triple to Evan Longoria in the eighth before striking out the side.
"Adrenaline is kind of what drives me," Motte said. "I love those situations, not that I want to go out there and do it every single time."
Ottavino looked like his old self in his most meaningful performance since being activated from the 60-day DL on July 5. He missed most of last season after Tommy John surgery.
"We were able to do a good job," Ottavino said. "Motte did a great job behind me. That was the story of the game."
The Rockies added two runs in the eighth and Carlos Estevez closed it out in the ninth for his sixth save.
Story's homer gave the Rockies a four-run cushion, which appeared more than enough for Anderson. The lefty surrendered an RBI triple to Longoria in the first inning -- after a 32-minute rain delay before first pitch -- but settled in until the wheels came off in the seventh. In the inning, Tim Beckham had an RBI triple, followed by a run-scoring single by Luke Maile and an RBI double from Nick Franklin.
Exit, Anderson. Enter, Ottavino.
With a runner on third, Ottavino struck out Logan Forsythe and got Kevin Kiermaier to ground out and end the threat.
Then, it was Motte's turn. After Longoria lined a triple to the deep center, Motte struck out former Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson swinging, followed by Logan Morrison and Steven Souza Jr. on called third strikes.
"Unbelievable," said Anderson, who allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings for his second straight win. "If you want to win games, you have a bullpen like that."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: INF Steve Pearce (strained right hamstring) is expected to be activated from the DL on Tuesday. ... RHP Chase Whitley threw a scoreless inning for Class A Charlotte on Monday in his first game since Tommy John surgery early last season. In the same contest, RHP Brad Boxberger (oblique) allowed a homer in an inning of work.
THIS & THAT
It was Longoria's first career game with two triples. ... The Rays are now 4-9 against Colorado at Coors Field.
FAMILIAR FACES
Dickerson never really got to say goodbye to his Colorado teammates after he was traded to Tampa Bay on Jan. 28 for reliever Jake McGee. So Dickerson wandered over the Rockies' way Monday.
"It was pretty good to say, `What's up?' and be able to see old faces," said Dickerson, who didn't start. "I'm pretty close to all of them. It will be cool to compete and play against them."
McGee felt the same way about his Tampa Bay buddies.
"I have a new pitch I'll show them," he joked.
UP NEXT
Tampa Bay lefty Blake Snell (1-4) makes his first interleague start Tuesday at Coors Field. Righty Tyler Chatwood (8-5) will take the mound for the third time since returning from the DL with a strained back.
