Rays bullpen, bats melt down in loss to Nationals

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The usually-reliable Shawn Armstrong gave up six runs in the seventh inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays were held to two hits as the Washington Nationals romped 8-1 Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 17,501 at Tropicana Field.

The Rays dipped below .500 at 41-42. They’ll wrap up this homestand Sunday with the Nationals (39-43), hoping they can clinch their fourth straight series.

Armstrong has struggled in two straight appearances, allowing two earned runs in his last outing. Saturday, the right-hander gave up four straight hits — three singles and a C.J. Abrams RBI double — to start the seventh. He got a flyout and then gave up a triple to former Ray Harold Ramirez, who danced on third base to celebrate. Keibert Ruiz finally chased Armstrong with an RBI single.

Armstrong’s lapse put an exclamation point on a frustrating game. But he wasn’t the only issue.

The Rays were held to one hit by Nationals righty Jake Irvin through six innings.

Brandon Lowe, back in the starting lineup for the first time in a week, was the lone bright spot early. He hit his sixth home run of the season in his first at-bat. Lowe fractured his right pinkie toe last Saturday in Pittsburgh, then was was slowed by an illness. He is limited to a DH role while the toe heals.

His first-inning homer came immediately after he caught a big break. Lowe popped a foul ball that normally would have been a quick out. It went so high, however, that it got caught in the catwalk under the roof at Tropicana Field. By grounds rules, that is a foul ball and Lowe got another chance.

Lowe’s home run to right center went 405 feet and tied the score at 1-all. That was all the Rays got for six innings.

Aaron Civale allowed two runs on six hits. He walked four and struck out two. The right-hander gave up a leadoff homer to C.C. Abrams to start the game. It was the 17th homer he has allowed this season, third most in the major. He has given up a home run in all but three of his starts this season.

The Nationals’ second run came in the fourth on a mistake. After giving up a leadoff single to Luis Garcia Jr., Civale had two outs with Washington’s second baseman on third base. A wild pitch that catcher Ben Rortvedt blocked, then ricocheted away from him back toward the mound, allowing Garcia to score.

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