Rays fall to Reds 6-2 on July 27, 2025, as a 7th-inning rally led by Elly De La Cruz sinks Shane Baz. See how the loss impacts Tampa Bay's playoff hopes.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a story that's become all too familiar for Rays fans this season: a tight game, a moment of hope, and a late-inning collapse. The Tampa Bay Rays fell to the Cincinnati Reds 6-2 on Sunday after the game was broken open in the seventh inning, marking a second straight loss and pushing the team further down the AL East standings.
The loss drops Tampa Bay to 53-52 on the season, now 9 games back in the AL East.
For six innings, it was a classic nail-biter at Great American Ball Park. The game was deadlocked at 2-2, with the Rays looking poised to fight for a series split. Starter Shane Baz was solid, striking out seven batters, but a tough seventh inning spelled doom. A clutch RBI single from the electric Elly De La Cruz was the decisive blow, and the Rays' bullpen couldn't stop the bleeding, surrendering three more runs to put the game out of reach. Baz was ultimately tagged with the loss, allowing three runs over his 6.1 innings of work.
Despite the disappointing result, there were individual moments to celebrate. Taylor Walls finally broke through, launching his first home run of the 2025 season, a solo shot that briefly tied the game and lit up the team's social media feeds. Meanwhile, the Junior Caminero show continued. The young slugger went 2-for-4 with his 26th double of the year and now has a team-leading 68 RBIs. Jonathan Aranda also chipped in with an RBI single, but the scattered offense wasn't enough to overcome the late-game pitching woes.
As the team struggles to find consistent footing, all eyes are turning to the front office with the trade deadline looming. However, Sunday was another day of inactivity. No trades, no call-ups, no roster shake-ups were announced. With the team now just one game over .500 and losing ground in the division race to the Blue Jays, the pressure is mounting. Fans are left to wonder if a significant move is on the horizon to bolster a bullpen that faltered today or to add another impact bat.
The Rays leave Cincinnati with a bitter taste, having dropped another crucial game. While the individual successes of Walls and Caminero provide some encouragement, the larger trend is concerning. With the calendar flipping closer to August, the clock is ticking. The team needs to either string together a significant winning streak or get some reinforcements via trade if they hope to make a serious push for the postseason. All eyes will be on the front office in the coming days.
