Rays fall behind early in rough start by Steven Matz, and it gets worse

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Apr 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Because of how well-prepared Steven Matz came into spring training as he converted back to full-time starter for the first time since 2021, the Rays were not overly surprised by his success over his first four starts.

Similarly, they are not especially concerned with how he struggled in his rough outing Tuesday, in which he lasted only three innings and gave up three homers in an ugly 12-6 loss to the Reds.

By the end of the night, the Rays (12-11) used five pitchers and infielder Ben Williamson on the mound, and allowed five Cincinnati home runs.

There also was some pain, as right fielder Jake Fraley left the game due to a contusion on his right lower leg after he fouled a pitch off it during his second-inning at-bat. He is considered day-to-day.

The Reds came out swinging, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning for a second straight night. Multi-talented shortstop Elly De La Cruz got them going and they added on from there, building the lead to 9-0 by the sixth inning.

Matz retired the first two hitters in the second, then gave up back-to-back first homers of the season. The first was to Ke’Bryan Hayes, who Monday snapped an 0-for-33 streak and then Tuesday rapped his first extra-base hit of the season, and the other to Dane Myers.

Spencer Steer homered in the fifth off Griffin Jax to make it 5-0, and the Reds broke the game open with four runs in the sixth.

The most notable came when Myers broke for home on De La Cruz’s grounder to first. Jonathan Aranda’s throw to catcher Hunter Feduccia was on target and in time, but Myers somehow avoided Feduccia’s tag.

The Rays got on the board in the sixth when Junior Caminero singled and Aranda followed with a homer.

They got four more in the ninth on two bases-loaded walks and a bloop double by Jonny DeLuca.

Another positive note was an eighth-inning single by Yandy Diaz that was his 911th hit as a Ray, moving hit past BJ Upton into fourth place on the all-time franchise list, and his 986th overall, 14 shy of becoming the 20th Cuban-born player to reach 1,000 in the majors.

Matz signed a two-year, $1 million deal with the Rays based on the opportunity to start.

He worked five innings in winning his first three outings (versus the Cardinals, Twins and Yankees) and getting a no-decision in the fourth (against the White Sox).

In dropping a second straight game to the Reds, the Rays managed to lose series to all five National League Central teams, taking a 4-10 record into Wednesday’s matinee finale against the Reds.

“Talented teams,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said before Tuesday’s game. “We just saw the Reds one game, so it’s a little tough. But we went into Milwaukee, that bullpen is stacked. They’re very balanced righty-lefty and they’re all thrown upper 90s, 100s.

“Then you go to Pittsburgh and you look at that club, it’s a pretty stacked starting rotation, and they’re getting another guy back in (injured) Jared Jones here soon, (who) we know is very talented. And then they’ve done some nice things offensively with (former Ray Brandon) Lowe’s contributions adding to their offense.

“So no doubt it’s a talented division, and I’m guessing we’ll be happy to be done with them here soon.”