The Pittsburgh Pirates faced their third consecutive loss of the season, falling 6-1 to the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. A strong start from Carmen Mlodzinski, who pitched effectively for four innings, was undermined in the fifth when the Rays erupted for four runs. Drew Rasmussen played a crucial role in the game for the Rays, dominating the Pirates' offense and limiting their scoring opportunities. The Pirates’ record now stands at 1-4, raising concerns about their early-season performance and offensive struggles against a resilient Rays pitching staff.