CHICAGO — A day after lighting up the scoreboard in beating the Dodgers, the Rays’ major league-leading offense was shut down and shut out Monday in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs.
Veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman held the Rays to one hit for the afternoon. He had a no-hitter through six innings — allowing only one baserunner when Luke Raley was hit by a pitch in the fourth — then allowed the lone hit, a single by Wander Franco leading off the seventh. Stroman threw 105 pitches.
Franco quickly stole second and Brandon Lowe followed with a walk. But Randy Arozarena flied to right and Josh Lowe grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Rookie Taj Bradley gave the Rays a strong start, working into the sixth, allowing only an unearned run, giving up three hits and a walk while striking out eight.
The Cubs got their first run in an unexpected way, as the result of an error by third baseman Taylor Walls, one of the game’s best defensive infielders.
Seiya Suzuki led off the fourth with sharp grounder to Walls, whose throw sailed over the head of first baseman Yandy Diaz. Suzuki ended up on second, the play scored a hit and an error. He moved up to third on a fly out to centerfield and scored on a sac fly to center by Mike Tauchman.
Rookie lefty Joe LaSorsa made his debut for the Rays, working two no-hit innings.