The Toronto Blue Jays continue to struggle in Tampa Bay, and against the Rays wherever the teams meet.
A 3-2 loss Wednesday night assured the Jays of their 16th successive series loss when they visit the Rays. One of the series was at the Ballpark at Disney when the Rays played some home games there, and the other 15 were at Tropicana Field.
But the domination is not only at The Trop anymore. The Rays are now 8-2 against Toronto this season and have won eight of the past nine against the Blue Jays.
The Rays are 23-9 against the Jays since Sept. 1, 2010, and are 44-20 against them since June 29, 2009.
Since the beginning of the 2011 season, Tampa Bay pitching has a 2.64 ERA against Toronto, its lowest mark against any team.
That is why the Rays are 11-0-1 in their past 12 series against the Blue Jays, 20-1-1 in the past 22 series and 25-2-1 in their past 28 series.
The last time the Blue Jays won a series from the Rays was Aug. 6-8, 2010, when they swept three games at the Rogers Centre.
The Blue Jays have been contenders only in their own minds this season. One of the reasons they remain pretenders is their struggles against the Rays.
Toronto reporters incessantly ask questions of management and players about the difficulty of competing in the American League East against the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. They never seem to mention the Rays.
If the Blue Jays as an organization also feel that way, it might be part of the problem. It is a big oversight considering the Rays have been to the postseason three times in the past four seasons.
The Blue Jays will try Thursday afternoon to salvage one win from the series.