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ST. PETERSBURG – With the bottom half of the Rays batting order coming up, in a two-run game, Cubs manager Criag Counsell called for right-handed reliever Mark Leiter Jr.
“They change out the bottom of their lineup quite a bit,” Counsell said after the Cubs’ 3-2 loss Thursday to the Rays. “We’ve got three innings to cover. Leiter’s been a guy that’s gotten big outs for us.”
The Rays rolled out a starting lineup with just one left-handed hitter, Brandon Lowe, against Cubs left-handed starter Justin Steele, who threw six scoreless innings.