If Kevin Cash’s goal was to protect his bullpen, then mission accomplished.
If his goal had been to win the game, he and his team fell short.
Jalen Beeks, the Rays lefty who has performed bulk and starter duties, was inconsistent today — more on that later. But a pitcher who has struggled to turn over lineups without getting into trouble was allowed to pitch five innings, going three times through the top of the Padres order, and over that time he threw 92 pitches, giving up five hits, five earned runs, while walking two and striking out six.