Not all streaks come to an end for Rays

A pair of streaks continued Sunday during the Tampa Bay Rays' loss to the Florida Marlins.

2B Sean Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to a career-best 14 games with a third-inning single, and 3B Evan Longoria extended his streak of reaching base at least once to 31 games with a fourth-inning walk.

"Constant work, hitting in the cage, talking, watching video and making adjustments here and there," Rodriguez gave as the reasons behind his streak. "Playing a lot, too. I think it's more you come to field every day, you know you're going to play."

Rodriguez is batting .429 during his hitting streak, raising his average to .288.

Longoria's streak is the longest of its kind in the major leagues. He was 0-for-3, though, which snapped his hitting streak at nine games.

Not as bad as it looks

James Shields, Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann each lost as the Rays split the six-game homestand. Niemann's loss Sunday came after his third career shutout.

Manager Joe Maddon attributed the Rays' recent swoon to the inability of the rotation to perform like it had earlier in the season.

"Just a little bit off their normal game," Maddon said. "It's going to happen. They're all going to be fine. They're going to rebound and pitch like they did earlier in the season. I'm certain of that. It's just the ebb and flow of the season, and you have to expect it."

Niemann said the rotation isn't pitching as bad as it appears.

"I don't think so. I don't think anything's wrong with anybody," he said. "It's just that we've been so good all along that kind of when the bad ones happen they really stand out. Hopefully we can get back to doing what we've been doing before and just go out there and pitch."

Defense, defense and more defense

The Rays certainly gave Niemann a chance to settle down with three gems in the first three innings.

With runners at second and third in the first, LF Carl Crawford raced into the gap to catch a line drive by Dan Uggla and end the inning.

SS Reid Brignac dived to stop a grounder by Wes Helms with a runner on first and one out in the second and used his glove to flip the ball to Rodriguez, who turned and threw to first to complete the double play.

Rodriguez then went behind second to field a grounder by Hanley Ramirez to start the third and, while jumping, made the throw to first.

Odds and ends

Crawford grounded into his first double play of the season. It came in his 239th at-bat, which tied him with Josh Hamilton for the AL lead for the most at-bats without grounding into a double play. ... RHP Dan Wheeler allowed his first career run to the Marlins, ending a streak of 132/3 scoreless innings spanning 23 appearances. ... Former Ray Rocco Baldelli, now a special assignment coach with the organization, long-tossed in the outfield before Sunday's game. Baldelli is rehabbing a right shoulder injury and regularly takes early batting practice.