TAMPA, Fla. — So, you could easily blame another Rays defeat on home runs. After all, they gave up four more in a 5-4 loss against the Braves on Saturday.

But, for argument’s sake, why not consider this:

— Jose Caballero getting thrown out on the bases three different times between a caught stealing, a pickoff and getting doubled off first on a pop foul.

— Going 0 for 5 with the bases loaded in two different innings.

— Five relievers combining to give up 11 hits, three walks and all five runs in four innings of work.

Take your pick. The result was ugly no matter where you point.

Rays relievers were walking a razor’s edge for several innings before finally blowing the lead in the eighth.

With Tampa Bay up 3-1, Hunter Bigge surrendered back-to-back home runs to Ozzie Albies and Sean Murphy. Bigge faced six batters in the inning and allowed five balls hit at 102 mph or harder, along with a walk.

The bullpen wasted a third consecutive five-inning gem from Drew Rasmussen. The right-hander, who is being monitored closely due to his history of elbow problems, had been hoping to pitch a little deeper Saturday, but a higher-than-normal pitch count kept that from happening.

Even so, Rasmussen made big pitches when needed. The Braves were 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position against him. Rasmussen has allowed only one run and nine hits in his 15 innings of work this season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 15-to-2.

The Rays had multiple chances to expand the lead and kept coming up with multiple ways to stumble.

They loaded the bases with one out in the third and, after Jonathan Aranda’s RBI walk, Christopher Morel and Kameron Misner struck out. In the fourth, Caballero led off with a single but was doubled up when he slid into second base on a steal attempt while Taylor Walls was popping out in foul territory. Two innings later, the Rays loaded the bases with no outs and failed to get the ball out of the infield.

Number of the day

16: Home runs in the past four games at Steinbrenner Field surrendered by Rays pitchers.

Sunday: vs. Braves

1:40 p.m. ET, Steinbrenner Field

Pitchers: Rays — RH Shane Baz (1-0, 1.38); Braves — RH Chris Sale (0-1, 6.75)

Info: raysbaseball.com

On deck

Monday: vs. Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Ryan Pepiot (1-1, 3.38); Red Sox, RH Tanner Houck (0-1, 4.41)

Tuesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Zack Littell (0-3, 6.88); Red Sox, RH Walker Buehler (1-1, 5.74)

Wednesday: vs. Red Sox, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Taj Bradley (2-0, 3.71); Red Sox, LH Sean Newcomb (0-2, 4.97)

Thursday: vs. Yankees, 7:05 p.m. Rays, RH Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.60); Yankees, TBD.

Injured list

— OF Jonny DeLuca (10-day, right shoulder strain)

— RHP Alex Faedo (15-day, right shoulder inflammation)

— RHP Kevin Kelly (15-day, left gluteal strain)

— INF Ha-Seong Kim (10-day, right shoulder surgery recovery)

— LHP Nathan Lavender (60-day, left shoulder surgery recovery)

— OF Josh Lowe (10-day, right oblique strain)

— LHP Shane McClanahan (15-day, left triceps nerve-related issue)

— INF/OF Richie Palacios (10-day, right ring-finger fracture)

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