Rays know Archer’s talent goes beyond win-loss record

NEW YORK — Chris Archer looked at ease before Saturday’s start for the Rays, sitting in front of his locker at Yankee Stadium, smiling and chatting with teammates. He didn’t look like a man crushed under the weight of more losses than any other pitcher in the American League.

“I think he’s handled it fine,” manager Kevin Cash said.

The Yankees then threw another loss on Archer’s pile with a 5-1 victory over Tampa Bay. Archer tied Tanyon Sturtze’s 2002 single-season franchise record with 18 defeats for a team that’s now 59-82.

“Ever since I started playing baseball professionally, I never evaluated myself based on win-loss,” Archer said back at his locker after Saturday’s game.

The 27-year-old right-hander was an All-Star last season, but this season has been more of an up-and-down ride. The arrow, though, has been pointing up dating back to July 20. After yielding three runs and four hits while striking out six over seven innings on Saturday, he has now allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his past 10 starts. …

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