By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s finished the seven-game road trip with a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2. The A’s played the Rays four times at Tropicana Field. All four games featured excellent pitching, good defense, and timely hitting. In the four games, the Rays scored nine runs, the A’s eight. Each team showed why they are contenders to win their respective division in the American League. With the win, the A’s finished the road trip with a record of four wins and three losses.

The Rays’ starter, lefty Shane McClanahan, made his first start in the Major Leagues Thursday afternoon. McClanahan made his debut last year in the playoffs. The 24-year-old flame thrower made pitches that registered 101 miles-per-hour on the speed gun. The A’s Chris Bassitt pitched well for Oakland. Bassitt went six innings and allowed two runs and four hits. He struck out nine.

Neither team hit well in the four-game series. Runs were at a premium. Thursday’s game was no exception.
The Rays jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Chris Bassitt hit Rays’ second baseman, Brandon Lowe, with a pitch. Lowe scored on the double to right field by Austin Meadows.

The A’s tied the game in the top of the third. With one out, Tony Kemp singled to center. Kemp went to second on a wild pitch. Mark Canha singled to right. Kemp was thrown out at the plate. Fortunately for the A’s, Ramon Laureano came through doubled to deep left field to drive in Canha with the tying run.

The A’s took the lead in the top half of the fourth when Matt Chapman hit his four home run of the year. The A’s led 2-1 after four complete.
The Rays tied the game in the fifth. Brandon Lowe homered, leading off the bottom of the fifth. It was Lowe’s fourth of the year. Bassitt settled down and retired the next three hitters. Bassitt exited the game after the sixth inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin called on his bullpen to shut down the Rays. They did just that. Yusmeiro Petit and
Jake Diekman retired the Rays in order in the seventh and eighth innings. The A’s could do nothing against the Rays’ relievers until the ninth inning. Rays’ manager Kevin Cash brought in closer Diego Castillo to pitch the ninth. Castillo earned saves in the games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. It would be a different story Thursday afternoon.
With one out, Castillo walked A’s DH, Jed Lowrie. Castillo retired Sen Murphy for the second out. The next hitter, Matt Chapman, came through with a triple to right field. The ball went over the head of Brett Phillips. Lowrie scored from first to give the A’s the lead 3-2. A’s manager Bob Melvin summoned righty Lou Trivino to close out the game. Trivino retired the first two hitters. Brett Phillips singled to keep the Rays alive. Trivino had to retire Kevin Kiermaier for the final out. It wasn’t easy. Phillips advanced to second on a wild pitch. If Kiermaier were to get a hit, the Rays would have tied the game. Trivino won the battle as he struck out Kiermaier looking to preserve the win for Oakland. The A’s win 3-2.

Game Notes and Stats- With the win, the A’s are 16-10 for the season. The Rays are 13-13. Lou Trivino earned his fourth save of the year. Castillo took the loss.

A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, was injured during batting practice on Thursday. He was struck in his left eye by a ball that somehow bounced back to cause the injury. His eye was swollen, and the injury’s extent is unknown.

The A’s return home to face the Baltimore Orioles for three games starting Friday night. The veteran righty, Mike Fiers, will be making his first start of the year. Baltimore will counter with lefty John Means. Means is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.50. Means beat the A’s last Sunday in Baltimore by a score of 8-1. The game will start at 7:05 pm.