By Morris Phillips

For the A’s, it has to get better because it can’t get worse.

In losing 11-0 for the second consecutive day the A’s did absolutely nothing of note except appear on the injury list with a significant issue regarding Seth Brown. Given that, saying the right things after the game carries some weight.

“The ball didn’t roll our way today, and we’ve got to shore up some things,” second baseman Tony Kemp said. “It’s good to get the bad things out of the way now. It was a tough series for us. We have stay positive, stay confident and keep moving forward.”

The A’s were swept in three games by the red-hot Rays, who set a couple of impressive records in starting the season 9-0. Run differential is one of those records that was merely enhanced by Tampa Bay outscoring the A’s 31-5 across the series.

“When you’re rolling as a team, you just keep it going. You don’t question anything,” said Brandon Lowe.

As outstanding as the Rays were, it still felt the A’s were trying to draw greater attention to themselves with their poor play. The A’s managed just one hit–Ramon Laureano’s single–and two baserunners. Only five A’s reached base on Saturday night, another snoozefest for the visitors.

James Kaprelian’s start was rocky, but it looked like almond butter until the fourth when Brandon Lowe’s grand slam put things out of reach at 5-0. The Rays struck for four more in the sixth, and single runs in the eighth and ninth.

The A’s pitching staff proved plenty helpful by issuing seven walks and hitting two batters.

Brown was injured in Saturday’s game on a check swing. The injury became serious when it was diagnosed as an oblique issue that will land Brown’s critical contributions on the disabled list.

The A’s visit Baltimore on Monday, another team on the rise. JP Sears will face Kyle Gibson in the series opener.