Oakland A’s starter Mitch Spence pitches in the first inning had a no hitter going into the sixth inning at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tue May 28, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (23-33) not got some great pitching in game one of their three game series with the Tampa Bay Rays (26-29) but they also got a huge sixth inning from Miguel Andujar. Andujar hit a home run with Max Schuemann and JJ Bleday on base for the 3-0 shutout in the series opener at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Mason Miller closed out the game for Oakland in the ninth inning for his 11th save this season.

Game recap: The first five innings were an effort from both teams trying to hit off either pitcher. The A’s Mitch Spencer had a great game Tuesday. He was three up and three down in the first inning and solid in the second with a single walk.

He had three up and three down third, fourth and fifth innings. He allowed one hit in the sixth before he was relieved by T.J. McFarland. He showed off some great work on the mound today. The Rays Zach Littell was also solid through five innings allowing two hits in the third inning but he was also going three up and three down for most of the game going into the sixth.

It all came to an end for Littell as he had a rough sixth inning with Oakland breaking through for the first runs of the game. Max Schuemann reached first base due to an error by Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe.

Abraham Toro grounded out sending Schuemann to second. The A’s JJ Bleday walked and Oakland had two runners on base. Miguel Andujar came to the plate with two outs. He was very impressive in his Oakland debut going up against Justin Verlander in the first game of their series with the Astros last Friday night.

That had been his first at-bat in almost eight months and he drove a fast ball into left field for an RBI. He took that success into today’s game hitting a home run out of left field giving the A’s a 3-0 lead which held going into the eighth inning.

Michael Kelly relieved T.J. McFarland in the eighth inning. McFarland turned in some nice work allowing no hits, no runs with one strikeout as Oakland continued to hold the 3-0 lead through eight innings.

Oakland was three outs away from a shutout and the A’s sent in the “Reaper” Mason Miller to close out this game. He got behind in the count 3-0 in the Rays first at bat but finished off Jose Caballero with three strikes for the first out.

Tampa Bay’s Richie Palacios flied out for the second out. Miller stumbled a bit allowing a single from Brandon Lowe and then walking Yandy Diaz. With two runners on base Miller faced Isaac Paredes striking him out for the third out and the 3-0 shutout and once again it was “Miller Time.” This was his 11th saves of the season.

Post game notes: After dropping a series to the Houston Astros over the weekend, the A’s traveled back to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays Tuesday night. Mitch Spencer was on the hill for the A’s went 5.1 innings gave just one hit and struck out four batters. The Rays starter Zach Littell went seven innings, gave up five hits, and struck nine. After a up and down offensive patch, Oakland was ready and got their bats on track in Tuesday night’s game with that three run sixth.

Game two of this three game series will start at 3:50 PM on Wednesday. Joey Estes will be on the hill for Oakland with a 1-1 win/loss record, ERA 7.47. The A’s offense will be facing Ryan Pepiot who will start for Tampa Bay. He has a 3.98 ERA and a 3-2 win/loss record.