Category: MLB

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Why is Ted Williams in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame?

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Former Boston Red Sox and of Mexican heritage Ted Williams in 1941 hit for .406 a record that still stands today (photo from masslive.com)

Why is Ted Williams in The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, was founded in San Francisco, California in 1999, registered by the State of California as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Through the years at many of the exhibits, at different cities, baseball parks, libraries and community events, people ask why Ted Williams is inducted into the museum. Few people knew Teddy Ballgame had Mexican ancestry.

He just did not tell people about it. His father was Teddy Samuel Williams. Ted Williams was named after his father and Teddy Roosevelt. His mother May Venzor, was Mexican-American, born in El Paso, Texas, about 9 miles from Ciudad Juárez, México.

In that time in history (1940’s and 1950’s) Williams did not discussed his mother’s Mexican and Basque heritage. Williams wrote in his biography, ‘My Turn at Bat’, “If I had my mother’s name, there’s no doubt I would have run into problems in those days, with the prejudices people had in Southern California”.

But Williams also had credited his uncle, Saul Venzor, teaching him to hit and throw a baseball. It’s important to understand the era and circumstances when considering why Williams didn’t discuss his mother’s Mexican and Basque heritage. During an exhibit of the museum, at the San Francisco Main Library, in downtown San Francisco, a lot of people asked why Ted Williams is in this Hall of Fame.

Obviously many people still ignore his heritage and that is understandable, since the name Ted Williams is anything but Hispanic. Included in the purpose of the museum mission, is to inform the public in this regard about the great diversity that makes the large group of nations in Latin America as well as those born in the United States of Hispanic heritage.

There are 33 different countries in Latin America, with different cultures and traditions and even different languages. As a matter of fact in Brazil (the largest country in Latinamerica) Spanish is not the predominant language, but Portuguese. Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by territory, larger than Russia, Canada, US and China. Brazil is one of the great fútbol (soccer) powers of the world with a leading five (5) World Cup titles. But they also play baseball in Brazil.

Yan Gomes today is a catcher for the Washington Nationals. Other Brazilian-born players that have played in the Major Leagues: Paulo Orlando, Luis Gohara, Thyago Vieira and Andre Rienzo. Brazil has also participated in the World Baseball Classic.

The HHBMHOF is dedicated to recognizing the contributions made to baseball by Hispanic players. Since its inception, the HHBMHOF has inducted (74) players, coaches, broadcasters, Negro leagues Hispanic players, MLB Scorers, and Pioneer Executives. The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, respects the heritage of all players. The museum is proud to have the great Ted Williams in its Hall of Fame. The new museum website http://www.hhbmhof.com.com Stay well and stay tuned.

Mr.Gabriel (Tito) Avila Jr. is the Founder and President of The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame and Amaury Pi-González is co-founder and Vice President. The traveling museum was founded in San Francisco and ex-Athletics and Giants players Orlando Cepeda and Tito #23 Fuentes were co-founders of the popular museum. Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Matt Chapman’s nine-inning double powers the A’s to victory over the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2

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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.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s drop second game in four game series

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Tampa Bay Rays third base coach Rodney Linares (27) passes off his congratulations to Mike Zunino who belted a solo shot against Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin at Tropicana Field on Wed Apr 29, 2021 (AP News photo)

#1 Jerry we’ve seen the Oakland A’s (15-10) do this during their 13 game win streak a starter and the bullpen throws a shutout against their opponent but the tables were turned on the A’s on Wednesday night as the Tampa Bay Rays (13-12) starter Tyler Glasnow went seven innings five hits and no runs. Glasnow had his pitches working for him.

#2 Jerry, I know we do these podcasts remotely you don’t have the privilege to be there a Tropicana Field in person but just watching Glasnow throw he simply looked like he kept the A’s big boppers off balance during his outing.

#3 Do the A’s look like they’ve come down from that high of going 13 straight games or are the Rays who give the A’s fits whether it’s regular season or post season just that much of a team that’s in control.

#4 After losing in Baltimore last Sunday and losing the last two games to the Rays the A’s have been struggling offensively at the plate and are in sure dire need to see Matt Chapman get his swing back he was hitting .152 but got two hits on Wednesday night.

#5 Jerry, the A’s will try and even up the series as they play game four of the series with the Rays at 10:10 AM PDT. The A’s will start Chris Bassitt (2-2 ERA 4.13) and he’ll match up against the Rays Shane McClanahan (0-0)

Join Jerry each Thursday for the Oakland A’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants day off report: New acquisition makes immediate contribution

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San Francisco Giants Mike Tauchman didn’t waste anytime showing off his hitting talents at Oracle Park against the Colorado Rockies on Wed Apr 28, 2021 proving to be a good acquisition (photo from nj.com)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 29, 2021

It didn’t take long for newly-acquired Mike Tauchman to make a contribution to the San Francisco Giants offense.

No sooner did Tauchman arrive on Wednesday after a deal with the New York Yankees, he delivered an infield RBI single to help the Giants defeat Colorado 7-3 at Oracle Park. The outfielder was dealt to San Francisco by the Bronx Bombers in exchange for left-handed reliever Wandy Peralta and a player to be named later.

Tauchman was hitting .214 in 11 games with the Yankees. In his five-year MLB career with the Yanks and Colorado, the 30-year-old Tauchman has a .250 average with 26 doubles, 13 home runs, 63 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

Peralta was 2-1 with two saves and a 5.40 earned run average in 10 appearances – all in relief – for the Giants this season. He is 9-9 with a 4.72 ERA and two saves in nine big league seasons with the Giants and Cincinnati. The 29-year-old lefthander joins lefties Aroldis Chapman and Justin Wilson in the Yankee bullpen.

Tauchman draws a $624,200 major league salary; $301,550 if he plays in the minors. He could eligible for arbitration after this season. Peralta makes $925,000, is eligible for arbitration following this season, and can become a free agent in two years.

The Giants currently have three players on the injured list – Jarlin Garcia (April 21, left groin strain), Donovan Solano (April 22, strained right calf) and Mike Yastrzemski (April 26, strained left oblique).

The Giants travel to San Diego for a weekend series against the NL West third-place Padres. Kevin Gausman (1-0, 2.14) starts for San Francisco on Friday against the Padres’ Yu Darvish (2-1, 2.27). The other Giants probables for the series are Logan Webb (1-1, 4.03) on Saturday and Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.50) on Sunday.

Welcoming Walks: Rockies provide gifts, as Giants roll to a 7-2 win

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Well, it’s like a walk in the park, or even better, like walking your dog.

Just know, when it goes down at a Major League park, it’s only good for the walkers… seeing highly paid competitors on the other side of a walk parade standing around their infield positions, slumped with their heads down, trying to figure out how their big league clubs reverted to Little League all of a sudden will simply make you uncomfortable.

The Rockies did all of that Wednesday night, as Colorado pitchers issued nine walks–and surrendered nine singles–in their 7-3 loss to the Giants. Alex Wood no-hit the visitors into the sixth inning as well, but now we’re just dumping on the dog. The Giants are playing well, but this one was really about how poorly the Rockies competed.

“That’s unacceptable for a big-league pitching staff to walk nine guys,” manager Bud Black said.

Three of the walks came with the bases loaded–that’s only happened three times in the history of the Rockies–and each one sucked the life out of the team starting in the second inning. Starter German Marquez issued a pair of the costly walks, essentially half of a four-run inning that put the Giants comfortably in front.

The Rockies fell to 1-8 on the road this season, one night after they hit three homers after the eighth inning and drew seven walks, all signs of a club being dialed in even with a string of undesirable results. But Wednesday, the Rockies dialed out and the Giants pounced.

In the seventh, Mike Tauchman, in his three-hit Giants’ debut, reached on an infield single that scored Evan Longoria. The next batter, Curt Casali drew the third, bases loaded walk from Yency Almonte, and the Giants led 6-2. Wilmer Flores, not patient enough to see a couple of balls, concluded the scoring with a hard hit single that plated Brandon Crawford.

“He was exactly as advertised,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Tauchman, acquired from the Yankees in s deal for reliever Wandy Peralta. “Comfortable in the outfield. In the batter’s box, he’s a fighter. Very competitive.”

Wood did what many were anticipating, he added a third, brilliant outing to his brief career with the Giants, improving to 3-0 with 20 strikeouts and three walks. The 30-year old was sharp throughout with his slider, and just needed a near diving catch from Darin Ruf to extend his spell on the Rockies to seven innings. The eighth however was a struggle for Wood, who was lifted after allowing three singles and a walk consecutively.

“I feel like I’m dialed in, and I had all three (pitches) working tonight,” said Wood, no longer burdened by the back and shoulder issues that caused the Dodgers and Reds to lose patience with him in recent seasons. “Just commanding the ball well right now.”

The Giants improved to 16-9, tied with the Dodgers atop the NL West. Pitching continues to be their calling card, they rank second in team ERA at 2.93. But the potential of their offense, with 31 home runs despite an anemic, team batting average of .224 gives them hope for even greater growth once their bats gain efficiency.

After winning 5 of 7 at home, the Giants start a stretch of 20 of 28 on the road starting with a Friday night date with the Padres at Petco Park.

–

Ray’s Tyler Glasnow shuts out A’s 2-0

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A tip of the cap after leaving in the seventh inning Tampa Bay Rays starter Tyler Glasnow and the bullpen shutout the Oakland A’s at Tropicana Field on Wed Apr 28, 2021 (@RaysBaseball photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Tampa Bay Ray’s (13-12) outstanding righty Tyler Glasnow earned his third win of the season as he shut down the Oakland (15-10) offense with seven innings with no runs and five hits. Glasnow struck out ten. The A’s starter, Cole Irvin, pitched well for the third consecutive game.

Irvin allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings of work. Irvin struck out eight Rays’ hitters. Had the A’s mounted any attack, Irvin could have picked up a win. A’s manager Bob Melvin had to be impressed with Irvin’s outing.

The Rays scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth. With two out, Ray’s catcher, Mike Zunino, homered to left field. The ball hit either the C or D catwalk—the ground rules at Tropicana Field state that a ball that hits either catwalk is a home run. The Rays added another run in the inning. Irvin walked the next hitter, Brett Phillips. Randy Arozarena singled, sending Phillips to third. Manuel Margot drove in Phillips with a single. The Rays had all the runs they would need to win.


Lefty Jeffrey Springs retired the A’s in order in the eighth. He recorded the first out in the ninth. Singles by Matt Chapman and Sean Murphy had Rays’ manager Kevin Cash call for his closer, Diego Castillo, to put out the fire. Castillo struck out Tony Kemp and got Vimael Machin to ground out to first baseman Yandy Diaz for the final out.

Game Notes and Stats- With the loss, the A’s are 15-10 for the year. They are still in first place in the AL West. Their line was no runs, seven hits, and no errors. Tampa Bay improved to 13-12 and are in second place in the AL East. Their line was two runs, eight hits, and no errors.


The A’s struck out 13 times Wednesday night. They suffered their first shutout of the season.
The time of the game was two hours and forty-five minutes.

The A’s finish the four-game series with the Rays Thursday morning. Chris Bassitt will handle the pitching chores for Oakland. Ray’s rookie lefty, Shane McClanahan, will be making his Major League debut. The game starts at 10:10 am.

Rockies go back-to-back in extra innings to get win 7-5

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Colorado Rockies Ryan McMahon belted a two run homer in the top of the tenth against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 27, 2021 (@Rockies photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

Ryan McMahon gave the Colorado Rockies a much-needed win with one swing of the bat after surrendering the lead just one-half inning earlier.

McMahon hammered a two-run home run into the Rockies bullpen in the top of the 10th inning off of Gregory Santos and then C.J. Cron made it to back-to-back home runs, when hit one to the opposite field landed onto the Arcade, as the Rockies defeated the San Francisco Giants 7-5 at Oracle Park.

Santos fell to 0-2 on the season, as he allowed three runs on three hits, walked one and struck out one and saw his earned run average balloon to 22.50.

This was the first win in five meetings that the Rockies defeated the Giants, and it was a huge bounce back after they were shellacked in the opener of the three-game series by the final of 12-0.

Buster Posey picked up his third hit of the night in the bottom of the 10th inning, as he hit a long single off the 24 high wall in right field that easily scored Brandon Belt, who was on second base to start the inning. Unfortunately, Darren Ruf struck out for the first out versus Carlos Estevez and then Austin Slater grounded into a game-ending double play to end the game.

Brandon Crawford tied up the game in the bottom of the ninth inning, as he launched a Josh Bard pitch into McCovey Cove.

Garrett Hampson gave the Rockies the lead in the top of the ninth inning, as he hit his third home run of the season off of Giants closer Jake McGee; however, the lead was short lived, as Crawford tied it up in the bottom of the inning.

Aaron Sanchez went just 4.2 innings for the Giants, allowing two runs on just one hit; however, he walked five and struck out six.

Chi Chi Gonzalez went five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four.

Jose Alvarez came on to replace Sanchez, and gave up a run in the top of the sixth inning that tied up the game, when Dom Nunez grounded into a force out that scored Cron to tie up the game for the Rockies.

That would be the score until Hampson hit his third home run of the season to give the Rockies a short lead in the top of the ninth inning.

The Giants were able to get the winning run to second base in Evan Longoria after Wilmer Flores reached on a fielding error by Bard, but Belt grounded out to end the inning.

Charlie Blackmon gave the Rockies an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as he hit an opposite field double to left field that scored McMahon and Cron.

Alex Dickerson cut the Rockies in half in the bottom of the first inning, as he grounded out to first base that scored Belt from third base.

Jason Vosler picked up his first major league RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he doubled to right field that scored Crawford; however, Mauricio Dubon was easily thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

Belt gave the Giants in the bottom of the fifth inning, when he hit his fourth home run of the season off of Gonzalez.

NOTES: Prior to the game, the Giants and the New York Yankees completed a trade with outfielder Michael Tauchman joining the Giants organization in exchange for LHP Wandy Peralta and a Player to be Named Later.

Also, the Giants recalled Skye Bolt from the alternate site, who made his major- league debut in the bottom of the sixth and struck out in a pinch-hitting role, while batting for Camilo Doval.

In Mondays 12-0 win, Posey picked up four hits and was on the receiving end of Anthony DeSclafanis three-hit shutout and it marked the eighth time in his career he’s caught a shutout (CG or not) while having more hits himself than the entire opposing team… it’s the most such games by any catcher in the modern era, this according to (Stats, LLC).

UP NEXT: Alex Wood will take the ball in the series and home stand finale on Wednesday night for the Giants, while the Rockies will send German Marquez to the mound.

Rays hold on for 4-3 win over Athletics

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The Tampa Bay Rays jump for joy after defeating the Oakland A’s in the second of the four game series on Tue Apr 27, 2021 (@RaysBaseball photo)

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Joey Wendle’s stroked an insurance RBI single, and Diego Castillo earned his fifth save, as Tampa Bay edged Oakland 4-3 Tuesday at Tropicana Field.

Wendle singled to shallow left field drove in Randy Arozarena in the bottom of the seventh. The Athletics battled back when Sean Murphy homered to left in the top of the ninth off Castillo, his third of the season, cutting the Rays’ lead to 4-3.

Tampa Bay went ahead to stay in the bottom of the sixth on Brett Phillips’ two-run home run that erased a 2-1 A’s lead and eventually gave A’s starter Frankie Montas (2-2) the loss. Earlier, Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth broke a 1-1 tie.

Jeffrey Springs (1-0) worked the sixth inning to earn the win. Rays starter Michael Wacha struck out two without a walk in five innings.

Montas gave up three earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking two in six innings. He was followed on the mound by J.B. Wendelken and Reymin Guduan.

Matt Olson had two of Oakland’s eight hits, while Francisco Mejia was 3-for-4 for the Rays, leading their 10-hit attack.

The two teams meet again on Wednesday, with Cole Irvin (2-2, 3.86) on the mound for Oakland, facing the Rays’ Tyler Glasnow (2-1, 2.05).

Hard-hitting Giants strike early and take care of the Rockies, 12-0

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The Giants love to get their most violent, damaging swings in when they see a pitch they can drive. In MLB circles, that’s common knowledge about the club in 2021.

So Rockies starter Austin Gomber knew it, but couldn’t stop it in the Giants’ 12-0 win on Monday.

Before he was lifted in the second inning, Gomber gave up seven, solidly struck hits, walked four, and was charged with nine runs despite recording just five outs. The shortest starting assignment of his career included his most hits (7) and runs allowed (9) as well.

What’s worse for Gomber? He probably didn’t even sense that trouble was brewing. The key piece moving from St. Louis to Denver in the Nolan Arenado trade has been pitching well and cruised into the seventh inning on April 9, allowing three hits and a run, in his only other start at Oracle Park.

“A lot of the hits were just middle of the plate,” Gomber said afterwards. “I think it was more about execution and putting myself in bad counts. They had a good game plan.”

Manager Bud Black intimated that there may have been more to Gomber’s uncharacteristic performance in that the pitcher may have tipped his pitches. But both pitcher and manager agreed they couldn’t say more in that regard without consulting the videotape.

“I think that there were some pitches in the middle of the plate that they squared up,” Black said. “But we’re going to look at some video to see if there was something more to it.”

With the socially-distanced crowd of 4,129 thinned even more by uncomfortable wind and cold, the voices, pitches and bats were audible throughout the park. The Giants’ loud contact off Gomber made an impression. Their breakout performance included three doubles and a two-run homer from Buster Posey off Jhoulys Chacin in the sixth.

Posey knocked in a run in the four-run first inning, and Evan Longoria, in his return to the lineup following a weekend of inactivity due to a hamstring injury, knocked in runs in the first and second innings.

Gomber was lifted trailing 6-0, but two pitches later Mauricio Dubon’s bases-loaded double off Chacin made it 9-0.

“There’s not much to complain about tonight. What’s there to pick apart?” manager Gabe Kapler said. “The guys did a great job.”

Anthony DeSclafani pitched a complete game shutout for the Giants, allowing three hits, one walk while striking out nine. DeSclafani has allowed five earned runs over five starts and 30 innings pitched. His 1.50 ERA is dramatically lower than the 3.28 he posted in 2016 for the Reds, in his previous best season at the major league level.

“I kinda peaked at my pitch count and saw that it was low and I knew I had a chance to finish the game as long as I beared down and didn’t get too lax and tried to continue making pitches,” DeSclafani said.

The Giants have won 13 of 18 after a 2-3 start to match the record of the first-place Dodgers at 15-8. The two clubs don’t meet for the first time until May 21, with the Giants having 21 scheduled games against lesser competition prior to that date.

Murphy’s blast powers A’s to a win over Rays 2-1

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The Oakland A’s picked up their 14th win in 15 games over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay on Mon Apr 26, 2021 (@Athletics photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s opened the four-game series with the Tampa Bays Monday night at Tropicana Field. The game featured a matchup of two left-handed pitchers. The A’s had Sean Manaea on the Hill looking for his third win of the year. The Rays sent 41-year-old lefty Rich Hill to the mound. Hill, who pitched for Oakland in 2016, is a master of the curveball.

He throws from different arm angles, and the A’s knew he would be one tough customer. The Orioles snapped the A’s thirteen-game winning streak Sunday in Baltimore. Oakland was hoping to get back on the winning track with a win. 

The Rays put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Rays’ right fielder Randy Arozarena led off the frame with a single. The next hitter, Yandy Diaz, lined a rocket off Sean Manaea’s right leg. Manaea was able to pick up the ball and fire to first to get the out. Arazarena made it to second. He stole third and scored on Austin Meadows’ sacrifice fly to center field. The Rays lead 1-0.

The A’s defense saved a run in the bottom of the third. With two out and a man on second, Stephen Piscotty made a diving catch on Manuel Margot’s fly ball to right. 

Rich Hill had his way with the A’s hitters. He had his curveball working its magic. The A’s had one hit in the first three innings, and Hill had struck out five A’s. In the fourth, he retired the first two hitters. The next hitter, Matt Chapman, worked Hill for a walk. Sean Murphy, who struck out in the second inning, blasted a flyball to left that barely made it over the fence to put the A’s ahead 2-1.

Neither team would score. Manaea lasted five innings. He threw 100 pitches in five innings of work. The A’s used Yusmeiro Petit in the sixth and seventh. Jake Diekman pitched the eighth, and Lou Trivino closed out the game for Oakland.

Game Notes and Stats: In the top of the seventh, the A’s manager Bob Melvin was tossed from the game. With two outs and a man on first, Tony Kemp hit a popup that landed in between three Rays’ fielders. Tropicana Field’s covering for the dome contributed to the ball dropping in safely.

Elvis Andrus, running on the play, appeared to have slid in safely at home. The home plate umpire called him out. The A’s asked for a review. The replay showed that Andrus’s hand slid across the plate before Ray’s catcher, Mike Zunino, applied the tag. The review crew in New York did not overturn the call. Melvin was incensed and let the umpires know they were wrong. They sent Melvin to the clubhouse. 

Manaea’s line was five innings of work, four hits, and one run allowed. His record improved to 3-1. Lou Trivino earned his third save in three opportunities. Rich Hill was the hard-luck loser. He went six innings and allowed two runs and two hits. His only mistake was the gopher ball that he served up to Murphy.

Rich Hill hit Mark Canha with a pitch in the third inning. It was the 59th time that a pitch has hit Canha in his time with the A’s. He and Sal Banda are tied for first in Oakland A’s history in that department.

With the win, the A’s are 15-8 for the season. The Rays, defending American League champions, are 11-12.

The A’s and Rays play game two of the series Tuesday night. Righty Frankie Montas (2-1) will go for Oakland. The Rays will counter with righty Michael Wacha (1-1). The game will start at 4:05 pm.