by Jerry Feitelberg
Oakland- After sweeping the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, Oakland was hoping to continue their success against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The A’s starter, Daniel Gossett pitched one of his better games as a member of the A’s. Gossett went seven innings and allowed seven hits. However, two of the hits were solo homers, and he left the game trailing 3-1. The A’s rallied to score a run in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Rays were able to hold on for a 3-2 win.
The Rays’ starter, Jake Odorizzi stymied the A’s for seven innings. Odorizzi’s allowed just one hit, and that was a solo homer to Khris Davis. Odorizzi improved his record to 6-4 and Gossett’s record dropped to 1-5. Gossett had allowed eight homers in his first six starts and now has allowed ten this year. The game summary follows below.
The Rays’ right fielder, Stephen Souza Jr,, leading off the second inning, sent a Daniel Gossett pitch into the left field bleachers to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. For Souza, it was his 19th round tripper of the year, and there was no doubt about when it left his bat. The Rays added a run in the top of the third. With one out, Gossett issued a walk to Mallex Smith. Smith advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Corey Dickerson single. Evan Longoria reached on a fielder’s choice and that allowed Smith to record the Rays’ second run of the contest.
The A’s left fielder, Khris Davis, homered to right center field with one out to make it a 2-1 game. For Davis, it was his 26th homer of the season and it was the A’s first hit of the game.
The Rays’ Evan Longoria hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. It was Longoria’s 14th of the year.
There was no more scoring in the game until the bottom of the ninth. Yonder Alonso led off with a double. He advanced to third on a ground out by Jed Lowrie. The Rays’ closer, Alex Colome uncorked a wild pitch and Alonso was able to score on the play. Colome retired Ryon Healy for the final out of the game to secure the win for the Rays.
Game notes- With the win, the Rays moved within two games of the AL East lead as the Red Sox lost to Toronto Monday night. The A’s managed just two hits in the game. Davis had the home run, and Yonder Alonso led off the ninth with a double off Rays’ closer Alex Colome.
The A’s used three pitchers in the game. Blake Treinen, acquired from the Washington Nationals in the trade for Doolittle and Madson, made his A’s debut and worked the eighth inning. He issued a walk but was able to retire the side with no damage. Michael Brady pitched the ninth for the A’s.
Time of game was two hours and forty-eight minutes. 9,736 people watched as the A’s lost their 51st game of 2017. The Attendance was the smallest crowd since May 2nd, 2011.
Game two of the three-game series will be played Tuesday night. It will be Root Beer Float night as the proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Righty Chris Smith will take the mound for Oakland, and lefty Blake Snell will pitch for Tamp Bay. Neither pitcher has a victory this year. Smith is 0-0 will Snell owns a record of 0-5.
