Tag: Tampa Bay Rays

Rays defeat the A’s 5-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Lewis Rubman

Tampa Bay: 5 | 10 | 2 | 6 LOB

Oakland: 3 | 10 | 1 | 7 LOB

OAKLAND — After the shock of Frankie Montas’s suspension, the A’s had the arduous task of dealing with the Tampa Bay Rays, a difficult opponent in spite of their recent downward spiral, in which they’ve lost their last four games and eight of their last 10. After all, going into tonight´s fray at 43-32, they’ve had the third best won-lost record in the American League, trailing only the Yankees and Astros.

Oakland’s right handed starter, Tanner Anderson (0-1, 3.27 ERA) began with a strong first inning, striking out two Rays, both swinging, while allowing only a single to Tommy Pham.

The green and gold mounted a threat against Tampa Bay’s opener, the right-hander throwing Andrew Kittridge (0-0,5.40) when Khris Davis’ two out single to center sent Matt Chapman, who had walked, to third. But Ramón Laureano, who had struck out in all four of his plate appearances in Thursday’s epic battle, went down swinging to end the inning.

Anderson held Tampa Bay at bay through the second, striking out two more Rays in the process, but faltered significantly in the third frame. The A’s hurler walked weak hitting (.093) Joey Wendle on four pitches to open the inning. After Guillermo Heredia forced Wendle out at second with a slow grounder to Chapman, Brandon Lowe slammed a double off the center field wall that plated Heredia. While this was going on, Laureano’s bobble allowed Lowe to advance to third. He scored on a passed ball, while Austin Meadows was at bat. A nifty play by Chapman on a grouder by Travis d’Arnaud staunched the flow.

Meanwhile, Kitterage completed his allotted two innings and left after throwing 39 pitches and allowing two hits and one walk against three strikeouts. Southpaw Jalen Beeks (5-0, 2.73 ERA) followed Kitterage and had no trouble with the first two A’s batters he faced. But Matt Olson slammed a 2-2 delivery over the center field fence for his 12th home run of the season to narrow the gap to 2-1.

The Rays immediately widened that gap. Kevin Kiermaier opened the fourth with a ground ball that Anderson couldn’t handle and which went for a single. Kiermaier moved up a base on Willie Adames’s single to right and moved on to third when Wendle’s grounder to Semien forced Adames at second. Kiermaier scored when Heredia’s ground ball to Profar, in turn, forced Wendle at second.

Laureano blasted a 1-0 curve ball to open the home fourth with his twelfth home run of the season, this one coming on a fly to left. The A’s now trailed 3-2. That comeback fizzled out when Phegley hit into a double play, second unassisted to first, with Profar and Pinder on base.

Anderson’s laborious tenure on the mound ended at the close of the fourth. He had thrown 79 pitches, 49 for strikes and yielded three runs (all earned), seven hits, and three walks, striking out four. His replacement was left-hander Wei-Chung Wang.

Two round trippers in two innings was enough to convince manager Keven Cash to remove Beeks and replace him with righty Austin Pruitt at the start of the bottom of the fifth.

The next long ballgame came off the bat of Willie Adames, who lifted an 0-1 pitch out of play to put the Rays up 4-2 in the sixth.

It looked as if the A’s would shave a run off Tampa Bay’s lead in the bottom of the sixth when, with Khris Davis on first with a single, Profar sliced a two bagger into left. Davis had a good shot at scoring but was cut down, left fielder Phan to shortstop Adames to catcher d’Arnaud. The A’s requested a video review, but that showed that there had been no illegal blocking of home and that Davis was well and truly out.

Adames’ fourth bagger was the only hit off Wang in his three innings of work. He was replaced by Joakim Soria to start the eighth. The veteran still had enough gas in his tank to retire the side, one, two, three, on two strikeouts and an unassisted put out when the pitcher fielded Kiermaier’s bouncer and outraced the center fielder to tag him out on the way to first.

Chapman’s first pitch lead-off double to left center sent Pruitt to the showers in the bottom of the eighth. The tactic of bringing in a left-handed pitcher to face a left handed batter backfired when Olson drove a hard liner into right field for a run producing double that once more narrowed Tampa Bay’s lead to a single run. Cash immediately removed his southpaw so that right handed Chaz Roe could face right handed Khris Davis. The tactic worked against Davis, who grounded to short, Olson diving back to second. It worked against Laureano, too, who took a two-seam fastball for a called strike three. This brought in Oliver Drake to face switch-hitting Profar, who batted from the left side, his weak one. Of course, he would have batted from that side against Roe as well. Profar bounced out to short, and the A’s went into the ninth trailing 4-3.

Lou Trivino, who has been in a terrible slump, his win on Thursday notwithstanding, started off the ninth on the mound for Oakland. Adames started it off for Tampa Bay with a hard single to right and advanced to second on a wild pitch to Wendle, the next batter. Wendel’s bouncer to Profar’s left moved Adames up another base and resulted in the first out. With the infield drawn in, Trivino struck out Heredia, which allowed the infielders to move back into their normal positions. Trivino got a 1-2 count on Lowe, who drove a fly into deep right center field at the State Farm-Kaiser Permanente-DeWalt sign. Piscotty leaped, but couldn’t come down with the ball. Tampa Bay was up by two again, 5-3. Trivino got Phan to fly out to Laureano a bit to the left and a bit shorter, in front of the warning track at the Xfinity sign.

Once again the A’s entered the bottom of the ninth with their backs, like Piscotty’s in the top of the frame, against the wall. It so happened that Piscotty led off the innning for Oakland. He almost hit a double, but his 1-2 liner to left curved foul. He worked the count to three and two before Drake walked him. This brought up Robbie Grossman, who had pinch hit unsuccessfully for Pinder in the seventh. Drake struck him out swinging before giving way to Emilio Pagán, who faced Mark Canha, pinch hitting for Phegley. On the first pitch, Canha broke his bat producing a weak grounder that Pagán handled well and tossed to Choi for the second out as Piscotty moved to second. Semien then grounded out to the second baseman Lowe, playing in a shift to the left of the bag to end the game.

The win went to Pruitt, now 1-0, the loss to Anderson, 0-2, and the save to Pagán, his fourth in six opportunities.

Tomorrow’s game is scheduled to start at 1:07 pm. Oakland will send Mike Fierrs to the mound and Tampa Bay will call on the man who seems to be their favorite opener.

Chapman homers in 9th to help A’s to 5-4 walk-off win

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Photo credit: @nbcbayarea

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s came back from a 4-1 deficit with two out in the ninth to beat the Rays 5-4 at Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night. Thursday’s hero was A’s third baseman Matt Chapman. Chappie came to the plate with two on and two out, with the A’s trailing 4-2, and came through with his 17th home of the year. The blast sent the A’s players onto the field to congratulate Chapman, and 12,351 fans went home with smiles on their faces.

The two starters, the Rays’ Charlie Morton and A’s Frankie Montas, pitched exceptionally well. Morton baffled the A’s for 6 1/3 innings allowing just four hits and one run. Montas was better. Frankie gave the A’s eight innings, and allowed one run and four hits. It was probably the best outing of the year for Montas. It was a no-decision for both. Each team’s destiny laid in the hands of the bullpen. A’s closer Blake Treinen gave up three runs, and appeared to be the losing pitcher. The A’s offense saved him as they scored four times off Rays’ closer Diego Castillo was 7-for-7 in save opportunities this year.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth. The Rays’ Charlie Morton had been motoring along allowing just one hit in the first four innings of the game. With one out in the bottom of the fifth, Jurickson Profar took Morton deep over the 362-foot marker in right-center. It was Profar’s 10th of the season and the A’s led 1-0.

The lead didn’t last long as Tommy Pham blasted his 13th of the year to tie the game. Montas didn’t get rattled, and he retired the next two hitters. He has given up one run and four hits through six innings of work.

Things went south for Oakland in the top of the ninth. Ryan Christenson, filling in for Bob Melvin, elected to bring in Blake Treinen to pitch the ninth. Montas had been dominant for eight innings and had allowed but one run and four hits. His pitch count was at 93 and Christenson could have sent Frankie out to start the ninth. Christenson didn’t, and the move backfired on the A’s. Treinen, who has control issues all season, walked the first two hitters he faced. The Rays then pulled off a double steal to put men at second and third with no out. Avisail Garcia singled to drive in Tommy Pham with the Rays’ second run. Brandon Lowe stopped at third. Ji-Man Choi singled to drive in Lowe. Garcia went to third and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Willy Adames. The Rays scored three runs on two walks, two hits, three stolen bases, and a sacrifice bunt. The Rays led 4-1 midway through the ninth.

The A’s were not done. They rallied to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The Rays’ closer committed a closer’s cardinal sin: He walked Robbie Grossman leading off. Grossman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Profar walked to put men on at first and second with one out, Beau Taylor, pinch-hitting for Josh Phegley, struck out. Marcus Semien, with his 16-game hitting streak on the line, singled to drive in Grossman with the A’s second run. Profar and Semien advanced a base when Kevin Kierman mishandled the ball for an error. Rays’ manager Kevin Cash opted to pitch to Matt Chapman. Had the Rays walked Chappie, Castillo would have had to throw to the left-handed Matt Olson. The decision to pitch to Chapman cost the Rays the game as Chapman blasted his 17th home run of the year. The A’s walked off with a 5-4 win.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 40-36. The Rays dropped their fourth in a row and are 43-32. The Rays are now 4 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Marcus Semien extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a single in his last at-bat in the ninth. Jurickson Profar and Matt Chapman homered for the A’s. Tommy Pham homered for the Rays.

Chapman’s home run was his second walk-off home run of the season and the second of his career.

Lpu Trivino was the winning pitcher. Trivino worked one third of an inning. Castillo took the loss for the Rays.

Oakland’s line score was five runs, seven hits, and no errors. Tampa Bay’s line was four runs, six hits, and one significant error.

Time of game was three hours and one minute.

Up Next: Game two of the four-game series will be played Friday night at the Coliseum.

Tanner Anderson will be making his third start for the A’s, and the Rays have not announced their starter. Game time will be at 7:07 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Could Pope and Bullock end up as Warriors?; How could 4 people get shot at Raptors parade?; plus more

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Photo credit: @WarriorNationCP

On the Headlines Podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Los Angeles Lakers, who signed Anthony Davis are looking for more, but so are the Golden State Warriors, who are looking at the Lakers’ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock. Will these additions at Golden State fill that void that the Warriors lacked during the final game of the NBA Finals?

#2 Regarding the shooting of four people at the Toronto Raptors parade in Toronto, does this indicate no one is safe anywhere and this could go down again if Toronto was to win again?

#3 The NBA Draft is coming up and the Sacramento Kings are expected to get some of the top picks. Where do they need to start from first?

#4 The Los Angeles Dodgers came back after dropping the first game of this three-game series with convincing wins, thanks to some great offense, On Tuesday night, the Dodgers got a 9-0 shutout and the Dodgers dominated again with a 9-2 win over the Giants on Wednesday night.

Tony Renteria does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Piscotty says he feels fine, back in the lineup Monday night; Manaea says rehab is coming along great

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Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 The A’s and Orioles started the three-game series with a close game at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night. Regardless where some teams are in the standings, the A’s opponents are well aware they might be playing some tight games.

#2 Stephen Piscotty came back from melanoma from his right ear and was in the lineup on Monday night at the Coliseum. Piscotty says he’s doing fine.

#3 The Oakland A’s Sean Manaea and AJ Puk are working their way back into the rotation. Manaea has been throwing 45-pitch simulated games and Puk, who had Tommy John, has been throwing. Although their recoveries are slow, they’re both determined to make it back.

#4 Mike Fiers started for the Oakland A’s on Monday night against the Baltimore Orioles Jack Cashner in a game that turned out to be a well pitched game with the A’s getting a one run win 3-2.

#5 The A’s Matt Chapman, who leads the team in home runs with 16, and part of why the A’s have such consistent hitting.

Charlie O does the A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Yankees look for more pitching to get past Rays; A’s-O’s series could feature close games; plus more

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Photo credit: @NewsdaySports

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is actively going shopping looking for pitching. One of the strong prospects of winning in the postseason is good pitching. The Yankees, who have been hampered by injuries, are looking forward to a healthier second half of the season with a compliment of good pitching.

#2 The Oakland A’s are facing the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series. The Orioles have struggled all season, but like in the show, a team like the Orioles could come out of it and make a series of it. The A’s might very well be involved in some close games in this series.

#3 As of late, the A’s have been getting some hitting production at the bottom of their lineup from Jurickson Profar, Josh Phegley, Matt Chapman, Khris Davis, Marcus Semien, and Ramon Laureano.

#4 The A’s put together a four-game winning streak before dropping the final game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays to conclude their last road trip at 6-4.

#4 The San Francisco Giants are playing the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game series at Dodgers Stadium the last time these two teams met at Oracle Park it nearly turned into a zoo when Max Muncy was circling the bases after pitcher Madison Bumgarner told Muncy to quit watching the ball and run and Muncy told Bumgarner if he doesn’t like it he could go into the ocean and get the ball. Amaury describes if this one will be a rivalry again.

#5 David Ortiz attorney José Martínez Hoepelman has said that the tireless effort by authorities have been fruitful and that the people want information, but they just have to wait. Dominican police say they are closing in on the ring leader Gabriel Alexánder Pérez Vizcaíno, according to the Associated Press.

#6 Turning to Los Angeles where the San Francisco Giants are playing a three-game series with the Dodgers, our attention turns to a topic we didn’t get to talk about — In feature article in the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin, whose 84-years-old, lost his wife last month in May after 65 years of marriage. The Dodgers paid a tribute to their marriage and Jaime, who is a huge part of the Dodger family, talked about losing his wife last February 28th.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez does the Oakland A’s Spanish play-by-play and News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB podcast with Matt Harrington: Dodgers show love of new t-shirts are as deep as the ocean; Giants Pomeranz and Panda pitch and hit for win over the Brew Crew; plus more

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@adriangarro photo: Los Angeles Dodgers Max Muncey gets a laugh out of the freshly printed t-shirts on Friday night at Dodgers Stadium in reference to his chatter with San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner after hitting a home run off him on the Dodgers last trip to San Francisco.

On the MLB podcast with Matt:

#1 Who would ever thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would ever print the famous words from Dodgers slugger Max Muncy after he hit a splash hit off San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner when Muncy and the Dodgers were in San Francisco that said “Go get it out of the ocean” a reference to Bumgarner telling Muncy to “run and not watch the ball” after a home run and then Muncy telling Bumgarner “If you don’t want me to watch the ball go get it out of the ocean.” The Dodgers this week have been wearing blue t-shirts with those words printed on it.

#2 For the second consecutive game, San Francisco Giants pitcher Drew Pomeranz got the winning decision in a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Pomeranz pitched for five innings, giving five hits and two runs striking out five hitters.

#3 The once former Boston Red Sox third baseman that was given up for dead Pablo Sandoval for San Francisco went 3-4 on Friday night, including a double and a home run

#4 The Oakland A’s are certainly a ball club that is playing .500 ball after their 10-game win streak a couple weeks back ended they have been playing some back and forth ball going 6-4 on their last road trip and dropping their first game to Seattle 9-2 to open a homestand in Oakland on Friday night.

#5 You have to enjoy the two-way competition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Rays with a 1/2 game margin over the Yankees make it for a competitive battle. The Rays bounced back from having the A’s taking two out three from them in their previous series with a win over the LA Angels 9-4. The Yankees got trounced on Friday night by the Chicago White Sox 10-2.

Matt does the MLB podcast each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s close out road trip, taking 2 out of 3 from Rays; Oakland City Council questioning new A’s ballpark

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photo from newsday.com: Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano connects for a grand slam off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Colin Poche during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 12, 2019, in St. Petersburg, Fla.

On the A’s on podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s Ramon Laureano’s grand slam was certainly a huge part of the A’s 6-2 win on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

#2 The A’s had a decent road trip, finishing two games over .500 at 6-4, a nine-game swing that took them to Anaheim, Arlington, and Tampa Bay.

#3 The A’s Matt Olson is swinging the bats he clouted his 11th home run of the season with a home run off Rays pitcher Yonny Chirinos.

#4 Tampa has a potent line up being first in their division and very difficult to get a win at Tropicana Field and the Rays being tied with the New York Yankees in the American League East for first place the A’s came away from Tampa with two wins out of the three game series.

#5 The A’s still have a lot of work in front of them as they open up a ten game homestand starting Friday night against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners will start Marco Gonzalez (6-6, 4.77 ERA) and for Oakland Chris Bassitt (3-2, 3.57 ERA).

#6 With the Oakland City Council not ready to vote on moving forward with approving the plans at Howard Terminal for the A’s new ball park.

#7 Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb didn’t beat around the bush he made it clear that Council members want a full understanding about how finances for infrastructure and one of their biggest issues is on public transportation while the gondola from 12th Street BART to Jack London Square is a start Kalb is asking the A’s for a more comprehensive plan for public transit for the public to get to and from the ball park.

#8 In answer to the Council’s concerns on these issues, Oakland A’s media relations manager Catherine Aker said the team is working on an infrastructure plan. The A’s are expected to ask the city for $200 million for infrastructure plans.

#9 This was the same amount the Oakland Raiders asked for in order to build a new stadium, but the Raiders never got a deal with the city. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said public tax dollars will not be used for the project but a special tax around the new ball park a district tax will help pay for the infrastructure plans, including taxes coming from the 3,000 housing units and a 400-room hotel.

Listen for Jerry’s podcasts each Thursday on Oakland A’s baseball at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Ramon Laureano’s grand slam propels the A’s to a 6-2 win over the Rays

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Photo credit: nbcbayarea.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s ended the 10-game road trip with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday afternoon. The A’s finished the road trip with a 6-4 record and return home to face the Seattle Mariners Friday night.

The A’s veteran lefty Brett Anderson pitched well again on Wednesday. Anderson gave the A’s 6 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. The Rays’ Yonny Chirinos also pitched well. The young man from Venezuela gave the Rays six innings of work. He allowed two runs and seven hits.

The A’s put one on the board in the top of the fourth. A’s DH Khris Davis led off the inning with a double. He tagged and went to third on Stephen Piscotty’s fly ball to centerfield. Ramon Laureano drove in Davis on an infield single. The A’s added a run in the sixth when Matt Olson took Chirinos deep with his eleventh big fly of the season. The A’s led 2-0 after six.

Anderson started the seventh inning. He was effective all game long as he mixed his pitches well and kept the hitters off balance with fastballs, sliders, and changeups.

With one out, Rays’ centerfielder Guillermo Heredia singled. Former San Francisco Giant Christian Arroyo walked. Ryan Christensen, who was managing, the club as manager Bob Melvin was tossed for arguing balls and strikes with the home plate umpire, brought in Liam Hendriks to pitch. Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz double to drive in Heredia with the Rays’ first run. Arroyo stopped at third. The A’s walked Austin Meadows, who is leading the AL in hitting, to load the bases. Rays’ right fielder Avaisal Garcia reached on a fielder’s choice. Marcus Semien fielded the ball, and since there was a force play at any base, he looked to get the out at third. Chapman wasn’t covering the base, and that forced Semien to try to get the out at second. The throw was just a hair late. Arroyo scored to tie the game.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Matt Olson led off with a single. Davis struck out. Piscotty walked. Rays’ reliever uncorked a wild pitch to advance Olson and Piscotty. The Rays walked Robbie Grossman to set up an inning-ending double play. The Rays brought in lefty Colin Poche to pitch to Ramon Laureano. The strategy failed as Laureano hit his ninth home run of the year to put four on the board.

The A’s called on Lou Trivino to pitch the eighth. Trivino gave up three hits, but the Rays failed to score. Blake Treinen retired the Rays to preserve the win for the A’s.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 35-34. The Rays are now 41-26 and fall 1/2 game behind the New York Yankees in the race for first place in the AL East.

Liam Hendriks was credited with the win, and his record is now 3-0. He also received credit for his first blown save. Adam Kolarek was the losing pitcher for Tampa Bay.

Up Next: The A’s are off on Thursday. They resume play Friday night when they meet the Seattle Mariners for a three-game set at the Oakland Coliseum.

A’s edge the Rays 4-3 to even the series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

A’s pitcher Mike Fiers gave the A’s six strong innings of work Tuesday night to help the Green and Gold beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 at Tropicana Field. The Rays used an “opener” Ryne Stanek to pitch the first inning. It was the 19th time Stanek had started a game. The Rays brought in lefty Jalen Beeks to pitch in the second.

Fiers got off to a rocky start as the second hitter in the Rays’ lineup, Tommy Pham, blasted his ninth of the year to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. Fiers settled down and kept the Rays off the board until the fourth inning. With two out, Fiers walked Rays’ shortstop Willy Adames. Centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier singled to send Adames to third. Adames scored when Tampa pulled off a successful double steal. A’s catcher Josh Phegley tried to throw out Kiermaier stealing at second. His throw was a bit high. A’s second baseman Jurickson Profar had to go up and get the throw to prevent it from going into centerfield. Adames was able to score on the play. The Rays lead 2-0.

The A’s put a run on the board in the top of the fifth. Profar singled to get the rally going. Profar went to second on a passed ball and scores on Chad Pinder’s single.

In the sixth, the A’s scored three times to take the lead 4-2. With one out, Matt Chapman reached on an error. Matt Olson followed with his 10th home of the year. The next hitter, Khris Davis blasted his 14th.

The A’s used Liam Hendriks in the seventh and Lou Trivino in the eighth. Neither pitcher allowed the Rays a hit.

Blake Treinen was called in to pitch the ninth. Treinen committed a cardinal sin as he walked the leadoff hitter, Brandon Lowe. Treinen struck out Yandy Diaz for the first out. Ji-Man Choi hit into a fielder’s choice for the second out. Lowe was safe at second. Willy Adames singled to drive in Lowe. Treinin then retired Kiermaier on a ground ball to Matt Olson for the final out. The A’s won 4-3.

Game Notes: The A’s evened their record at 34-34. The Rays fell to 41-25.

Fiers improved to 6-3 for the year. Treinen earned the save.  Fiers’ line was 6 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs. The losing pitcher for Tampa Bay was Emilio Pagan. Pagan entered the game in the sixth inning

The A’s line was four runs, seven hits, and no errors. The Rays’ line was three runs, four hits, and one error.

Up Next: The A’s meet the Rays Wednesday morning at 9:10 am. Lefty Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.98 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Tampa has not announced its starter.

Time of game was two hours and 47 minutes. 11,132 people watched the A’s win.

A’s lose opener to Rays 6-2

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Photo credit: @statesfly

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s started a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field Monday night. The A’s had a little trouble getting out of Arlington, Texas on Sunday night and the team arrived late in Florida with a game they still had to play. The A’s started rookie Tanner Anderson. Anderson played college ball at Harvard and made his first Major League start. Also, Anderson is from the Tampa area, and had many family members in attendance.

The young man did not disappoint his family or his team. Anderson went 5 2/3 innings and allowed three hits and two runs. His team did not provide any run support until late in the game.

Meanwhile, Rays starter, Charlie Morton, shut down the A’s offense for seven innings. Morton, who signed with the Rays as a free agent, pitched exceptionally well. He had his cutter and slider working. He baffled the A’s right-hand hitters with an array of pitches that swept across the plate. In his seven innings of work, he gave up two hits and no runs. He won his eighth game of the year.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and one man on, Rays rookie second baseman, Brandon Lowe (pronounced Lau) slammed his 14th home run of the year into the left-field seats. Lowe, without doubt, will be a candidate for Rookie of the Year.

The Rays added two in the seventh and two in the eighth. Kevin Kiermaier hits his eighth of the year to make it 4-0, and Ji-Man Choi hit his seventh with a man on to make it 6-0.

The A’s avoided the shutout when they scored two in the ninth. Mark Canha walked to get the rally going. Canha scored on Stephen Piscotty’s double and Piscotty scored on Robbie Grossman’s single. The A’s could do no more, and they fell to the Rays 6-2.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s record dropped to 33-34. Anderson took the loss, and he is 0-1. The Rays’ Charlie Morton improved to 8-0, and his ERA dropped to 2.10.

The Rays’ line was six runs, eight hits, and no errors. The A’s line was two runs, four hits, and no errors.

The A’s announced their shortstop Marcus Semien was named AL Player of the Week.

Up Next: Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night at Tropicana Field. Game time will be at 4:10 pm.