Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena, rear, is tagged out at second by Oakland Athletics second baseman Jace Peterson on a steal attempt during the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 14, 2023 (AP News photo)
Tampa Bay (49-22). 010 030 101. – 6 13. 0
Oakland (19-51). 030 000 000 – 3. 7. 2
Time: 2:56
Attendance: 7,055
Wednesday, June 14
By Lewis Rubman
OAKLAND–On this day in 1899, the Cleveland Spiders were drowned by the Pittsburgh Pirates, 10-1, before somewhat more than 100 fans (at least at game time) in the Steel City. The Spiders now were 8-38, .174.
On this day in 1962, the New York Mets took a 10-2 shellacking deep in the heart of Texas at the hands of the Houston Colt ’45s. Casey Stengel’s minions were left with a record of 16-40, .286.
On this day in 2023, the Oakland Athletics, riding a seven game winning streak, not unexpectedly saw their streak end with a 6-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays that left the A’s with a winning. percentage .210 with 17 wins against 51 defeats. Watching it was like watching Awakenings, Robin Williams’ about a group of catatonic patients who briefly recover their mobility only to loss it again, this time permanently, we wanted to see Major League or Damn Yankees.
The A’s chose Luis Medina as their starting pitcher, who was 1-5, 7.53 at game time, a fair reflection of how the Athletics have been playing this season. Indeed, his most recent and best, start occurred early in the A’s winning streak, on June 9th in Milwaukee, where he held the
Braves to a couple of runs,, both earned, on three hits and as many walks in five innings of work. Today, Medina held on for 4-1/3 innings, throwing 79 pitches, 49 for strikes, and surrendering four runs, all earned although one was posthumous, one eight hit and a walk. He was the losing pitcher, and now has a record of 1-6, 7.55.
Tampa Bay went with Tyler Glasgow, another right hander who didn’t get his first win of 2023 until June 9th. Unlike Medina, his ERA coming into this evening’s game was low, 2.87, to be precise. He also has eight years of big league experience between Pittsburgh and St. Petersburg.
The veteran pitched 5-1/2 innings tonight and gave up three runs, all. earned, on six hits one for all the bases, and four walks. He threw 94 pitches, 63 for strikes, and committed two pitch clocks violations. He got the win, and his record now stands at 2-0, 3.43.
The Rays got off to an early lead in the top of the second on a walk to Randy Arozarena, who went to third on a double by Isaac Paredes and scored on Christian Bethancourt’s sac fly to right. But your fighting A’s came roaring back, going ahead, 3-1 on JJ Bleday’s fourth round tripper of the season, a 409 foot blast off the State Farm sign in left center.
In spite of garnering two hits, two walks, and three stolen bases over the next two frames, the A’s advantage stayed at only three runs after four innings of play. But then Tampa Bay came up like thunder. Taylor Walls singled to center, stole second and advanced to third on Shea Langelier’s errant throw.
The Rays’ second baseman scored on Manuel Margot’s double to center. He, in turn, scored on a two bagger to left by Yandy Díaz, who moved up 90 feet on Wander Franco’s fly to center.
That signaled the end of Medina’s start. Sam Moll gave up the tie breaking tally when Josh Lowe singled to center, but eventually got the third out without allowing anyone else to cross the plate. Nonetheless, the visitors now led, 4-3.
A lead off single by Brown and walks to Brent Rooker and Jonah Bride led to Glasgow’s departure with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan Thompson replaced him on the mound. He ended the threat by getting Díaz to ground in to a 6-4-3 twin killing.
Lucas Erceg coughed up another run, pitching in relief of Moll in the top of the seventh. Margot defeated The Curse of the Leadoff Double by going to third on Langelier’s second throwing error of the evening; it came on an attempted pick off. Tampa Bay’s center fielder promptly scored on a wild pitch, making it 5-3, Rays.
Sam Long came on to close out the Rays’ eighth with two outs and two on. He got the final out, keep the A’s within striking distance at 5-3.
Colin Poche retired the A’s in order in their half of the frame.
The visitors put the icing on the cake in their half of the ninth. Margot once more got the better of The Curse of the Leadoff Double and scored on Díaz’s single to center.
Jason Adam came in for the Rays in the bottom of the ninth, looking for his 11th save. Peterson touched him for leadoff single to right. Bride sent a fly to deep center where Margot corralled it at the warning track. Díaz took a controversial called strike three. Bleday popped out to third, and the A’s winning streak was over.
The series will wind up tomorrow, Thursday, at 12:37. Paul Blackman (0-0, 3.60) will start for Oakland; Taj Bradley (4-3, 4,19), for Tampa Bay.
