OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Josh Lowe singled home the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Oakland 6-3 on Wednesday night to snap the Athletics’ winning streak at seven games.
Christian Bethancourt, Manuel Margot and Yandy Díaz also drove in runs for the MLB-best Rays (49-22).
“It was really encouraging,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “We started out of the gates swinging the bat well.”
The Rays are the only team in the majors that has yet to lose three games in a row this season. They have lost back-to-back games seven times.
“The game has its ups and downs. Everyone needs to make their adjustments,” Margot said through a translator. “We all trust each other. We’ve just got to keep on working and trusting the work that we do.”
The A’s lost on the night they cleared a major hurdle for their planned relocation to Las Vegas after the Nevada Legislature gave final approval to public funding for a portion of a proposed $1.5 billion stadium. The deal still needs the governor’s signature and approval from MLB, but both are anticipated.
A night after drawing a season-high crowd of 27,759 as part of a “ reverse boycott,” the A’s announced an attendance of 7,055 on Wednesday.
JJ Bleday homered for Oakland (19-51), which remained percentage points ahead of Kansas City to avoid the worst record in the majors.
Bethancourt put Tampa Bay ahead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly.
Bleday responded with a three-run homer off Tyler Glasnow in the bottom of the second, his fourth of the year.
Glasnow (2-0) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.
“Not the sharpest tonight, but I guess I’ll give myself credit for battling,” Glasnow said.
Margot and Díaz had RBI doubles in the fifth to tie the game at 3. Lowe followed with an RBI single to regain the lead.
Luis Medina (1-6) gave up four runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one.ADVERTISEMENT
Oakland loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Aledmys Díaz grounded into an inning-ending double play.
“We got guys out there all night. We just couldn’t get the big hit,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “That’s kind of the story of the game tonight.”
Margot scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to make it 5-3. Yandy Díaz added an RBI single in the ninth.
Jason Adam recorded the final three outs for his 11th save in 15 chances.
RUNNING WILD
Oakland rookie outfielder Esteury Ruiz stole two bases to give him 33 for the season, the most in the majors. His 33 steals are tied with Rickey Henderson for the second-most by an A’s rookie, behind only Mitchell Page, who swiped 42 bags in 1977.
ROSTER MOVES
The Rays reinstated RHP Zach Littell (right shoulder fatigue) from the 15-day injured list and optioned LHP Jalen Beeks to Triple-A Durham.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: RHP Pete Fairbanks (left hip inflammation) joined the team in Oakland and could be reinstated from the 15-day IL as soon as Thursday.
Athletics: OF Ramón Laureano felt some stiffness in his left hand following a head-first slide into third base during Tuesday’s win, but he was available off the bench. “Nothing of concern going forward,” Kotsay said.
UP NEXT
Rays RHP Taj Bradley (4-3, 4.19 ERA) was scheduled to start Thursday against RHP Paul Blackburn (0-0, 3.60) in the series finale.
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