Athletics take down the Rays 6-4 in Tampa

Langeliers rejoins the show in a big way!

The Athletics kicked off the last leg of their current road trip against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. Jacob Lopez took the mound against Drew Rasmussen today.

The A’s got on the board early thanks to a nice two-out rally. Brent Rooker doubled with two down. Mick Kurtz walked and in his first at-bat after returning from the Injured List (IL)Shea Langeliers homered to deep left field. It was his eleventh of the year and gave the A’s a 3-0 lead before the Rays came to bat.

In the top of the third, the A’s padded their lead a bit after Lawrence Butler singled. Jacob Wilson also singled and then Brent Rooker made it three singles in a row, scoring Butler. In the bottom of the fourth, the Rays got back into the game quickly when Junior Caminero hit his twenty-first homer of the year, scoring Curtis Mead. After the bases were cleared, the Rays strung three more singles together to score their third run. Then José Caballero singled to tie the score, driving in Jake Magnum. That was all for Jacob Lopez, who gave up four runs (three earned) in 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and one walk. J.T. Ginn replaced him and stopped the bleeding.

In the top of the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Colby Thomas replaced Tyler Soderstrom. It was his first MLB at-bat. Unfortunately, he popped up the first pitch he saw to end the inning.

Michael Kelly replaced J.T. Ginn in the bottom of the eighth. Ginn tossed 3.2 shutout innings with five strikeouts. Yandy Diaz singled. He was replaced by pinch-runner Chandler Simpson, who promptly stole second. Brandon Lowe was intentionally walked and Junior Caminero ground into a 5-3 double play. Lowe stood at second. Sean Newcomb replaced Kelly. Josh Lowe singled to left field and Colby Thomas charging the ball nailed Lowe out at home with a bullet throw to keep the score tied.

Max Muncy led off the ninth with a base hit right into centerfield. Luis Urías followed with a single moving Muncy to third with no one out. Denzel Clarke struck out swinging for the first out. Lawrence Butler tripled to score Muncy and Schuemann who pinch-ran for Urías.

With Brent Rooker batting, Jacob Wilson was picked off stealing second base. Two questionable baserunning decisions ended the inning for the A’s. Mason Miller entered the game in the ninth to close it out. Miller got it done with a 103 mph strike out and a slick double play to end the game. The A’s took the first game of the series 6-4.