OAKLAND — The final two nights, the Rays didn’t look fairly like themselves. Their bats went quiet. Their pitching sometimes faltered. They misplaced consecutive one-run video games to an A’s membership that entered the week with the Majors’ worst file.
But Tampa Bay returned to type and snapped Oakland’s seven-game profitable streak with a 6-3 victory on Wednesday night time on the Coliseum, displaying one of many key traits that has made them baseball’s finest workforce: Their slumps by no means final lengthy.
The Rays (49-22) have misplaced back-to-back video games seven instances this season, however they continue to be the one workforce within the Majors with out a three-game dropping streak.
“We have such a talented team. I think the better the team, the lower the chances of losing three in a row,” starter Tyler Glasnow stated. “I know it’s a basic answer, but I think we’re just so good and consistent — and it’s awesome to be a part of a team like that.”
Wednesday’s bounce-back was, fittingly, a workforce effort.
Glasnow gave up a three-run homer to JJ Bleday within the second inning however nothing after that. Reliever Ryan Thompson recorded arguably the most important outs of the sport within the sixth. Manuel Margot led the way in which offensively with a career-high three doubles, whereas leadoff man Yandy Díaz went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Limited to solely 4 runs on 12-for-63 hitting whereas dropping the primary two video games of the collection, the Rays racked up 13 hits within the third recreation. They scored first towards right-hander Luis Medina, obtained the massive inning they’d been looking for with a three-run fifth that erased the A’s two-run lead, and added on late within the recreation.
“It’s just something that happens in this game,” stated Margot, who scored three runs and drove in one other, by interpreter Manny Navarro. “It’s our job to make the adjustment, and that’s what we did today.”
After operating themselves out of a rally and right into a pair of outs within the first inning, the Rays struck first an inning later as Randy Arozarena walked, moved to 3rd on an Isaac Paredes double and scored on Christian Bethancourt‘s sacrifice fly. Oakland answered again with a three-run homer by Bleday off Glasnow, the one runs he allowed in his 5 1/3-inning outing.
Glasnow stated he handled some cramping in his palms, which made it troublesome to grip the ball, however known as the problem “nothing serious.” He gritted by the outing regardless of feeling like his supply was out of sync and his fastball was “super off.”
“Not the sharpest tonight, but I guess I’ll give myself credit for battling,” Glasnow stated. “The slider got me through today, for sure. It was like the only pitch that was really reliable for me.”
Most importantly, Glasnow gave the Rays an opportunity to come back again, which they did within the fifth.
Taylor Walls singled, stole second and superior to 3rd on an errant throw by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers. Margot then ripped an RBI double to left-center and got here round to attain on a double to left by Díaz, who was hitless within the first two video games of the collection.
Josh Lowe broke the 3-3 tie with an RBI single to proper off lefty reliever Sam Moll.
The A’s then loaded the bases towards Glasnow with one out within the sixth on a single and two walks. With the right-hander’s pitch depend at 94 and Aledmys Díaz coming to the plate, supervisor Kevin Cash summoned Thompson to get out of the jam.
Thompson did precisely that, shortly inducing an inning-ending double play to protect the Rays’ one-run lead then pitching a clear seventh.
“When he’s good, he’s in the zone and putting the ball on the ground,” Cash stated. “Fortunately for us, our defense was really good behind him and got two big outs.”
“We have one of the best defenses in the league, but also that we’ve had in the last couple of years,” added Thompson. “We’re unbelievable out there, so I just want to make them work.”
Margot helped give the Rays just a little respiratory room after that. Tampa Bay’s No. 9 hitter reached on a leadoff double within the seventh, moved up 90 toes when reliever Lucas Erceg’s pickoff throw sailed into heart subject, and scored on a wild pitch.
Margot hit his third double within the ninth — exit velocities: 107.6, 106.6 and 101.4 mph — and scored on one other single by Díaz.
“Manny had a tremendous night. Picked us up in so many ways, really drove the ball well,” Cash stated. “It seemed like everything he hit was hard.”
Content Source: www.mlb.com