The Tampa Bay Rays (4-2) fell to the Oakland As (3-3) 4-2 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field.
Sean Murphy of the Athletics hit a three-run homer off Rays ace Shane McClanahan (0-1, 3.00) in the third inning to take the lead in the game. In the fourth inning, Ji-Man Choi hit a solo homer for the Rays to pull within 3-1. Ji-Man finished the game 1-for-3 and is now hitting .563 (9-for-16) to continue his hot start to the season.
Each team got a run in the seventh inning - for the Rays, it was Francisco Mejia hitting a RBI single in the bottom of the frame - en route to a 4-2 final score.
Frankie Montas (1-1, 4.76) got the win for the Athletics pitching 6 and one-third innings allowing two runs, one of them earned, on five hits while striking out six and walking none.
The Rays will look to claim a series split when they meet the As for the series finale on Thursday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher and the Inside Pitch at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES