The Tampa Bay Rays (14-10) defeated the Oakland Athletics (10-14) 10-7 in ten innings on Tuesday night in Oakland. The Rays have now won their first two games of a ten-game, West Coast road trip and have secured a series victory against the A';s.
Oakland scored five in the first inning to build a 5-1 lead over the Rays, thanks in large part to Kevin Smith hitting a grand slam off Ryan Yarbrough in that first. The Rays rallied with a two-run homer in the second inning to pull within 5-3, before MIke Zunino's two-run pinch hit homer in the ninth inning tied the game 5-5.
In the tenth inning the Rays scored five runs, getting RBI hits from Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes, Manuel Margot and Mike Zunino to build a 10-5 lead. Oakland got two runs back in the bottom of the frame to pull within 10-7, which would be the final score.
Ryan Yarbrough was activated from the IL after having left groin tightness to get the start - righthanded pitcher Phoenix Sanders was placed on the 15-Day IL with low back spasms. Yarbrough allowed five earned runs on six hits in the start, striking out two and walking three in two and one-third innings of work.
The Rays used Ryan Thompson, Jeffrey Springs, Matt Wisler and Andrew Kittredge out of the bullpen through the ninth inning - all of them kept the game scoreless through nine to allow the comeback to happen. Kittredge (2-0, 1.59) got the win after pitching a perfect ninth inning. The A's got their two runs in the tenth off Jason Adam, but the Rays held onto the 10-7 win.
The Rays now look to sweep the series from Oakland on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch on Wednesday is scheduled for 3:37 PM - pregame coverage begins with Pat Donovan hosting the Inside Pitch at 2:30 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES