The Tampa Bay Rays came out with a sweep of the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon, taking a 3-0 victory after a pretty good pitching duel at the RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland.
Four Rays pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout, as the Rays swept the A's for the very first time in Oakland.
Rays starter Corey Kluber and A's starter Frankie Montas pitched very well as the game went scoreless through the first seven innings. Both teams had minor threats throughout the game, including Kluber getting out of a two-on one-out fourth-inning jam.
Kluber left for J.P. Feyereisen after pitching six innings, allowing three hits, striking out seven and walking only one.
Montas went seven, allowing only four hits, striking out six, and as Kluber, allowing only one walk.
The dreaded leadoff walk hurt the A's in the eighth, as Oakland pitcher Zach Jackson walked Brett Phillips, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Yandy Diaz grounded out to short, moving Phillips to third. Jackson fought back with a big strikeout of Wander Franco, and after walking Randy Arozarena and hitting Brandon Lowe with a pitch, Manuel Margot lined a two-run single to give the Rays the lead.
The Rays added a third run that inning after a balk by Domingo Acevedo, who replaced Jackson after Margot's single.
Andrew Kittredge pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the sweep.
The Rays move on to Seattle to face the always-tough Mariners, with first pitch set for 9:40 p.m. ET. Catch all the action on 95.3 WDAE starting at 8:30 p.m. as Jay Recher throws the Inside Pitch, and Neil Solondz follows with the Rays pregame show at 9 p.m.
Cover Photo: Getty Images