The Tampa Bay Rays (50-22) beat the Oakland Athletics (19-52) 4-3 on Thursday afternoon in Oakland. The win gives the Rays a split in the four-game series, and makes Tampa Bay the first team in the majors to 50 wins this season.
After the Rays scored two in the second, Manuel Margot hit a solo homer in the fourth to give Tampa Bay a 3-0 lead. Oakland rallied with three runs in the fifth inning, before Luke Raley hit a solo homer in the eighth inning to break the tie and give the Rays the lead they would need.
Taj Bradley got the start and was pulled after allowing three runs - two of them earned - on four hits in four and one-third innings of work. Robert Stephens (1-3, 4.34) was the pitcher of record when the Rays took the lead for the final time, which set up Jason Adam to work a scoreless eighth. Pete Fairbanks made his return from the disabled list a succesful one, striking out one while picking up his sixth save with a scoreless ninth inning.
The Rays now head to San Diego for a three-game series beginning on Friday night. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 9:40 PM - Neil Solondz begins pregame coverage at 9:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES