The Rays kept pace in the standings with a 4-3 win over the Athletics, and they did it the hard way: by jumping all over a lefty early, then hanging on just enough to finish the job.
Tampa Bay entered the night with a rough-looking number against left-handed pitching, ranking 24th in MLB with a .684 team OPS. None of that mattered in the first two innings. Facing A’s starter Brady Basso, the Rays piled up four doubles and turned them into four runs, staking themselves to a 4-0 lead before the game had much chance to settle in.
The A’s pushed back after that. Nick Martinez gave up home runs to Tommy White and Henry Bolte, trimming the lead and making things uncomfortable. But Martinez steadied from there and ended up with a solid line: five innings, three strikeouts, and just 72 pitches.
That kind of workload fits the picture Tampa Bay seems to be painting right now. Ian Seymour threw 79 pitches, Griffin Jax went 67, and Martinez stayed under 80 as well, with all three allowing two runs or fewer. It looks like the Rays may be managing those arms with October in mind.
Oakland kept chipping away, and Shea Langeliers brought the A’s within one at 4-3. From there, though, the bullpen closed the door. Kevin Kelly and Cam Booser each picked up holds, and Cole Sulser finished it off with the save.
The win was Tampa Bay’s fifth straight and another series victory. The Rays are back at it tomorrow at 1:10 PM EST at Tropicana Field, with Drew Rasmussen set to start against old friend Jeffrey Springs.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Have New Hope For A Key Bullpen Arm
With Shane McClanahan, Garrett Cleavinger, Manuel Rodriguez and Tyler Wells all on the injured list, the Rays have spent plenty of the summer trying to patch together their pitching staff on the fly. Wells, in particular, had been a frustrating absence after forearm tightness sent him for an MRI, but the early read offered Tampa Bay something it badly needed, a little optimism instead of another long-term setback.
For a bullpen that has already leaned on Kevin Kelly and others to absorb extra innings and higher-leverage work, any encouraging update on Wells matters. The Rays are still managing their relief mix carefully, but the possibility that Wells stay on the shelf could be limited has at least changed the tone around one of their key arms, and now the bigger question is how quickly he can get back into the picture when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Win Streak Comes With A New Clubhouse Tradition Fans Will Love
The Rays postgame mood has taken on a little more theater lately, and Jonny DeLuca found himself in the middle of it after Tampa Bays latest win. The outfielder spun the teams celebration wheel and landed on the assignment to give manager Kevin Cash a hug, a recent wrinkle in the clubhouses victory routine that has players taking turns with whatever task the wheel delivers.
With Nick Martinez nudging him along, DeLuca followed through during Cashs postgame media session, creating a moment that stood out even by the Rays loose, playful standards. It also marked the first time Cash reciprocated one of those hugs, a small but revealing sign of how this winning stretch has only deepened the teams evolving postgame tradition. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin Kelly Just Gave The Rays A Bullpen Decision To Make
After a difficult outing, Kevin Kelly answered right away in his first appearance back, striking out the side and helping the Rays close out a 2-1 walk-off win over the Athletics. It was the kind of reset Tampa Bay needed from a bullpen that has been tested by injuries to Tyler Wells and other relievers, leaving the club searching for steady innings wherever it can find them.
Kellys response only adds to the mix of options the Rays are weighing as the postseason nears. With relief roles still being evaluated, a sharp rebound like this can carry real weight, especially for a team trying to sort out who can be trusted in leverage when the games matter most. [Read more 🡒]