The Tampa Bay Rays (92-59) defeated the Athletics (61-91) 4-3 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. With the win, the Rays have now won five in a row and seen their magic number to win the AL East reduced to seven.
The Rays got two in the first and two in the second to build a 4-0 lead. Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, Nick Fortes and Ryan Vilade all had RBI hits in the first two frames to account for all the offense Tampa Bay would need. The As got two back in the third and one in the sixth but the Rays bullpen would hang on to a 4-3 win.
Nick Martinez (15-4, 2.94) pitched five innings in which he allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out three and walking none in the win. Cole Sulser earned his third save of the season after working the ninth inning.
The Rays will now try to sweep the Athletics when they meet in the finale of the series on Thursday afternoon. First pitch Thursday is scheduled for 1:10 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at high noon on 95.7 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES