The last game the Rays will ever play at the Oakland Coliseum was an entertaining game that ended with the Rays winning the series.
Ryan Pepiot was on the mound for the Rays on his birthday, opposite A’s starter Mitch Spence. Similar to Tuesday night, both starters pitched well, pitching well into the game. Pepiot was nearly perfect through the first four innings. His only blemish was a solo hit by JJ Bleday in the first inning. The hit came on an 0-2 pitch with two outs and gave the A’s an early 1-0 lead.
Mitch Spence held on to that lead until the top of the fifth inning, but the Rays eventually scored not once but twice to take a 2-1 lead. Jose Caballero hit a double to start the inning and Siri hit a ball to center, giving the Rays runners on the corners with no one out. DeLuca hit a ground ball and Siri was tagged out at second base, but Caballero scored to tie the game. After a strikeout by Alex Jackson, Yandy Diaz hit a double off the wall to the opposite field, scoring DeLuca and giving the Rays a 2-1 lead.
The A’s tied the game in the sixth inning. After a double by Lawrence Butler with one out, Brent Rooker tied the game with a single. Pepiot then hit the next batter, Bleday, but managed to get out of the jam.
In the following half-inning, Jose Caballero managed a walk but was hit by a pitch in the same at-bat. The home plate umpire ruled that he had leaned into the pitch and that the at-bat should continue. Kevin Cash objected and was ejected shortly afterward. It was his second ejection of the season. After the walk, Siri went to the plate and hit a ball to deep left-center field, giving the Rays a 4-2 lead.
The hit was his second lead-hit home run in as many games.
Pepiot left the field after the sixth inning and was on his way to the win thanks to the Jose Siri bomb. He finished the night with six strong innings in which he allowed just two runs on three hits, striking out five players and walking one, improving his record to 7-5 on the year.
Spence kept the Rays hitters off balance all night with seven big swings. He allowed four runs on seven hits. He had ten strikeouts and one walk. He suffered the loss, his ninth of the year (7-9).
Rasmussen, Cleavinger and Rodriguez sealed the deal and got the last nine outs for the Rays.
Rasmussen had to fight out of a bases-loaded situation, but was able to get Rooker to swing despite the intense heat. Rodriguez was credited with the save, his first of the year.
With the win, the Rays travel to LA to face the Dodgers. Their record is now 64-62.
