Athletics take down the Rays 3-1

Bido gets his 5th win, Miller his 20th save

The Oakland Athletics took on the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. This was the fourth and final game of the series. After taking the first game 4-0, the A’s had dropped the last two. Osvaldo Bido will get the start today for the Athletics, facing Jeffrey Springs for the Rays.

The A’s put two runners on in the first but failed to score. They also started the second with two runners after Lawrence Butler and Tyler Nevin both singled with no one out. Zack Gelof drove a long fly ball to the deepest part of centerfield, not enough to leave the yard, but enough to score Butler for the first run of the game. Darell Hernaiz doubled to left field, driving Nevin in from first. Max Schuemann walked. But Miguel Andujar grounded into a double play to end the inning. But not before the A’s took a 2-0 lead.

Bido was perfect through the first three innings. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Daz Cameron singled and stole second. Then Lawrence Butler singled to drive in Cameron. Butler stole second, the second steal of the inning. But Nevin flew out to center field to end the inning. After three innings, the score was 3-0.

With one out in the fourth, Christopher Morel singled for the first Rays baserunner of the day. A Bido wild pitch moved Morel to second. José Caballero doubled to left field to score Morel. Taylor Walls grounded out to end the inning.

With one down in the fourth, Darell Hernaiz doubled to left field. This hit ended the day for Springs. Kevin Kelly replaced Springs and retired both batters he faced to end the inning.

Michel Otañez replaced Bido with no outs and a runner on first in the sixth. Christopher Morel singled to short, putting runners on first and second with one out. But Otañez slammed the door on the Rays to keep the score 3-1.

Grant Holman replaced Otañez in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Brantly singled, and then Yandy Díaz singled, moving Brantly to second. Kotsay went to the bullpen and brought in T.J. McFarland. McFarland threw just one pitch and retired the side on a great running catch by Butler in centerfield.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Miguel Andujar singled. Brent Rooker followed that with a single of his own to right field. But Shea Langeliers popped out to the catcher Brantly for the third out.

Tyler Ferguson entered the game to pitch the eighth for the A’s. He made quick work of the Rays. Former A’s reliever Richard Lovelady entered to pitch the bottom of the inning. After a “scare” of Lovelady getting hit on the pitching hand from a “comebacker” by Daz Cameron, he got Butler to ground out also. Tyler Nevin walked and was replaced by pinch runner Seth Brown. Zack Gelof walked, moving Brown to second with two outs. Darell Hernaiz grounded into a force out to end the inning.

Mason Miller entered to shut down the Rays in the ninth. He picked up the save in game one on Monday. He struck out Taylor Walls for the first out. Kameron Misner got his first major league hit off Miller to keep the hope alive for the Rays. Junior Caminero struck out on a series of 100+ fastballs and sliders for the second out. After seeing three pitches over 100 mph, Yandy Diaz grounded into a force out to end the game and earn Miller his 20^th save of the season. So, the A’s salvaged a split of this four-game series and face the NL Central’s first place Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend at home.