The Athletics (35-52) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (47-38) 6-4 on Monday night at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa.
The As got a three-run homer from Shea Langeliers en route to a 4-0 lead after three, but the Rays answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. In that frame, Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer (his 21st) before Jonathan Aranda hit a RBI single and Jose Caballero hit a RBI bunt single to tie the game 4-4.
Such would be the score until the ninth, when Lawrence Butler hit a two-run triple off Pete Fairbanks (3-2, 2.53) to take a 6-4 lead and hand Fairbanks his second loss out of the bullpen this season. Rays starter Drew Rasmussen only pitched three innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits in his outing.
The Rays will look to bounce back in the middle game of the three-game series coming up on Tuesday night. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 7:05 PM - pregame coverage begins with Ronnie Lane hosting Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620, your Home of Rays Baseball.
COVER PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES