The Tampa Bay Rays entered Wednesday afternoon looking to sweep the Oakland Athletics on a west coast trip, having won the first two games of the series. The Rays jumped out to an early lead, picking up a run on a Matt Joyce single in the first inning.
Ryan Roberts added another run in the fourth inning on a single, which wound up being the only runs the Rays needed to complete the sweep of the A's. The Rays came away with a 4-1 win as Alex Cobb fanned six batters through seven innings to pick up his fifth win of the season.
Carlos Pena added insurance runs later in the game, including a solo home run to right field in the top of the eight inning.
For more on the Rays, check out DRays Bay. For more on the A's Get news and updates from around MLB at Baseball Nation.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics are back in action on Wednesday afternoon for the rubber game in a three-game set. After a loss in a 15-inning game, Tampa Bay bounced back behind a dominant effort from James Shields on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Rays hand the ball to Alex Cobb. The 24-year-old righty has struggled recently, losing all three of his last starts. He owns a 4.93 ERA over 12 appearances this season. The Rays have failed to score more than two runs in those last three starts.
Jarrod Parker gets the start for Oakland. He was hammered in his last start, giving up six runs in five innings, including two long balls, to the Orioles on July 27.
The game starts at 3:35 p.m. Eastern. Fans can watch the action unfold on Sun Sports.
For more on the Rays, check out DRays Bay. Get news and updates from around MLB at Baseball Nation.
After a marathon 15-inning game on Monday, a game the Tampa Bay Rays lost by a 4-3 final, they wanted no business staying on the field late Tuesday night. Behind the seventh career shutout from starting pitcher James Shields, the Rays smacked around the Oakland Athletics, winning by a final score of 8-0.
Shields struck out 11 batters over nine innings of work, needing just 98 pitches to make it through the entire game. He gave up just three hits on the night for his ninth win of the season. It was a nice bounce back after a rough stretch in the middle of the summer.
B.J. Upton drove in two runs and had a pair of singles in the game. Matt Joyce and Jose Lobaton had the only extra base hits for the Rays with a double each.
Tampa Bay has one more game against Oakland on Wednesday afternoon.
For more on the Rays, check out DRays Bay. Get news and updates from around MLB at Baseball Nation.
The Rays start off another three-game set in California on Monday night, looking for their third straight series win. Joe Maddon's club is also looking to extend a scoreless innings streak, after blanking the Angels in the final two games of their series in Anaheim. The streak is currently at 23 innings and David Price will take the ball for the Rays with a shot at his 15th win of the season. The lineups for Monday night's series opener:
