Through the struggles of a bad start, manager Mark Kotsay continued to push the positives while fighting for solid, fundamental baseball.
His Oakland A’s are beginning to find a rhythm against some of the best teams in baseball.
Shea Langeliers hit a three-run double in the fifth inning to snap a scoreless game, and the A’s won their sixth straight game with a 4-3 victory against the major league-leading Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. at night.
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Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers (23) hits a three-run double off Tampa Bay Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, May 12. June 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Ryan Noda added an RBI single in the fifth inning for the A’s, the worst in the majors, and finally built up some momentum after a weekend sweep at Milwaukee. James Kaprielian (2-6) pitched six strong innings, allowing three runs and five hits to win his second straight start.
«I think this team is starting to come together,» Kaprielian said. «When you get a bunch of new guys together, it’s really hard because the guys don’t know each other. In my opinion, on paper, we have a lot of talent in this room, but sometimes it takes time to win. We have now we have a good run and we’ve beaten some first place teams. I think when you’re hot it’s exciting to go up against guys who are good and guys who are winning games. You want to beat the best guys all the time.»
A’s rookie Ken Waldichuk got out of a bind in the seventh when he struck out Randy Arozarena to leave runners trapped at the corners. Waldichuk earned a save in three innings, the first of his career.
José Siri hit a three-run home run in the sixth for Tampa Bay’s 113th home run of the year to tie the inactive Dodgers for the most in the majors.
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Oakland Athletics’ Jace Peterson (6) and Kevin Smith (4) are congratulated by teammates after scoring on Shea Langeliers’ double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland, California, Monday June 12, 2023. . (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Oakland (18-50) loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth off Zach Eflin (8-2) with two straight walks and Jace Peterson’s single. One out later, Langeliers delivered.
Eflin had won four straight decisions since the May 9 loss in Baltimore. The right-hander couldn’t last five innings for the first time in 13 starts.
Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes was ejected by home plate umpire Manny González in the sixth, apparently upset by a called strike.
«It seemed like he was frustrated by the pitch. Look, all of our guys work so hard,» Rays manager Kevin Cash said. «We tried to push them to make sure they stay in the zone, but one of those close pitches he didn’t like and I guess he expressed it.»
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Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zach Eflin throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, California on Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Tampa Bay (48-21), which began its first trip to the West Coast of the year, had won eight of nine overall.
Oakland was swept at Tampa Bay from April 5-7, being outscored 31-5 with a pair of 11-0 losses that Kotsay called embarrassing.
«This team, Tampa, is the best team in baseball. We played them early, and for lack of a better word, I think we were a little embarrassed,» Kotsay said before the game. «But we played very bad baseball, we failed in every aspect really in Tampa, pitching and defense, situational hitting.»
Kaprielian and Waldichuk shone this time. And suddenly it’s pretty fun in Oakland, with fans planning a reverse boycott to draw as many as possible on Tuesday night.
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Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena, left, hits a double off Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, right, during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Monday, June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
The A’s hope to keep the win.
«That’s what it’s about,» Kaprielian said, smiling.
COACHES ROOM
Rays: SS Wander Franco had the night off until he pinch-hit for Paredes in the sixth. «A big part of our success is that he’s been on the field a lot this year, and we’ll do everything we can to keep it that way,» Cash said. … RHP Pete Fairbanks (left hip inflammation) pitched a no-hitter for the FCL Rays with two strikeouts against the Red Sox in what was likely his only rehab appearance.
Athletics: RHP Drew Rucinski suffered a low-grade MCL sprain in his right knee while throwing a bullpen while recovering from a stomach illness. He’s likely to be inactive for two to three weeks before he gets back on the mound. … LHP Kirby Snead (sprained shoulder) will pitch Wednesday for Triple-A Las Vegas. … RHP Freddy Tarnok (sprained shoulder) threw a bullpen and will make a rehab appearance Thursday for Las Vegas.
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Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker (25) lunges for second on a pickoff attempt by Tampa Bay Rays’ Taylor Walls, right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, California, on Monday June 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
UNTIL NEXT TIME
LHP Hogan Harris (1-0, 6.46 ERA) will make his second career start Tuesday night for the A’s after earning his first major league win last Wednesday at Pittsburgh. Tampa Bay had yet to announce its starter.