Athletics 3 - 4 Rays
Final
  for this game

Rays look to stay in first vs. A's

Jul 23, 2008 - 10:08 AM Oakland (52-48) at Tampa Bay (58-41) 12:40 EDT

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- That noise the Tampa Bay Rays hear in the distance is the surging New York Yankees.

The Rays dropped an 8-1 decision to the Oakland A's Tuesday and will look to win the rubber match of a three-game set on Wednesday.

The Rays, who have lost nine of 12, lead in the AL East is a half-game over the Red Sox and the Yankees, winners of five-straight, are within 3 1/2 games of Tampa Bay.

The eight runs for the light-hitting A's were the most since a 15-1 win at Arizona on June 17.

James Shields (8-6, 3.69) looks to get the Rays back in the win column and continue his winning ways at Tropicana Field. The right-hander is 6-1 at home and has not lost a decision since May 14. He has a 2.05 era at home this season. Shields surrendered a season-high three home runs in a no-decision at Oakland May 19, a 7-6 win for the Rays.

The A's counter with Greg Smith (5-8, 3.79). The lefty is winless over his last three starts since a complete-game win against the Angels on June 30.

Southpaws have baffled the Rays all year. For the season, the Rays are 17 games over .500 but just 16-15 against southpaw starters.

The win Tuesday snapped Oakland's six-game losing streak, it's longest of the season. The A's sits in second place in the AL West, nine games behind the Angels.








  • AL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    OAKLAND 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 6 0
    TAMPA BAY 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 x 4 6 0 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: OAK - GREG SMITH, SANTIAGO CASILLA (7TH), ALAN EMBREE (7TH), JERRY
    BLEVINS (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI
    TAM - JAMES SHIELDS, TROY PERCIVAL (9TH) AND SHAWN
    RIGGANS

    HOME

    Jul 23 3:17 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SACRIFICE FLY BY EMIL BROWN SCORED JACK CUST.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, NONE ON, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3
    TAMPA BAY 4 TOP, 9TH
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: C GONZALEZ (.269, 2-FOR-3, HR, RBI)

    Athletics 3, Rays 4  Top 9, 0 OutsJul 23 3:13 PM
  • 35
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 35 roots (Close Finish)

    Athletics 3, Rays 4  Top 9, 0 OutsJul 23 3:13 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY BEN ZOBRIST SCORED WILLY AYBAR.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B ZOBRIST ON FIRST, S RIGGANS ON SECOND, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2
    TAMPA BAY 4 BOTTOM, 7TH
    DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.278, 1-FOR-3)

    Athletics 2, Rays 4  Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 23 2:39 PM
  • 0
    roots
    RUWTbot Took away 35 roots

    Athletics 2, Rays 4  Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 23 2:39 PM
  • 35
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 35 roots (Close Finish)

    Athletics 2, Rays 3  Bot 7, 0 OutsJul 23 2:26 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY BEN ZOBRIST (5) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT IN THE
    5TH OFF GREG SMITH.
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2, TAMPA BAY 3
    DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: A IWAMURA (.278, 1-FOR-2)

    Athletics 2, Rays 3  Bot 5, 0 OutsJul 23 1:55 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY JONNY GOMES (8) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN
    THE 5TH OFF GREG SMITH SCORED CARLOS PENA.
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2, TAMPA BAY 2
    DUE UP FOR TAMPA BAY: B ZOBRIST (.208, 0-FOR-1)

    Athletics 2, Rays 2  Bot 5, 0 OutsJul 23 1:55 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY CARLOS GONZALEZ (3) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT IN
    THE 2ND OFF JAMES SHIELDS.
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 2, TAMPA BAY 0
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B CROSBY (.256, 4 HR, 39 RBI)

    Athletics 2, Rays 0  Top 2, 0 OutsJul 23 12:56 PM


  • AL
    AT TAMPA BAY - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY EMIL BROWN (8) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
    2ND OFF JAMES SHIELDS.
    CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, TAMPA BAY 0
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: C GONZALEZ (.262, 2 HR, 16 RBI)

    Athletics 1, Rays 0  Top 2, 0 OutsJul 23 12:54 PM

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