Nathan Karns got the start and battled through the first five innings. Though he allowed six hits in those frames, Karns was able to strand three runners in scoring position in the first, second and fourth innings, while getting an extra hand from the defense in the third and fifth innings.
With one out in the third, Rene Rivera gunned down Marcus Semien as he attempted to swipe second. Then in the fifth, Logan Forsythe stole a potential extra-base hit from Billy Burns, snaring his line drive before it could bound into left field.
Leather, lumber game proper. #VoteLogan pic.twitter.com/MxeavAuthZ
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) May 23, 2015
Nevertheless, the tone of the game changed in the sixth.
Josh Reddick led off the inning with a single to left to spark a fruitful uprising. The right-fielder moved to second on Billy Butler’s slow groundout to third. With Max Muncy at the plate, Reddick advanced to third on a passed ball. Muncy walked one pitch later to put two runners on. Karns’ day was done after he coaxed a swinging strikeout from Josh Phegley for the second out.
Manager Kevin Cash called upon Cedeno, who hadn’t allowed a run (earned, or otherwise) in 12 previous outings. The LOOGY got ahead of Sogard with an 0-2 count before leaving a middle-middle fastball in the swing path of the Athletics’ second baseman. Sogard made Cendeno pay for the mistake by smacking a base hit up the middle, driving in Reddick and giving the Athletics the only run they’d need on the day. Mark Canha then walked to load the bases, and Sam Fuld — who was mired in a 4-for-54 slump — lined a base clearing single to center field, plating a pair of runs. The third and fourth runs crossed the plate after Kevin Kiermaier and Rene Rivera committed errors on the play, giving Oakland a commanding lead.
Enny Romero, who was recalled from Triple-A late Friday night, threw the final three innings of the game. Romero looked excellent in the seventh, needing only eight pitches to work around a one out single for a clean frame. Yet his command escaped him in the eighth, and Romero walked the bases loaded with two outs before allowing a bases-loaded walk to Billy Burns to give Oakland a 5-0 advantage. Yes, Romero walked four consecutive batters with two outs.
Meanwhile, after being recalled from Triple-A Nashville to make a spot start, Kendall Graveman struck out six and walked two to help the A’s win for just the third time in 17 games. Graveman was excellent and allowed just one hit over the first four innings. He pulled a Houdini and worked out of a two-on no-out jam the very next inning, and another two-on rally in the sixth. And while the Rays put together one last two-out bases loaded rally in the ninth against Tyler Clippard, the closer eviscerated pinch hitter Joey Butler on three pitches to end the game. All told, Graveman and two relievers held the Rays to six scattered hits.
The New What Next
Erasmo Ramirez will toe the rubber opposite Sonny Gray in the series finale on Sunday. Gray was not as sharp as usual on Tuesday, allowing three runs, seven hits and three walks over only five innings. He also dropped two straight, and the Rays will attempt to tag him for a third in the matinee game. You can read about the pitching matchup in our series preview.
Rays 5/23/15 Starting Lineup
Kiermaier CF
Souza RF
Longoria 3B
Loney 1B
Forsythe 2B
DeJesus DH
Cabrera SS
Guyer LF
Wilson C
Ramirez RHP
Noteworthiness
— The Rays optioned Romero back to Triple-A Durham following the game — a move makes sense as the team needs another fresh arm with Ramirez starting. They corresponded by calling up RHP Preston Guilmet, who was acquired by Tampa Bay off waivers from the Blue Jays. Guilmet pitched for Cash previously with Cleveland.
— Here’s my solution to the debated roster move of Tim Beckham back to Triple-A: Since Beckham has 5 HR/16 RBI/.725 OPS off the bench, and Asdrubal Cabrera boasts 2 HR/11 RBI/.606 OPS as an everyday player, DFA Cabrera and recall T-Bex!