Rays 3, Athletics 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Alex Colome and four relievers combined for a four-hit shutout as the Tampa Bay Rays opened their series against the Oakland Athletics with a 3-0 win Thursday night at Tropicana Field.
The Rays (23-19) got an RBI double and solo home run from designated hitter David DeJesus, and that was all the scoring the pitching staff needed. Colome (3-1) pitched five innings, and the bullpen continued its strong play, allowing only two hits in the final four innings. Oakland (14-29) has lost three straight and seven of its last eight to earn the worst record in the majors.
The A's opened the game with a leadoff triple by center fielder Billy Burns, but surprisingly didn't send him when shortstop Marcus Semien followed with a fly ball to deep center. The Rays would get out of the inning stranding Burns at third, and Oakland didn't get many opportunities to score after that.
DeJesus drove in the game's first run in the fourth, then added an insurance run in the seventh with his fourth home run of the season. Rays left fielder Brandon Guyer manufactured another run, reaching on a single, stealing second and third, then scoring on a comebacker that catcher Bobby Wilson hit for a 3-0 lead. Reliever Edward Mujica fielded the ball and threw to first for the out, but left the game with a trainer holding his right hand as he walked off the field.
Oakland starter Jesse Chavez held Tampa Bay to three hits entering the seventh, but gave up DeJesus' home run and put Guyer on, with all three runs counting against him.
Tampa Bay showed off its new 1-2-3 bullpen combo for the final three innings, with right-hander Kevin Jepsen, left-hander Jake McGee and right-hander Brad Boxberger each pitching a scoreless inning. Boxberger improved to 12-for-12 in save opportunities; right-hander Steve Geltz got the relief started with a perfect sixth. Oakland got two singles in the ninth to put the tying run at the plate, but Boxberger got third baseman Brett Lawrie to strike out for the final out.
The Rays got a strong start from right-hander Colome, who threw five shutout innings and held the A's to four hits.
Colome's only real trouble came in the fourth when Oakland loaded the bases on a single by catcher Stephen Vogt, a walk by first baseman Max Muncy and an infield single by third baseman Brett Lawrie. Former Rays outfielder Sam Fuld grounded out to first to end the threat.
Chavez kept the Rays' bats in check, holding the Rays to three hits in the first five innings.
Tampa Bay got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Third baseman Evan Longoria reached on a walk and scored on an RBI double by DeJesus for a 1-0 lead.
Colome bounced back nicely after coming in with a 10.61 ERA in his last two starts. He threw 86 pitches, including 57 for strikes, and left with a chance at the win with a 1-0 lead.
NOTES: Athletics RHP Edward Mujica is headed to the disabled list after he took a ground ball off his right thumb in the seventh inning. A's manager Bob Melvin said Mujica suffered a small fracture of his thumb, as well as a laceration. He said the fracture may not require surgery, but will put him on the DL. No corresponding move was immediately announced by the team. ... Rays LHP Drew Smyly will not have season-ending surgery for a small labrum tear as previously reported and will choose an eight-week rehab in hopes of returning in late July. ... Another rehabbing Rays pitcher, LHP Matt Moore, will throw two innings in an extended spring training game on Saturday. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery. ... The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the A's will call up RHP Kendall Graveman to start Saturday's game against the Rays, filling in for LHP Drew Pomeranz (sprained left AC joint), who is on the disabled list. Graveman made four starts in April and went 1-2 with an 8.27 ERA, but he is 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA at Triple-A since then.