Tampa Bay Rays vs Oakland Athletics Box Score on Jul 18, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jul 19, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Tampa Bay Rays rallied with two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth inning to score two runs in a 4-3 comeback victory against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

Thirty-six-year-old Chris Smith pitched seven strong innings for the A's and left the game with a 3-2 lead. He appeared headed for his second career major league win and first as a starter, but after reliever Blake Treinen pitched a perfect eighth inning, the Rays scored twice off closer Santiago Casilla (2-4) in the ninth.

A's rookie third baseman Matt Chapman made a diving stop to his right and strong throw to retire Evan Longoria for the first out in the ninth and save a likely leadoff double. Casilla struck out Logan Morrison, but catcher Wilson Ramos, who returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sore left hamstring, singled sharply with two outs, keeping the Rays' chances alive.

Pinch runner Mallex Smith went to second on a wild pitch and stole third base, and Brad Miller walked. Adeiny Hechavarria grounded an RBI single to right, scoring Smith to tie the score. Shane Peterson, a former Athletic, lined a single to right, driving in Miller for the go-ahead run.

Rays closer Alex Colome pitched a scoreless ninth for his 28th save.

Chris Smith's first 63 major league appearances came in relief. He has filled in twice for right-hander Jharel Cotton, who is on the disabled list with a blister on his right thumb. He struck out four, walked two and threw 89 pitches against the Rays, keeping them off-balance with a high-80s fastball and mid-70s changeup and curve.

Steven Souza Jr. hit his 20th home run for Tampa Bay, a leadoff blast in the third inning.

Khris Davis hit his 27th home run of the season for the A's, a two-run shot in the first inning.

Rays left-hander Blake Snell allowed three runs on three hits over four innings with six strikeouts and three walks. Snell lasted less than six innings for the 11th straight start. He left after throwing 85 pitches, just 48 of them strikes. He hasn't completed six innings since going 6 2/3 in his first start of the season on April 6 in a 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Tampa Bay's Erasmo Ramirez threw three perfect innings with two strikeouts in relief. Andrew Kittredge made his major league debut, allowing one hit and no runs in two-thirds of an inning. Adam Kolarek (1-0) got the final out in the eighth and earned his first major league win.

The A's struck quickly, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on Khris Davis' two-run shot off Snell. After Rajai Davis grounded a leadoff single to right, Snell struck out Marcus Semien and Ryon Healy, but Khris Davis crushed a first-pitch changeup over the center field fence an estimated 436 feet.

Tampa Bay cut the Athletics' lead to 2-1 in the second inning with an unearned run and pulled even in the third when Souza lined a leadoff homer into the left field seats off Smith.

The A's moved ahead 3-2 in the fourth. Snell opened the inning by walking Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie. Davis tagged up and raced to third on Chapman's fly ball out to deep center and scored on a wild pitch.

The A's had runners on first and third with two outs after Josh Phegley singled sharply to left, but catcher Ramos picked off Phegley at first to end the inning. Phegley was initially ruled safe, but the Rays challenged the call, and it was overturned after a video review.

Rays manager Kevin Cash was ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke in the top of the fifth after arguing a called third strike on Souza.

NOTES: RHP Chaz Roe was acquired by Tampa Bay from the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations and was assigned to Triple-A Durham. In 93 major league appearances over parts of five seasons with the Diamondbacks, Yankees, Orioles and Braves, he is 7-2 with a 4.16 ERA. ... A's rookie 3B Matt Chapman committed his first career error in his 16th game, booting a ground ball in the second inning, but he made a handful of stellar defensive plays after that. . ... A's INF Ryon Healy made his 18th start at first base this season, as regular 1B Yonder Alonso was out of the lineup.