Tampa Bay RaysvsAthletics
TB 12/ATH 4
Things to say
The Rays beat the Athletics 12-4 on the road at Sutter Health Park.
01
opener
Rays rolled, 12-4. It got out of hand early and never really tightened up. Tampa's been the better team all year and it showed.
02
key player
The heart of the order did all the damage — Tampa just kept turning the lineup over and stacking crooked numbers. Once they got into a starter's stuff, it snowballed.
03
hot take
Honestly the A's manager went to the pen too early and it backfired. Twelve runs isn't a bullpen problem, it's a whole-staff problem.
04
deep cut
Getaway day, day-game hangover, whatever — Sacramento's a hitter's yard and Tampa took full advantage of it.
05
exit
At 73-46 the Rays are locked in for October. I'll keep an eye on how they line up their rotation down the stretch.
The recap
Tampa Bay came into a getaway day in Sacramento and just left the yard open, hanging a dozen on the Athletics in a 12-4 laugher. The heart of the Rays order did the damage early, and once they got the lead the bullpen barely had to sweat it.
Oakland's staff never got into its stuff, and the gap between these two clubs showed up on the scoreboard fast. At 73-46, the Rays keep rolling while the A's slide to 47-73.