Tuesday, 4 a.m.
For much of the night, they didn't pitch particularly well. Also, they didn't hit. Even their fielding was a little splotchy.
And then, just before they let a game slip away, the Rays turned into the best team in the American League again.
Trailing by four runs, the Rays exploded for eight runs on seven hits, two walks and two steals in the eighth inning Monday night, rallying to beat the Athletics 10-6 at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
It was the Rays' biggest inning of the year. They sent 12 men to the plate.
It happened after the A's pulled starting pitcher Jacob Lopez from the game. Lopez had allowed just five hits over over seven innings and seemed in control.
But the bullpen for the Athletics is the worst in majors, and once they were in the game, it was time for batting practice. Yandy Diaz singled. Jonathan Aranda singled. And Junior Caminero, quiet as of late, hit his 34th home run to bring the Rays within a run.
No one was through yet, however. Ryan Vilade walked. Jonny DeLuca singled. Nick Fortes walked. Chandler Simpson singled in the go-ahead run.
Tyler Walls singled in two runs. Diaz hit a sacrifice to center. Jonathan Aranda singled.
It was the seventh straight win for the Rays. They now lead the Yankees by six games and the Red Sox by eight.
Freddy Peralta was better in his second start for the Rays, but he wasn't sharp. He did get through six innings with only three runs.
The Rays ended up with 10 hits. Caminero had his 34th home run and Diaz had his 16th.
Diaz, a night after having four hits in Seattle, had three more against the A's. DeLuca had three hits, too. Aranda and Walls each had two.
The Rays and As play again tonight at 9:40 p.m. at Sutter Health Park. Nick Martinez (11-3) will start for the Rays against Mason Barnett (1-2).
