Rays Walk-off A’s, 2-1, in Series Opener

The Athletics opened a three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Roberto Clemente Day. The Rays won a 2-1 pitching duel on a walk-off home run by superstar third baseman Junior Caminero.

The Athletics had trouble generating offense against Rays right-hander Griffin Jax, who opened the game with seven strikeouts across five scoreless innings. A’s right-hander Jack Perkins nearly matched him, as it quickly became apparent that this game would be a low-scoring affair.

After failing to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first, the Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Chandler Simpson scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Jonah Heim. The visitors had a chance to immediately respond in the top of the third. With two outs, shortstop Alika Williams doubled for the A’s first hit of the game, but he was stranded at second when Jax struck out center fielder Henry Bolte to end the inning.

With their sights set on a deep playoff run, the Rays removed Jax after 67 pitches and five scoreless innings. Rookie right-hander Ty Johnson entered from the hosts’ bullpen, looking to maintain his team’s 1-0 lead.

With one out, Bolte and first baseman Jeff McNeil hit back-to-back singles, giving the A’s a golden opportunity to at least tie the game. Bolte scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch by Johnson. The Green and Gold stranded McNeil at second, wasting a chance to take the lead.

Perkins turned in arguably his best start of the season. The command-challenged right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this year, allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out eight and issuing only one walk over 6 2/3 innings.

With two on and two out in the bottom of the seventh, A’s right-hander Luis Medina replaced Perkins, looking to keep the game tied. Medina struck out second baseman Richie Palacios on three pitches, ending the Rays’ scoring threat.

The game remained deadlocked as Rays left-hander Cam Booser, setup man Kevin Kelly and closer Bryan Baker shut down the A’s offense over the final three innings.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Rays had an opportunity to take the lead after getting a runner to second with one out. However, A’s left-hander Hogan Harris retired the next two batters to strand the go-ahead run at third.

Right-hander Elvis Alvarado entered for the bottom of the ninth with the A’s hoping he could send the game to extra innings. However, he did not record an out.

After achieving walk-off wins in two of their past three games, the Athletics were on the other side of that equation tonight. In an 0-2 count, Caminero sliced a walk-off opposite-field home run down the right field line. His 41st long ball of the season gave the American League-best Rays a 2-1 series-opening victory.

The Athletics’ offense will look to have more success tomorrow as the team looks to even the series. Left-hander Brady Basso will open for the Green and Gold, with the length of his outing likely depending on his performance. The Rays will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who pitched a complete game when these teams met in Sacramento last month.