The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Oakland Athletics in the 2019 AL Wild Card game. Yandy Diaz and the Rays’ pitching staff came up big to send their team to the ALDS
Rough Start For The A’s
Sean Manaea took the mound for the Athletics in the 2019 AL Wild Card game. His outing was a short one as he hit more than a few bumps on the road. Oakland’s starter gave up a homer to Yandy Diaz in the first to surrender the early lead. Charlie Morton, on the other hand, had to work hard for his outs but managed to hang a zero on the board.
Avisail Garcia hit a two-run homer to put the Rays up by three. Diaz went deep again an inning later to put Tampa up by four and end Manaea’s night at work. He was replaced by Yusmeiro Petit on the mound.
The home team got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Marcus Semien made it to third on a fielding error. Ramon Laureano followed that up with a sacrifice fly to the goose egg off the scoreboard.
The ballgame was 4-1 after the first three.
Rays Add One More
The A’s finally retired the side in order as Petit pitched a one-two-three inning in the fourth. They failed to trim the lead as they left two men on base in the bottom of the inning. Oakland’s reliever looked confident on the mound until Tommy Pham swung for the fences. The Rays stretched their lead a bit more and Petit was out of the game. Jake Diekman came in to finish thigs up in the fifth.
Tampa kept the Oakland offense in check. Champman tried to start a rally for his team with a single. His efforts didn’t pay off, as Matt Olson hit into a double play to end the inning. Morton threw five strong innings allowing five hits and a single run.
Jesus Luzardo pitched a spotless inning for the A’s in the sixth. Still, the Rays were up by four with three innings to go.
Tampa Shuts Oakland Down
Diego Castillo was solid on relief for the Rays ever since coming into the game in the sixth inning. Castillo made quick work out of the California team as he allowed a pair of hits in two innings of work. Luzardo did well for the A’s, but his guys weren’t much of a helping hand on offense.
Tampa bay called in Nick Anderson in the eighth. He struck out three in a row to send the game into the ninth. Anderson struck out Robbie Grossman for the first out before leaving the mound for Emilio Pagan. He got two quick outs to end the A’s season.
Final Score: Rays 5-1 Athletics
Where To Watch
Tampa Bay will meet Houston in the ALDS. Game 1 kicks off this Friday at 2:05 PM ET on FS1.
Relive all the AL Wild Card action HERE
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