Athletics slip past Rays 5-4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jonny Gomes’ two-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.
Gomes’ homer off Joel Peralta (1-6) broke a 3-3 tie and sent the Rays to their second loss in eight games.
Ryan Cook (6-2) earned the win in relief for the A’s, who have won seven of nine.
Luke Scott’s pinch-hit double got a run back for the Rays in the ninth before Grant Balfour finished for his 13th save.
Gomes, who played for the Rays from 2003-2008, has hit safely in all eight of his games against his former team with three homers in 26 at-bats. It was his 15th home run of the season.
Ben Zobrist’s 15th home run opened the scoring for Tampa Bay, but Yoenis Cespedes’ triple keyed a two-run fourth inning for Oakland. The inning ended when Josh Donaldson was caught trying to steal home with the bases loaded.
The Rays also failed to convert a bases-loaded situation. Leading 3-2 in the sixth, they had runners on first and second with two out when Ryan Roberts drove a single up the middle. But Evan Longoria was held up at third base, and Parker struck out Jose Molina to end the threat.
Jarrod Parker pitched six innings for the A’s, giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out seven.
Rays starter Matt Moore struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings. He gave up three earned runs and seven hits.
NOTES: The A’s purchased the contract of right-hander Jesse Chavez from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. The 29-year-old Chavez split this season between Toronto and Triple-A Las Vegas, going 1-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two starts and seven relief appearances for the Blue Jays. ... Oakland recalled right-hander Jim Miller from Triple-A Sacramento and optioned pitcher Tyson Ross to the Pacific Coast League club. ... Oakland manager Bob Melvin said INF Brandon Inge (sprained right shoulder), who is on a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, is scheduled to play defense Friday and Saturday and then have his status evaluated. ... The three-game series will conclude Saturday afternoon because Tropicana Field will be used as a venue for the Republican National Convention.