AP

Margot’s two-run single puts Rays past slumping A’s 3-0

May 4, 2022, 3:27 AM | Updated: 4:14 pm

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena slides home to score against the Oakland Athletics during the eight...

Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena slides home to score against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)


              Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena, left, and Brett Phillips walk to the dugout after both scored on a two-run single by Manuel Margot during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay, left, takes the ball from pitcher Zach Jackson while making a pitching change during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena, bottom, steals third base against Oakland Athletics third baseman Sheldon Neuse during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Tampa Bay Rays' Mike Zunino reacts after striking out against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Oakland Athletics left fielder Chad Pinder catches a fly out hit by Tampa Bay Rays' Brandon Lowe during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Oakland Athletics' Sheldon Neuse (26) reacts after striking out as Tampa Bay Rays catcher Mike Zunino throws the ball back to the pitcher during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Tampa Bay Rays' Manuel Margot hits a two-run single against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
            
              Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena slides home to score against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Manuel Margot broke a scoreless tie with a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Wednesday afternoon to complete a three-game sweep.

Margot came up with the bases loaded and two outs against A’s reliever Zach Jackson (0-1) and served an opposite-field single to right, scoring Brett Phillips and Randy Arozarena.

Domingo Acevedo balked in another run to make it 3-0.

“I was just trying to produce,” Margot said through a translator. “I know that the previous at-bat, I had a chance to produce and I was unsuccessful. But I knew … I was a little bit more calm, a little bit more relaxed. I learned from my last at-bat and that helped me be a little more relaxed for that one at-bat.”

Phillips called Margot “the most underrated player in the league.”

“And I say that because, night in and night out, he puts together unbelievable at-bats, he plays unbelievable defense, runs the bases, great teammate. … It’s really cool to watch him,” Phillips said. “Good teams have players like him.”

Rays reliever J.P. Feyereisen (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings to earn the win. Andrew Kittredge pitched a perfect ninth to earn his fourth save.

Both starting pitchers were dominant, giving up no runs, though neither earned a decision. Corey Kluber had seven strikeouts for Tampa Bay. Oakland’s Frankie Montas fanned six.

“(Montas) was outstanding,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “The good thing for us was that Kluber kind of went right with him and kept it right there. Just a really strong pitching performance by both sides.”

The Athletics finished their homestand 0-6, getting outscored 38-20. It was their first winless homestand of at least six games since 1956, when the franchise was in Kansas City.

“There’s some anger in there because they know we had opportunities to win games this homestand and we didn’t get it done,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “My whole focus in that group is to continue to keep the mindset that we’re going to go out and win the day.”

UNSUCCESSFUL CHALLENGE

Prior to Margot’s two-run single, Brandon Lowe came to the plate with runners on first and third and was hit by a pitch. The A’s challenged the ruling, but the call was upheld.

ATTENDANCE WOES

The A’s drew a crowd of 4,838 and a combined 10,096 during the three-game series. Oakland is last in the majors in average attendance following offseason trades of stars Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: C Francisco Mejía, on the COVID-19 injured list since April 22, is expected to return for the next series in Seattle.

Athletics: LHP Cole Irvin is being evaluated for shoulder tightness. If he is forced to miss his scheduled start Friday, LHP Zach Logue would pitch in his place. … C Stephen Vogt (sprained right knee) played catch Tuesday and has resumed other baseball activities. … OF Ramón Laureano is on track to rejoin the team Sunday when first eligible to return from his 80-game PED suspension.

ROSTER MOVES

Rays: RHP Robert Dugger, designated for assignment Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.

UP NEXT

Rays: LHP Shane McClanahan (1-2, 3.00 ERA) opens a four-game series in Seattle on Thursday night.

Athletics: Following an off day, Oakland begins a three-game series in Minnesota on Friday. Irvin (2-1, 2.93) is still listed as the probable starter, despite dealing with shoulder tightness.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Margot’s two-run single puts Rays past slumping A’s 3-0