Rays at Athletics
What loomed as a showdown for supremacy in the American League East turned into a comeuppance for the Tampa Bay Rays, who were swept for only the second time this season in a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. The Rays will look to get back on track when they resume their 10-game road trip with the first of four at the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.
Tampa Bay was outscored 21-4 by the New York Yankees and has dropped seven of its last nine games, including two of three at home versus Oakland, to fall 3 1/2 games off the division lead. “We have not played good baseball in the last 10 days,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We gotta fix it. We’ve been checked up here over 10 days, and we certainly have the guys that have the ability to correct some things and fix some things.” The Athletics are in the thick of the AL wild-card chase after completing a three-game sweep of the hapless Baltimore Orioles, including a 16-2 mauling that featured six homers on Tuesday. Outfielder Ramón Laureano has seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak for Oakland and also clubbed a grand slam against Tampa Bay on June 12.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Charlie Morton (8-1, 2.37 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Frankie Montas (9-2, 2.85)
Morton suffered his first loss of the season last time out against the Los Angeles Angels, giving up a pair of early home runs over a six-inning stint in which he permitted four runs and five hits. He had won his previous four outings, registering quality starts in each and allowing a combined three runs and 14 hits over 27 innings. That included a dominant effort against Oakland on June 10 when Morton gave up only a pair of hits over seven scoreless innings.
Montas needs one more victory to double his previous career-high total after winning his third consecutive start by giving up two runs and six hits while striking out nine to beat Seattle on Saturday. The 26-year-old Dominican is 5-0 during an eight-start unbeaten streak dating and has permitted three runs or fewer in 13 of his 14 appearances. Montas has made only one appearance against the Rays -- a scoreless inning in relief -- and has held Mike Zunino to going 0-for-4 at the plate.
OVERTIME
1. Rays OF Tommy Pham has multiple hits in six of his last eight games.
2. Athletics C Josh Phegley hit a three-run homer Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to four games.
3. The Rays placed INF Yandy Diaz (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list.