Adames, Brosseau hit HRs as Rays beat A's 4-3, avoid sweep

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Willy Adames hit a three-run homer in the fifth, Mike Brosseau added a tiebreaking drive the following inning and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

The A's squandered a chance in the eighth when Matt Olson hesitated on Andrew Kittredge's passed ball and was thrown out at third by catcher Mike Zunino.

Jeffrey Springs (3-1) struck out two in the fifth for the win. Kittredge got five outs for his second save.

Oakland lefty Cole Irvin (3-4) was looking to build on a career-high nine strikeouts his last time out that gave him 29 Ks over his past four starts while going 3-1.

But Irvin couldn't hold a 3-0 lead and wasn't as dominant as in recent outings. He allowed four runs — three earned — and four hits over six innings, with three strikeouts and a walk.

Rays lefty Shane McClanahan gave up three runs on four hits in four innings, struck out five and walked two. He has pitched four innings in each of his four starts.

The A’s faced a left-handed starter for the seventh time in eight games and ninth in 11.

Sergio Romo struck out the side in order in the seventh, then fellow Oakland reliever Burch Smith pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts in his first appearance since coming off the injured list following a groin strain.

PERFECT MEMORY

Sunday marked 11 years since Dallas Braden's Mother's Day masterpiece, when he pitched a perfect game against the Rays here on May 9, 2010. Highlights of the lefty's gem were shown on the main scoreboard.

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler grounded out to shortstop for Tampa Bay's final out.

“Dallas had just really good command that day,” Kapler said. “His ball was sinking, sinking away from us right-handed hitters and he had a nice backdoor breaking...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Adames-Brosseau-hit-HRs-as-Rays-beat-A-s-4-3-16164038.php