OAKLAND — Jose Siri homered with two outs in the eighth inning to break up a scoreless pitcher’s duel and help Shane Baz earn his first win in more than two years, and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Oakland Athletics 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Baz (1-2) allowed three hits, struck out four and walked three over 7 2/3 innings to earn his first win since July 3, 2022, in Toronto. The right-hander missed the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
Siri’s solo drive to center for his 15th home run chased Oakland starter Joey Estes (5-6), who struggled hard against Baz as the A’s drew 4,377 fans coming off shutouts in two of their last three games.
Edwin Uceta recorded the final four outs to end the 1 hour 54 minute game and earn his first career save.
Estes struck out five and allowed one run on three hits while pitching 7 2/3 innings.
Oakland starters have given up just two runs in the last four games. The A’s lost for just the third time in their last nine games.
The Rays, on a 10-game road trip that matches the longest of the year, bounced back after drops the series opener Monday 3-0 to have a three-game winning streak snapped.
TRAINING ROOM
Athletics: LHP Scott Alexander was placed on the 15-day injured list with rotator cuff tendinitis in his pitching shoulder, retroactive to Sunday. … The A’s filled his spot by optioning RHP JT Ginn from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Rays: RHP Ryan Pepiot will make his second start Wednesday since returning from a lengthy recovery from a spider bite and subsequent knee infection that required a hospital stay. “He showed us he’s really good his last outing, a good five-plus whatever he was,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Pretty dominant stuff. We’re really pleased with the way he threw the ball so excited to see the other one coming off the injury.
UP NEXT
Pepiot (6-5, 3.69 ERA) makes his 19th start of 2024 against A’s RHP Mitch Spence (7-8, 4.64), who is looking to snap a three-start winless streak in which he is 0-2.
Originally published: