Bleday homers, Boyle pitches six innings as A’s beat Rays 3-0

By Emily Ohman
The Associated Press

OAKLAND — JJ Bleday hit a two-run homer, Joe Boyle pitched six effective innings and the Oakland A’s beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Monday night.

Bleday got his 16th home run in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to account for all of the offense.

Boyle (3-5) limited the Rays to just two hits and three walks while striking out six. Grant Holman, Tyler Ferguson and Mason Miller each followed with hitless innings while combining for five more strikeouts, with Miller getting his 19th save.

With the victory, Oakland evened its home record this season at 31-31. The A’s went 26-55 in Oakland during last year’s 50-112 last-place finish.

The A’s jumped out to an early lead in the first that they never relinquished. Butler singled to open the inning and, after Brent Rooker struck out, Bleday smashed a fastball to the right field bleachers.

Zack Gelof had two of Oakland’s six hits, with a single in the second and double in the fifth. He scored on Butler’s sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Tampa Bay had runners on in all but three innings but could not convert. The Rays were hitless until the fifth when Yandy Diaz singled with two outs but was left stranded. Díaz has reached base on the road in 31 straight games.

Boyle threw 104 pitches and his six strikeouts tied a career high.

Rays starter Taj Bradley (6-8) gave up the three runs and five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in six innings.