Cabrera Doubles In 2 In 9th As Rays Beat A's 5-4
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Asdrubal Cabrera homered and then hit a two-run double in the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Saturday night.
The Rays managed just five hits off A's starter Sonny Gray before coming back to win for the first time this season when trailing going into the ninth.
Daniel Nava, a replacement after James Loney was ejected, drew a one-out walk against switch-pitcher Pat Venditte (0-2). Logan Forsythe followed with a double that moved pinch-runner Tim Beckham to third.
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Cabrera, who hit a solo home run in the seventh, then lined the first pitch from Drew Pomeranz down the right field line to drive in Nava and Forsythe.
John Jaso and Forsythe also homered for the Rays, who have won the first two games of this series by two runs total.
Alex Colome (6-4) recorded six outs for the win.
Tampa Bay's late comeback spoiled a mostly solid outing by Gray, who was up and down in his second game since skipping a start due to back spasms.
Oakland's All-Star pitcher allowed five hits - including a career-high three home runs - walked two and struck out four.
The A's - the worst fielding team in the majors - also made several sparkling defensive plays.
Shortstop Marcus Semien made a backhanded stop and leaping throw to retire Jaso leading off the game, and center fielder Billy Burns robbed Forsythe of potential extra bases with a diving catch in the seventh.
Mark Canha and Josh Phegley each homered during a six-pitch span in the sixth inning for the A's. Oakland dropped to an American League-worst 53-71.
Rays starter Erasmo Ramirez gave up eight hits and four runs in seven innings.
Loney was ejected for tossing his helmet in the sixth and had to be restrained from going after home plate umpire Paul Nauert. Loney appeared to bump the umpire and screamed at Nauert as manager Kevin Cash rushed out from the dugout before base coaches Rocco Baldelli and Charlie Montoyo stepped in and pulled Loney away.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Jose Dominguez cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Durham. Dominguez was designated for assignment on Aug. 16 to make room on the roster for Drew Smyly.
Athletics: LHP Sean Doolittle was activated from the disabled list after missing 74 games with a strained left shoulder. . RHP Dan Otero was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. . 1B Ike Davis, who underwent surgery to repair a torn hip labrum on Friday, was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Jake Odorizzi (6-6) has been up and down this season but has fared very well against the AL West. He's allowed only three earned runs in 29 2-3 innings for a 0.91 ERA.
Athletics: RHP Kendall Graveman (6-9) is winless in his previous seven starts and has a 6.89 ERA during that stretch.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.