Zunino's Homer Helps Rays Rally Past A's 10-7 In 10 Innings
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Pinch-hitter Mike Zunino tied the game with a two-run homer in the ninth inning and Yandy Diaz hit a go-ahead double in Tampa Bay's five-run 10th to lead the Rays to a 10-7 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
Kevin Smith hit a grand slam in the first inning to stake the A's to a 5-1 lead but Oakland didn't score again until two runs in the 10th and lost its fifth straight game.
Kirby Snead came on for the ninth protecting a two-run lead in search of his first career save. But he gave up a one-out single to Manuel Margot followed by Zunino's game-tying homer.
The Rays then won it in the 10th against Lou Trivino (0-2), who had a rough outing in his first game back after a two-week stint on the COVID-19 list.
Diaz drove in Harold Ramirez with a drive to right-center to open the 10th. Isaac Paredes broke it open with a two-run single and scored on Margot's triple. Zunino added an RBI single as the Rays scored five times off Trivino to seal their fourth series win in their past five series.
Andrew Kittredge (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
ROUGH START
Ryan Yarbrough struggled in his belated season debut after a stint on the injured list with a groin injury.
He walked Stephen Piscotty and Christian Bethancourt back-to-back with two outs in the first to force in one run and Smith followed with a towering homer for his first career slam.
Yarbrough lasted only 2 1/3 innings, allowing five runs and six hits.
TWO-WAY PLAYER
Tampa Bay's Brett Phillips flashed on both sides of the field early in the game. He made a diving catch in right field to rob Cristian Pache of a hit to end the first inning and then hit a two-run homer off Paul Blackburn in the second.
Blackburn got a no-decision, allowing three runs in 4 1-3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: RHP Phoenix Sanders (low back spasms) was placed on the 15-day IL to make room on the roster for Yarbrough. ... C Francisco Mejía, sidelined on the COVID-19 injured list, caught during a rehab game at the club's spring training facility in Port Charlotte, Florida, and is expected to join the team later this week in Seattle.
Athletics: INF Nick Allen was sent back to to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Trivino on the roster. ... INF Drew Jackson was also reinstated from the COVID IL and returned to Triple-A.
ATTENDANCE WOES
The A's drew a crowd of 2,815 — 327 more than their season-low in the series opener on Monday night.
UP NEXT
Corey Kluber (1-1, 3.05) will take the mound Wednesday for the Rays in the series finale against Oakland's Frankie Montas (2-2, 4.25). Kluber has a 0.99 ERA against the A's in his four starts against them. Montas beat the Rays on April 13 in a 4-2 victory.
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