A's Gain Ground In Wild Card Race With Huge 4-2 Win Over Rays

The Oakland A's were in need of a huge win on Saturday. Luckily, Brandon McCarthy, Chris Carter and Seth Smith delivered.

Carter and Smith homered, McCarthy pitched seven solid innings and the A's beat the Rays 4-2.

Smith and Carter's jacks helped the A's salvage the series against the Rays, who still also currently own a Wild Card spot. Oakland is just a half-game back of the Rays for the first Wild Card spot, but they own the second Wild Card spot.

In the first inning, Jeremy Hellickson left a pitch that was supposed to be on the outside corner right down the middle, and Carter smashed the ball down the line for a line-drive home run. In the third, Smith hit a pitch up and outside just over the right field wall to give Oakland a 4-1 lead.

In additon to McCarthy's great start, Grant Balfour was great in the ninth inning, picking up his 14th save of the year and closing out a crucial game. Sean Doolittle got the hold by pitching a perfect eighth and striking out two Rays.

Roberto Hernandez (0-2, 6.75 ERA) takes the hill for the Cleveland Indians on Monday, while Brett Anderson (1-0, 1.29 ERA) pitches for Oakland.

Posted in: Brandon McCarthy,Brett Anderson,Chris Carter,Grant Balfour,MLB,Oakland Athletics,Roberto Hernandez,Sean Doolittle,Seth Smith,Tampa Bay Rays