A's Lose to Rays, Drop First Series Since June

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

Hopefully this doesn't set the tone for the rest of the month. The A's lost a series for the first time since June, thanks to the Tampa Bay Rays taking two out of three in the Coliseum with a 4-1 win this afternoon.

It was a fabulous pitching performance by Tampa Bay pitcher Alex Cobb, who allowed just one run on four hits in seven innings.

The Rays got on the board in the first with a two-out RBI single by Matt Joyce, and they would never relinquish the lead. Ryan Roberts knocked in another run with a key two-out hit in the fourth, making it 2-0.

Brandon Inge provided the A's only offense in the fifth, with a leadoff home run to cut the lead in half. Kurt Suzuki followed that up with a double into the left field corner with nobody out, but the A's could not score him.

Carlos Pena would then knock in a couple of insurance runs. One came on an RBI double in the sixth, an the other on a solo shot in the eighth.

Jarrod Parker had a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings, but the offense couldn't pick him up on this day.

The A's are now 56-48 and still retain the second wild card spot in the AL.

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