Zach Jackson gave up three runs in the eighth inning as the A’s lost 3-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays.
OAKLAND — The Athletics may have some rough homestands to come, but it can’t get any worse than the one that concluded Wednesday afternoon.
The loss brought with it the ignominy of an 0-6 homestand, as the Cleveland Guardians swept the A’s in three games before Tampa Bay came to town and did the same thing. It wasted seven shutout innings from starter Frankie Montas, who was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Corey Kluber with neither getting a decision.
Manuel Margot broke the deadlock with a clean two-run single off Jackson with two out in the eighth, and then Domingo Acevedo balked home the third run of the inning as the A’s late relief faltered for the second straight game.Brett Phillips opened the inning with a five-pitch walk, went to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a ground out by Yandy Diaz. Jackson then walked Randy Arozarena and then a high and inside pitch grazed the hands of Brandon Lowe to load the bases.