Tampa Bay 13 Edges Oakland 92 2 Games To 1

The 92 Oakland A's arrived in 13Tampa Bay riding a 9 game losing streak and needed a spark to turn things around early in the KOD21 season. Rickey Henderson provided the spark in Game 1.

Game 1: Oakland 3, Tampa Bay 2 (Tropicana Field)

The opening game of the series matched up Mike Moore (0-2) for the A's and Chris Archer (1-0)
for the home town Rays. Most of the scoring in this one happened in the first inning as Oakland's Rickey Henderson led off with a single, then proceeded to help himself to stealing 2nd and 3rd base. Willie Wilson's SacFly gave the A's the early lead.
Bottom of the 1st, saw a shaky Mike Moore give up 2 walks and a couple of singles and the Rays
take the early 2-1 lead. The score would remain that way until the 8th, Both starters hit the showers after 5 innings. In the Oakland 8th, Rickey Henderson's lead off double set the tone for a 2 run inning. Henderson went to third on a failed pick off attempt by reliever Jamie Wright. Mike Bordick
singled in Henderson and reached third on a Harold Baines single.
Wright looking rattled on the mound threw a wild pitch allowing Bordick to score the go ahead run. Dennis Eckersley earned his 4th save with 2 k's in the 9th. Oakland's losing streak over. Henderson had a huge game 3 for 5 and 2 runs scored.

Game 2: Tampa Bay 2 , Oakland 1 (Tropicana Field)

The second game of the series was another tough close game as Kelly Downs faced off against David Price. Oakland once again took an early lead with a Terry Steinbach solo home run in the second inning. Both starters were sharp as the score remained 1-0 Oakland into the bottom of the 8th.
Rick Honeycutt was called from the bullpen to relieve a tired Downs and Tampa jumped on him for three doubles by Myers, DeJesus and Molina to take a 2-1 lead.
David Price pitched a complete game with 8 strike outs and 3 hits allowed, to bump his record 2-1.

Game 3: Tampa Bay 6, Oakland 4 (Oakland Coliseum)

The rubber match featured the pitching match up of Jeremy Hellickson for the Rays and Dave Stewart for Oakland. Tampa built up a 4-1 lead after 3, only to have the A's claw back into it with a run in the 4th and 2 run game tying blast by Mark McGuire, game tied 4-4.
The Rays break the tie in the 8th with 4 straight 2 out singles off of Oakland reliever Gene Nelson who came into the game in the 7th. Desmond Jennings had the GWRBI and Evan Longoria who was held in check for most of the series batted in the insurance run. Fernando Rodney earned his 5th save of the year, but not before giving up a couple of walks to make it interesting until the final out was recorded.

Fun series to play. All three games were tight and tense until the final out.