In a game on Tuesday night, the Oakland Athletics defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0. Mitch Spence, a rookie pitcher, performed impressively by holding the Rays hitless until the sixth inning. Miguel Andújar’s three-run homer contributed significantly to Oakland’s victory.
Spence, with a record of 4-2, only allowed one base runner until the sixth inning when José Caballero managed a single. Despite the pressure of nearing a no-hitter, Spence remained focused on taking it one out at a time.
Oakland’s manager, Mark Kotsay, praised Spence for his performance, highlighting his ability to control the game and effectively pitch to both sides of the plate.
The Athletics’ bullpen, consisting of T.J. McFarland, Michael Kelly, and Mason Miller, secured the win by limiting the Rays to three hits throughout the game. Miller closed the game with his 11th save of the season.
On the opposing side, Zack Littell, the Rays’ pitcher, allowed three unearned runs and struck out nine batters over seven innings. Despite his efforts, the Rays couldn’t overcome their offensive struggles, losing for the seventh time in eight games.
Spence, acquired by Oakland from the New York Yankees in last December’s Rule 5 draft, showcased his talent in his 14th appearance of the season.
The decisive moment of the game came in the sixth inning when Andújar, a former Yankees player, hit a home run off Littell, extending Oakland’s lead to 3-0. Andújar, who returned to the field after recovering from knee surgery, capitalized on Littell’s mistake.
Both Andújar and Littell had previously played together for the Yankees’ Double-A Trenton team during the 2017 season.
