A’s struggles continue in 4-3 loss to host Rays

September 16, 2026 - 7:56 pm ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Nick Martinez logged five effective innings to earn his 15th victory, while Jonny DeLuca went 2-for-4 with an RBI double as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday night, securing their fifth straight win. The victory improved the Rays to 92-59 and stretched their lead in the AL East to 4½ games over the New York Yankees. Tampa Bay clinched a postseason berth the previous week, becoming the first major‑league team to do so this season. Martinez (15-4) struck out three batters, surrendered five hits and needed just 72 pitches. He remains two wins behind American League leader Sonny Gray of Boston. Relief support came from Kevin Kelly, who worked two innings and struck out four, Cam Booser, who recorded a scoreless eighth, and Cole Sulser, who closed the ninth for his third save. Tampa Bay took an early 2-0 advantage in the first inning when DeLuca and Chandler Simpson each delivered run‑scoring doubles. Nick Fortes and Ryan Vilade added RBI hits in the second. Oakland’s offense sparked in the third. Tommy White launched a leadoff home run, a 347‑foot shot to the left‑field corner, and Henry Bolte followed with his 11th homer of the year. Shea Langeliers kept the A’s alive with an RBI single in the sixth, extending his career‑best hitting streak to 12 games. Brady Basso (1-3) absorbed the loss for Oakland, lasting 2⅔ innings and giving up four runs on seven hits. White finished the contest with three hits. Looking ahead, left‑hander Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 5.93 ERA) will take the ball for the Athletics on Thursday as they seek to avoid a three‑game sweep. Right‑hander Drew Rasmussen (14-5, 2.81) is slated to start for the Rays.