Athletics comeback falls short after early Rays surge

The Athletics spent most of Wednesday trying to recover from Brady Basso’s shaky start. Their bullpen gave them every opportunity, but the comeback stopped one run short.

The A’s fell 4-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field after allowing four runs in the first two innings. Basso lasted only 2 2/3 innings, while four Athletics relievers combined for 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

However, the offense could not complete the comeback. The loss dropped the Athletics to 61-91 with 10 games remaining.

Basso digs an early hole

Basso retired the first two Rays in the opening inning before Tampa Bay strung together three consecutive doubles.

Junior Caminero started the rally before Jonny DeLuca drove him home. Then Chandler Simpson doubled home DeLuca for a 2-0 lead.

Tampa Bay added two more in the second. Jorge Mateo singled, stole second and scored on Nick Fortes’ double. Ryan Vilade followed with a two-out RBI single, making it 4-0.

Still, the A’s quickly began cutting into the deficit.

Tommy White opened the third with his third homer of the season. Two outs later, Henry Bolte launched his 11th, a 414-foot solo shot to center.

Basso returned for the bottom half but could not finish the inning. He allowed a leadoff single to DeLuca before Simpson reached on Basso’s fielding error.

Seth Johnson entered with two runners aboard and two outs. He struck out Mateo to keep the deficit at 4-2.

Basso allowed four earned runs on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings. He did not issue a walk or record a strikeout.

Bullpen shuts the door

From there, the Athletics’ bullpen gave the offense a chance to come all the way back.

Johnson was particularly sharp. He retired all seven batters he faced and struck out four over 2 1/3 innings.

Meanwhile, the A’s pulled within one in the sixth. Jeff McNeil doubled to begin the inning before Shea Langeliers singled him home.

Langeliers then stole second with two outs, putting the tying run in scoring position. However, Kevin Kelly struck out Donovan Walton to end the threat.

Drew Rom, Scott Blewett and Hogan Harris followed Johnson out of the bullpen. Together, the four relievers held Tampa Bay scoreless over the final 5 1/3 innings.

They allowed only two hits and struck out six without issuing a walk.

Comeback runs out of chances

The Athletics had another baserunner in the seventh when White collected his third hit of the night. But Carlos Cortes and Brian Serven popped out before Bolte struck out.

Then Tampa Bay’s bullpen closed the door.

Cam Booser retired the A’s in order in the eighth. Cole Sulser did the same in the ninth, securing the 4-3 final.

White finished 3-for-4 with a homer, while McNeil went 2-for-3 with a double and a run. Bolte added his solo homer, and Langeliers supplied the other RBI.