Big fourth inning propels Rays to sweep of Athletics

Chandler Simpson and Richie Palacios drove in two runs apiece in Tampa Bay's six-run fourth-inning eruption, earning the first-place Rays their major league-leading 16th series sweep in a 10-1 pounding of the Athletics on Thursday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The American League's top team, the Rays (93-59) improved to 6-0 on their nine-game homestand to extend the East Division lead over the New York Yankees to five games. They play four times in three days starting Tuesday in New York.

Simpson went 2-for-5, scored twice and stole two bases to bring his average to .311. Palacios doubled and walked twice. Taylor Walls posted two RBIs in his return to the lineup from a stint on the injured list.

Drew Rasmussen (15-5) matched teammate Nick Martinez for the club lead in wins with five innings of four-hit, shutout ball in his ninth scoreless start. He fanned three and walked two.

Tampa Bay improved to 11-0 in the right-hander's past 11 starts.

The team outscored the A's 16-5 in the sweep.

Lawrence Butler was 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the A's (61-92) as they fell to 1-4 in the past five outings. Denzel Clarke swiped two bases, but the club managed only five hits.

Jeffrey Springs (4-14) saw his 28th start unravel in the disastrous fourth after three strong innings. He surrendered six runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks.

The home side mounted a strong rally in the fourth when Jonathan Aranda led off with a double just out of the reach of diving left fielder Henry Bolte. Junior Caminero and Liam Hicks followed with walks to load the bases.

Simpson, who entered the game battling Houston's Yordan Alvarez for the AL batting average lead, stroked a one-out, two-run single to center.

Palacios ripped a bases-loaded double to right that tallied two RBIs, and catcher Jonah Heim's fielding error on the play brought in Ryan Vilade all the way from first after the outfielder had been hit by a pitch.

Butler opened the sixth against Casey Legumina with his 17th homer, a towering blast to right, but Walls and Aranda each drew bases-loaded walks to make it 8-1 in the bottom half.

Hicks, who was 2-for-4, drove in two unearned runs with an eighth-inning single to center.