Walls’ two homers lead Rays past Athletics 12‑4
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Interstat) — Taylor Walls hit two home runs and drove in three runs Tuesday as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Athletics 12-4 at Sutter Health Park. The Rays scored two runs in the first inning, one in the third, three in the fourth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh and three in the eighth. The Athletics scored two in the fourth and two in the ninth. Tampa Bay had 11 hits; Athletics had 8. Nick Martinez pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on eight hits while striking out five and improving to 12-3. Mason Barnett took the loss, falling to 1-3. Carson Williams added a pinch-hit three-run homer, and Victor Mesa Jr. homered and drove in two. Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero also homered for the Rays. Lawrence Butler hit a two-run homer for the Athletics. The Rays improved to 73-46, while the Athletics fell to 47-73. Attendance was 8,154, and the game lasted 2:25.