Game 27: David Price Dominates A’s As Rays Win 7-2

The Tampa Chamber of Commerce is now 2-0 when picking the lineup.

Joe Maddon had the Chamber of Commerce pick the lineup today at a luncheon, after they had picked a lineup that defeated the Minnesota Twins last year. Thanks to a dominant performance by David Price, they now have a two game winning streak.

Price held the Oakland A’s to 3 hits and 1 walk through 8 innings while striking out 12 batters. The only blemish on the night came in the top of the second inning. Jonny Gomes hit a one out double to right field. Following a strikeout of Brandon Inge, Kurt Suzuki doubled to left, scoring Gomes and giving the A’s a 1-0 lead.

That score held up until the bottom of the third. Sean Rodriguez led off the inning by doubling to deep center, and moved up to third on a Desmond Jennings groundout. B.J. Upton followed with a double in the right center gap, tying the game at 1-1. matt Joyce walked with two out, and the runners moved up a base on a Tyson Ross balk. Luke Scott promptly singled, cashing in both runners and giving the Rays a 3-1 lead.

The offense would continue to batter Ross in the bottom of the fourth inning. Will Rhymes led off the inning with a single, and scored on a Jose Molina home run to left, giving the Rays a 5-1 lead. After a Rodriguez strikeout, Jennings singled to right. Upton followed with his second double of the night, plating Jennings to extend the lead to 6-1. Following a Carlos Pena walk, the runners moved up on a passed ball. Matt Joyce singled to left, scoring Upton and giving the Rays a 7-1 lead. Ross was lifted from the game following the hit, as the A’s bullpen shut down the Rays the rest of the way.

Price had all the offense he needed by that point. Following the second inning, he only allowed a walk in the fifth and an infield single to deep short in the seventh, as he held the A’s in check.

That score held up until the top of the ninth inning, when Brandon Gomes came in to finish out the game. Cliff Pennington led off the inning with a home run to right, cutting the lead to 7-2. After a Josh Reddick fly out, Yeonis Cespedes singled to center. Jonny Gomes was hit by a pitch, and the runners moved to second and third on a wild pitch. After a strikeout of Brandon Inge, pinch hitter Seth Smith walked, ending Brandon Gomes’ night. Joel Peralta was brought in to close out the game, and he escaped any further trouble, getting Kila Ka’aihue to groundout to end the game.

Witht he win, Tampa now has a 19-8 record, which is the best in baseball by a game and a half over the Los Angeles Dodgers. This game also featured the first time in MLB history that two players named Gomes faced one another.