OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mike Zunino made Wander Franco look prophetic and helped Tampa Bay rally to another win.
Zunino tied the game with pinch-hit, two-run homer in the ninth inning and Yandy Diaz hit a go-ahead double in Tampa Bay’s five-run 10th to lead the Rays to a 10-7 win over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.
Zunino came up against Kirby Snead with one on and one out in the ninth and Tampa Bay trailing 5-3. Franco said he told Diaz that Zunino was “going to hit a home run” and the prediction came true when the catcher launched the tying drive.
“Getting to that point, everyone’s throwing their hat, trying to call something,” Zunino said. “It’s just nice to be able to have a momentum swing there.”
The Rays then won it in the 10th against Lou Trivino (0-2), who had a rough outing in his first game back after a two-week stint on the COVID-19 list.
Diaz drove in Harold Ramirez with a drive to right-center to open the 10th. Isaac Paredes broke it open with a two-run single and scored on Manuel Margot’s triple. Zunino added an RBI single as the Rays scored five times off Trivino to seal their fourth series win in their past five.
“We’ve grinded through some series and some games it feels like basically all season long,” manager Kevin Cash said. “But this is a feel-good win that you’re able to come out on top coming back. Whatever this month has told us, the guys haven’t changed their thought process whatsoever. It’s a very similar group that knows that they’re capable of doing special things on any given night.”
Andrew Kittredge (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win.
Oakland led 5-1 after Kevin Smith hit a grand slam in the first inning, but the A’s didn’t score again until getting two runs in the 10th and…
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