ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Colome and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, David DeJesus drove in two runs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 3-0 on Thursday night to take sole possession of first place in the AL East.
Colome (3-1) gave up four hits over five innings. Steve Geltz, Kevin Jepsen, Jake McGee and Brad Boxberger, who pitched the ninth for his 12th save, all threw an inning.
DeJesus had an RBI double in the fourth and hit a solo homer during a two-run seventh that put Tampa Bay up 3-0.
The Rays (23-19), who took a half-game lead over the idle New York Yankees, have held opponents to two or fewer runs in 21 of 42 games this season.