Happy Tuesday, Athletics Nation!
The A’s walloped the Rays yesterday afternoon, winning 13-2 and removing the Rays title of the only undefeated team in baseball. It was a lively game, with four A’s homers, Sean Murphy beautifully taking a pitch off his butt, and a fantastic start from Paul Blackburn. But what is perhaps the highlight of the blowout game was a two-inning relief pitching appearance from Rays outfielder Brett Phillips.
Making his second career appearance as a position-player-pitching, Phillips covered the 8th and 9th innings for a Rays bullpen that had been throwing since starter Luis Patiño was injured with only two outs in the 1st inning.