ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the season winding down, the opportunities for the A’s to gain ground on the New York Yankees become of great importance. This one was wasted.
After coming back late to tie the game, Jeurys Familia surrendered a three-run home run to struggling Rays first baseman Jake Baers in the eighth inning of Saturday’s 7-5 loss, keeping the A’s 1 1/2 games back of the Yankees for the top AL wild-card spot with 13 remaining.
A’s manager Bob Melvin wasn’t around to see the crucial blow from Bauers, tossed just before the inning began after frustration that had mounted with home plate umpire Larry Vanover over the strike zone.