OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays have been reeling since trading ace David Price to Detroit last week. They finally got a chance to see one of the pieces they got back in that deal.
Even he couldn't stop the skid.
Drew Smyly was solid but not spectacular in his debut as the Rays lost their third straight, 3-0 to the major league-leading Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night. Tampa Bay has lost five of six after an 11-1 stretch.
"It didn't feel like we were threatening," said left fielder Ben Zobrist, who went 0 for 4.
Jason Hammel (1-4) allowed seven hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings. He entered the game 0-4 with a 9.53 ERA since the A's acquired him and Jeff Samardzija from the Chicago Cubs on July 4.
The former Rays pitcher said he worked in more breaking balls to keep hitters guessing.
"It's a lot harder to hit when you're thinking of four different pitches instead of two," he said.
Coco Crisp, starting for the first time since July 26, singled home a run in the fifth, and Nate Freiman hit an RBI double during a two-run sixth to spoil Smyly's debut. Smyly (6-10) gave up all three runs, seven hits and two walks, including one intentional, in 5 1/3 innings.
"I fought pretty good," Smyly said. "My pitch count got up there. I had a couple of deep counts. I missed my pitch against Freiman. Other than that, I thought I pitched well."
The Rays never could crack Hammel, who pitched for Tampa Bay from 2006-08, or any of the arms the A's threw their way. Three relievers tossed scoreless ball before Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 20 tries.