Rays complete 2nd 9-0 West Coast trip in MLB history with 8-4 win over Athletics

Rays complete 2nd 9-0 West Coast trip in MLB history with 8-4 win over Athletics 1 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Richie Palacios (1) and Taylor Walls, right, celebrate after the final out of a baseball game as the Rays defeat the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 2 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks, middle, is congratulated by teammate Junior Caminero, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 3 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 4 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at home plate attempting to score on an RBI double by Tampa Bay Rays Cedric Mullins, not shown, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 5 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 1 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Richie Palacios (1) and Taylor Walls, right, celebrate after the final out of a baseball game as the Rays defeat the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 1 of 5 Tampa Bay Rays’ Richie Palacios (1) and Taylor Walls, right, celebrate after the final out of a baseball game as the Rays defeat the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks, middle, is congratulated by teammate Junior Caminero, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 2 of 5 Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks, middle, is congratulated by teammate Junior Caminero, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 3 of 5 Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at home plate attempting to score on an RBI double by Tampa Bay Rays Cedric Mullins, not shown, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 4 of 5 Tampa Bay Rays’ Liam Hicks looks on after being tagged out at home plate attempting to score on an RBI double by Tampa Bay Rays Cedric Mullins, not shown, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 5 | Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) 5 of 5 Tampa Bay Rays’ Junior Caminero hits an RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] West Sacramento, Calif. (AP) — The AL-best Tampa Bay Rays became the second East Coast team in major league history to go 9-0 on a West Coast trip, beating the Athletics 8-4 on Wednesday behind a three-run homer from Liam Hicks and another solid start by Drew Rasmussen.The Rays swept three-game series at Colorado and Seattle before scoring 30 runs in their three wins over the Athletics. Tampa Bay joins the Boston Red Sox, who did it in 1977, as the only teams to go 9-0 out West. The Rays became the 13th team since 1900 to go 9-0 on any trip, and they matched the longest road winning streak in franchise history.The Red Sox also had an unbeaten nine-game trip this year that began with a series at the Los Angeles Angels.Rasmussen (12-5) saw his scoreless streak end at 22 2/3 innings when he gave up a two-run double to Carlos Cortes in the third, but he completed an efficient five innings to win his fifth straight start. Hicks went 3 for 5. His 16th homer capped a four-run fourth against Athletics rookie Jack Perkins (2-9).Jonny DeLuca also had three hits as Tampa Bay (74-46) improved to 33-28 on the road.Zack Gelof hit his 13th homer and Lawrence Butler added his ninth for the Athletics, who have lost three straight and 9 of 11. 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ Richie Palacios had an RBI single in the Rays’ two-run second. Cedric Mullins made it 3-0 in the third with a two-out RBI double.Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero had consecutive two-out singles in the fourth to make it 4-2. Díaz added an RBI single in the eighth.Perkins gave up seven runs — six earned — on 12 hits in five innings. The right-hander is 0-7 in 11 starts. Up nextThe Rays open a four-game series against visiting Baltimore beginning Friday, while the Athletics host Texas for three games starting Friday.___See AP’s full MLB coverage here