Bleday Homers, Boyle Pitches Six Shutout Innings as A’s Blank Rays

JJ Bleday (C) is greeted by Oakland A's teammate Lawrence Butler after hitting a two-run, first-inning home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in Oakland, Calif., on Aug. 19, 2024. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo

OAKLAND, Calif.—JJ Bleday hit a two-run home run, Joe Boyle pitched six scoreless innings, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3–0 on Monday night.

Bleday blasted his 16th home run in the first inning and Lawrence Butler added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to account for all of the offense.