Davis’ 42nd homer keeps A’s rolling

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Khris Davis led off the 10th inning with his major-league-leading 42nd homer, and the Athletics beat the Rays 2-1 on Friday night.

The A’s extended their lead for the second American League wild-card spot to nine games over the surprising Rays, who have 16 games left.

The A’s remained 11⁄ games behind the Yankees for the first wild card. The Yankees beat the Blues Jays 11-0 Friday night.

Davis’ drive to center off Jaime Schultz (2-1) was his 40th this season as a designated hitter. He joins David Ortiz as the only DHs to have 40 or more homers.

The A’s had just three hits against nine Rays pitchers, but they were enough.

Blake Treinen (7-2) went two scoreless innings for the win.

Matt Chapman doubled for the first A’s hit with one out in the fourth and scored on Matt Olson’s single.

The Rays tied it later in the fourth when Tommy Pham extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a pop-fly double into shallow center field and crossed the plate on Joey Wendle’s base hit.

A’s reliever Shawn Kelley worked out of a second-andthird, no-out jam in the sixth. Starter Edwin Jackson allowed one run and four hits in five innings.

Reliever Diego Castillo opened the game for the Rays and struck out four over two perfect innings.

Sergio Romo retired all three batters in the ninth in his second appearance for the Rays since Aug. 25. He recorded a two-out save Sept. 4 in Toronto.

Chapman has 23 doubles and 38 extra-base hits since the AllStar break. A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty had his 14-game hitting streak end after going 0-for-4.