Chapman, A’s sting Tampa Bay

OAKLAND — Matt Chapman delivered a walk-off three-run homer in a four-run ninth inning to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night.

Marcus Semien’s RBI single drove in the first run of the ninth and extended his hitting streak to 17 games. It was all the fireworks needed following a true pitchers’ duel put on by Frankie Montas and Charlie Morton.

Ryne Christenson took over as manager for Bob Melvin, who sat the game with a nagging neck and back injury.

The Rays and A’s were tied 11 in the top of the ninth when Blake Treinen issued two walks and allowed a double steal, prompting RBI dribblers to give the Rays a 4-1 lead.

Montas dialed into one of the best starts of his career against one of the better offenses in baseball. Montas dealt eight innings, his only run allowed was a Tommy Pham solo home run in the sixth inning.

Montas’ fastball touched 99 MPH on the corners and his slider had the Rays flailing at air; the right-hander racked up nine strikeouts in his outing and allowed just four hits.

The A’s struck first, though, with Jurickson Profar’s solo home run in the fifth inning off Morton. Morton’s stellar

curveball kept the A’s off balance for most of the night, and the Rays’ starter went 6.1 innings. A Robbie Grossman double on his 104th pitch brought old A’s reliever Emilio Pagan in to shut down the scoring threat and keep the game knotted 1-1.

The A’s went 0 for 5 with RISP until the ninth-inning stunner.