Walls Homers From Both Sides as Rays Rout A's 12-4
Taylor Walls switch-hit two homers and Nick Martinez threw a complete game as Tampa Bay won its eighth straight.
Taylor Walls homered from both sides of the plate for the second time in his career, Nick Martinez tossed a complete game, and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight game, 12-4 over the Athletics on Tuesday night in West Sacramento, California.
The 30-year-old Walls, whose homers were his first of the season, went 4 for 5 in his second career two-homer game. He last homered from both sides of the plate on April 18, 2023, against the Cincinnati Reds.
Walls hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot to right-center, in the fourth inning, then added a solo shot in the sixth. The homers ended a 105-game regular-season drought dating to July 27, 2025.
Walls became the fifth player this season to homer from both sides of the plate in a game, joining the White Sox's Drew Romo, Colorado's Willi Castro, Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds and Minnesota's Josh Bell.
Martinez (12-3) struck out five and allowed four runs on eight hits over a 101-pitch effort for his second career complete game. He had previously thrown an eight-inning complete game with the Reds in 2024 but took the loss that day.
The AL East-leading Rays jumped ahead early on Junior Caminero's 412-foot, two-run homer to center field in the first inning. Caminero also scored in the third on Chandler Simpson's sacrifice fly, though Liam Hicks was thrown out attempting to tag from first for a double play that ended the inning.
Yandy Diaz hit a solo homer, Carson Williams added a three-run blast, and Victor Mesa Jr. had a two-run shot for Tampa Bay, which totaled 11 hits in the win.
Lawrence Butler hit a two-run homer for the Athletics in the fifth inning. Mason Barnett (1-3) took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits over four innings.
Oakland's Jacob Wilson saw his major league-record 112-game errorless streak end in the eighth inning on a throwing error.
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (11-5, 2.75 ERA) is set to start for Tampa Bay in Wednesday's finale of the three-game series. The Athletics have not announced a starter.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.
