Game 29 Recap: Oakland A's Move over .500 with Comeback 9-5 Win over Tampa Bay

Down 4-0 after the first inning, the A's rallied to score eight consecutive runs, including five in the key third inning, and defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 9-5 to move back over .500 for the year. Tom Milone overcame a very shaky first inning to get his fourth win. He went five innings allowing five runs on five hits and four walks on 94 total pitches.

Early on, it appeared as though the rubber game would be another listless loss as Milone gave up four runs, largely aided by walking the bases loaded to open the game. In the third, the A's rallied with RBI singles by Yoenis Cespedes and Jonny Gomes. Brandon Inge then launched a three-run bomb deep into the left field seats to give the A's a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

The A's added three runs in the fifth inning when, after a leadoff single by Michael Taylor, Jonny Gomes doubled him home to make it 6-4. Then after Inge was walked intentionally, Daric Barton's two-run double to deep left field scored Gomes and Inge to make it 8-4. 

The A's bullpen was great again, as Jerry Blevins, Ryan Cook, Brian Fuentes, and Jordan Norberto combined to go four scoreless innings to preserve the win. 

Good: Brandon Inge. Welcome officially to Oakland, Mr. Inge. A great game all the way around with four total RBI. He should have had a perfect day at the plate, but an apparent infield single in the ninth was ruled an out. 

Bad: N/A. You just cannot say anything negative. Milone's first inning was abysmal, but he settled down nicely, and his final four innings enabled the A's to come back and give him a win. 

Ugly: N/A

With the win, the A's finished the road trip at 5-4 and are now 15-14. Having moved to within 3.5 games of the first place Texas Rangers, their next game will be Tuesday night at the Coliseum as they start a two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Brandon McCarthy will take the mound against Toronto's Ricky Romero. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.