Jemile Weeks' Walkoff Gives A's Win over Tampa Bay Rays in 15-Inning Marathon

It only took five hours, but the Oakland A's managed to remain in the lead for the American League wild card on Monday.

Jemile Weeks' sacrifice fly scored Brandon Inge, and the Oakland A's defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in 15 innings for the Major League-leading 12th walkoff win. The win came in spite of the fact that the A's struck out 21 times on the night and left the bases loaded in the ninth and 10th innings. 

Jordan Norberto got the win with a scoreless 15th inning, but credit must go to the entire Oakland bullpen.

Eight innings, eight zeroes on the scoreboard enabling the offense to finally break through and get the victory. Both starters went seven innings, allowing three earned runs, but it happened in markedly different ways.

For David Price, he fanned 11 A's hitters and looked dominant.

After allowing two runs in the second, the Rays ace shut down the Oakland offense until the bottom of the seventh inning. By that point, Tampa Bay had come back to take the lead thanks to a two-run double by former Oakland slugger Carlos Pena and a solo home run by Matt Joyce.

With two down in the seventh, Brandon Hicks hit an opposite field, solo home run over the National League scoreboard in right field to tie the score at three. Tampa Bay blew a golden opportunity in the top half of the inning as Carlos Pena was thrown out at third for the first out by Josh Reddick after a Jose Molina single. Molina was then thrown out at second on a failed hit-and-run attempt.

In the ninth, the A's managed to load the bases with two outs, but Jemile Weeks was struck out on a called third strike inside. The following inning, Kurt Suzuki had a chance with the sacks full, but he too struck out. Eric Sogard walked and stole second, but a Jonny Gomes ground out and Reddick strikeout ended that threat. 

Tampa had a pair of chances to score in the 14th and 15th innings.

However, Jerry Blevins buckled down in the 14th and Norberto managed to induce a pair of outs with runners on first and second in the 15th. That set the stage for the A's against Tampa's eighth pitcher, Kyle Farnsworth.

An Inge single and sacrifice by Suzuki proceeded a pair of walks (one intentional) to Seth Smith and Sogard. Then, Weeks golfed a medium fly ball to B.J. Upton in center field, and his relay throw was late as Inge slid home with the winning run. 

After winning the five-hour and nine-minute opener, the teams will try to bounce back at the Coliseum Tuesday night. Tampa Bay will send James Shields against Oakland's Tom Milone, who looks for his 10th win of the year. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.