The Tampa Bay Rays survived a late scare from the Athletics to win 4-3 at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Nick Martinez picked up the victory after throwing five innings, Kevin Kelly bridged the gap with a sharp two-inning relief appearance, and Cole Sulser nailed down the save in the ninth. Jonny DeLuca and Chandler Simpson each went 2-for-4 with an RBI to fuel the offense, while Brady Basso's rough outing — four earned runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings — gave Tampa Bay the early cushion it needed to hold on.

Nick Martinez Delivers Five Solid Innings to Earn the Win

Martinez was not dominant, but he was good enough. He went five innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out three and issuing zero walks. The zero-walk line is the key detail — he threw strikes, worked efficiently, and handed a 4-2 game to the bullpen. That's a bankable outing from a starter.

The real story of the pitching staff Wednesday was Kevin Kelly. The right-hander came out of the bullpen and delivered two innings of work, striking out four batters and surrendering one earned run on three hits — no walks. Kelly's four-strikeout performance in two frames was the kind of high-leverage bridge work that wins close games. Cam Booser then added a clean inning — no hits, no runs, one strikeout — before Sulser closed the door on a hitless, scoreless ninth to secure the save.

DeLuca and Simpson Pace the Rays Offense Against Basso

Tampa Bay jumped on Athletics starter Brady Basso early and never let up. Basso recorded just two outs past the second inning — 2.2 innings total — and gave up four earned runs on seven hits. The Rays took full advantage.

DeLuca went 2-for-4 with an RBI, giving the lineup a consistent presence at the top of the order. Simpson matched him exactly — 2-for-4 with an RBI — providing the kind of contact-based production that grinds opposing starters into early exits. When two hitters each post a multi-hit, multi-at-bat performance in a one-run game, they've done their job.

Athletics Offense Kept the Game Interesting

Oakland did not go quietly. Tommy White went 3-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, and Henry Bolte added a solo shot of his own. Jeff McNeil also reached twice, going 2-for-3. That's a collective 6-for-11 line from those three batters alone, which explains why a four-run Rays lead felt a lot thinner by the late innings. White's three-hit, one-homer night was the kind of individual effort that could have flipped this game with one more swing.

But the Rays bullpen — particularly Kelly and Booser — kept Oakland's hitters in check at the moments that mattered most, and Sulser's clean ninth ended any conversation about a comeback.

Turning Point: The Early Basso Implosion

The game's turning point arrived before the third inning was complete. Basso simply could not get through the Rays lineup — seven hits and four earned runs in fewer than three innings is an outing that hands the opposing team the game on a silver platter. Once Oakland was forced to burn through its bullpen that early, the arithmetic of a one-run deficit became a significant challenge. Seth Johnson did punch out four batters in 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, but the early damage was already locked in.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Nick Martinez (W): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
  • Kevin Kelly: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
  • Cam Booser: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
  • Cole Sulser (SV): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • Jonny DeLuca: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Chandler Simpson: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Tommy White (OAK): 3-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Henry Bolte (OAK): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI

What Is Next for the Rays

Tampa Bay takes the win and moves forward in the final weeks of the 2026 regular season. One-run games are rarely comfortable, but the Rays got contributions across the lineup and through five arms to secure this one. The bullpen workload — four relievers covering four innings — is worth monitoring as the schedule continues. For now, a win is a win.