OAKLAND — Wander Franco quite literally made his presence felt Monday night as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Oakland A’s, 6-1, at the Coliseum.
Franco, the Rays’ richly talented 21-year-old shortstop, singled in the third and fourth innings to help the Rays score twice in each frame. This contrasted with Sunday, when he was scratched with a sore right hamstring before the Rays fell to Minnesota, 9-3.
Monday’s game was lopsided in more ways than one. The Rays, who lost three of four games to Oakland from April 11-14, amassed all of their runs and hits in the first five innings. Yandy Díaz set the tone by opening the game with his second homer of the season.
Manuel Margot singled in the second inning, doubled and scored in the fourth and doubled home a run in the fifth.