For Rays, hard times at home as Athletics win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays are hoping to find more offense on the road. Their lineup didn't look so good at home yesterday.

Desmond Jennings belted a solo homer but Tampa Bay had just four hits in a 4-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics.

The Rays managed 21 runs and 43 hits while splitting a six-game homestand, and they know they have to pick it up at the plate to maintain the positive run they've had so far in August.

"The overall body of work here offensively has not been nearly as good as it has been on the road," manager Joe Maddon said. "Maybe the guys feel more hitterish on the road, I don't know. There's no specific reason as to why, but let's take our act on the road and start swinging the bats again."

Oakland's Brandon McCarthy allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, improving to 9-0 against AL East teams since 2009. After Sean Doolittle struck out two during a perfect eighth, Grant Balfour got the final three outs for his 14th save.

Chris Carter and Seth Smith homered for the Athletics, who took two of three from Tampa Bay and moved within a half-game of the AL wild card-leading Rays. Tampa Bay remains in second place in the AL East.

Carter hit a two-run shot off Jeremy Hellickson (8-9), helping Oakland take a 3-0 lead in the first. Smith put the Athletics up 4-1 with his 12th homer in the third.

The Rays loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but managed only one run on Jose Lobaton's sacrifice fly. Jennings went deep in the fifth. -- AP