Luke Raley's HR helps Rays become 1st in MLB to 50 wins - ESPN

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Tampa Bay Rays became the first team to 50 wins, and for the Oakland Athletics splitting a four-game series against baseball's best spelled success.

At 50-22, the Rays reached 50 wins in the fewest games in franchise history, and it's tied for the second fastest any team has reached 50 wins in the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

Luke Raley hit a go-ahead solo homer with one out in the eighth, Manuel Margot connected earlier, and the Rays beat the 19-win A's 4-3 on Thursday.

The Rays improved to 50-22 on Thursday, the fewest games to reach 50 wins in franchise history. It also matches the second-fastest any team has reached 50 wins in the last 20 seasons.

Rays rookie top prospect Taj Bradley struck out the first six A's batters in order and a career-high 11 in all, surrendering Seth Brown's tying two-run single in the fifth.

Sure, the Rays are happy with their win total at this stage.

«That sounds really good, I'm really excited to get out of here, though,» manager Kevin Cash said.

The A's loaded the bases against former Oakland pitcher Jake Diekman in the seventh only for the defense to deliver a brilliant play. Seth Brown hit a hard grounder — with an exit velocity of 107.9 mph — that second baseman Taylor Walls fielded and fired home to save a run, and then catcher Francisco Mejia threw to first for the inning-ending double play.

«Honestly, I knew I had time because of the force out at home so I kind of took a half-step back before that,» Walls said. «That ball was smoked, so I didn't really have time to think about anything. But after I realized I gloved it clean I knew that it was a chance for a double play.»

Robert Stephenson (1-0) came in for Diekman to get the