Athletics 3, Rays 0: Josh Reddick had a pair of hits and an RBI to back 5 2/3 scoreless innings from Jason Hammel to give host Oakland its second win in as many nights over Tampa Bay.

Nate Freiman doubled home a run and scored and Coco Crisp added an RBI single in his return to the starting lineup to help the Athletics improve their major league-best record to 69-43 and open a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West. Hammel (9-9), who lost four straight starts since he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline, allowed seven hits and four walks but kept the Rays off the scoreboard.

Three relievers bridged the cap to closer Sean Doolittle, who earned his 17th save to keep Tampa Bay 5 1/2 games back of the second wild card. Cole Figueroa had a pair of hits for the Rays, who saw Drew Smyly (6-10) charged with three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his Tampa Bay debut.

The Rays had all kinds of chances in the first four innings against Hammel but left the bases loaded in the second and hit into double plays in each of the next two innings. Oakland, which stranded 18 runners in Monday's extra-inning win, broke the scoreless deadlock in the fifth when Alberto Callaspo led off with a single, was sacrificed to second and scored on Crisp's single.

Derek Norris singled with one out in the sixth and raced home when Freiman doubled to left, with Freiman advancing to third on shortstop Yunel Escobar's errant relay throw. That proved costly for the Rays when Reddick greeted reliever Jeff Beliveau by punching a single into left to plate Freiman for a 3-0 edge.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics RF Reddick is 19-of-49 since coming off the disabled list. ... Rays 1B James Loney extended his hitting streak to six games and has reached safely in 24 consecutive games. ... Athletics SS Jed Lowrie was not in the lineup and is listed as day-to-day after suffering a bruised right index finger in Monday's series opener. ... The Rays registered eight strikeouts to reach 1,000 for the season faster than any team in history.