Athletics pay a visit to Rays

The Oakland Athletics shoot for their fourth straight win on Friday when they begin a six-game road trip against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Oakland, which will also visit Boston on this trek, completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros on Wednesday, as Jed Lowrie had two hits, one RBI and one run scored, while Bartolo Colon pitched six strong innings in the Athletics' 7-5 victory.

Josh Reddick drove in two runs with a double for Oakland, which has won 12 of 14 after dropping its first two games of the season and owns the AL's best record. John Jaso added an RBI, two hits and a run scored and Seth Smith went 3-for-5.

Colon (2-0) yielded one run on four hits and struck out three in the victory.

"We're getting contributions up and down the lineup and that's why we've been consistent so far," Lowrie said.

Hoping for similar support on Friday will be lefty Brett Anderson, who was roughed up badly his last time out. Anderson was pounded by the Detroit Tigers on Saturday for seven runs and eight hits in five innings to fall to 1-2 on the year, while raising his ERA nearly three runs to 4.34.

"I never really got into a rhythm," said Anderson, who yielded two runs in each of his first two starts.

Anderson has faced the Rays three times and is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA.

Tampa, meanwhile, will counter with 25-year-old righty Alex Cobb, who is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA. After throwing 7 1/3 scoreless innings in his first start, Cobb was roughed up a bit by the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, as he allowed four runs (3 earned) and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Cobb is 2-1 in three starts against the A's with a 2.66 ERA.

Tampa fell for the fifth time in six tries on Thursday, as it blew a three-run lead and lost when Matt Wieters' 10th inning grand slam sent the Rays to a 10-6 defeat.

"Baltimore outplayed us in this series," said Tampa manager Joe Maddon. "They kept coming back and we kept coming back, but they were beating us in the end and I have to give them credit."

The Rays have lost 10 of 15 to start the season.

Oakland was 5-4 against the Rays last season.