The Rays completed an undefeated nine-game country-crossing road trip on Wednesday afternoon by beating the A’s, 8-4. Trade deadline acquisition Liam Hicks led another team effort with a three-run homer as part of a three-hit day, while Junior Caminero, Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios and Yandy Diaz also drove in runs, and all nine hitters reached base. Drew Rasmussen had a solid five-inning ...

The Tampa Bay Rays' Liam Hicks trotting around the bases is congratulated by third base coach Brady Williams after Hicks' three-run home run against the Athletics in the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Sacramento, California.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images North America/TNS

The Rays completed an undefeated nine-game country-crossing road trip on Wednesday afternoon by beating the A’s, 8-4.

Trade deadline acquisition Liam Hicks led another team effort with a three-run homer as part of a three-hit day, while Junior Caminero, Cedric Mullins, Richie Palacios and Yandy Diaz also drove in runs, and all nine hitters reached base.

Drew Rasmussen had a solid five-inning outing, losing his scoreless streak at 22-plus innings when he gave up a two-run double in third, but winning his career-high 12th game.

Overall, the Rays extended their win streak to a season-high-matching nine games, improved their American League-leading record to 74-46 (moving to 28 games over .500), and at the least maintained a six-game East division lead over the Yankees, who played later Wednesday against Seattle.

They also went 9-0 on their three-city, 10-day trip. That marked the first time in their 29 seasons they went undefeated on a trip of at least three series, and also that they swept three straight road series.

It also made them the 13th modern-era team to go 9-0 or better on a trip. Per Rays.TV, it was only the second time an East division did that against West division teams, joining Don Zimmer’s 1977 Red Sox, who swept the Angels, Mariners and A’s.

And they posted their majors-leading 13th series sweep, one shy of the franchise record for a season.

The Rays took a 2-0 lead in the second. Jonny DeLuca doubled, Mullins reached on a bunt single and Palacios singled to left for the first run. Mullins went to third on a sac bunt by Taylor Walls and scored on a slow roller by Yandy Diaz that was scored an error on pitcher Jack Perkins.

The Rays made it 3-0 in the third when Caminero led off with a single, went to third on Hicks’ single and scored on a two-out double by Mullins. Hicks also tried to score but was called out, and the call stood up to a replay review.

After the A’s got two off Rasmussen in the home third to cut the margin to 3-2, the Rays reopened a safer lead. The rally, as several others on the trip, started after two were out.

Diaz, Aranda and Caminero — reaching for a low and outside pitch with only his left hand on the bat — singled to produce the first run. Hicks needed one swing to add three more, his second homer since joining the team Aug. 4 in Colorado.

The Rays added another run in the eighth when Palacios walked, went to third on a Walls single and scored on a single by Diaz.

Rasmussen gave up just the two runs, with four hits, one walk and three strikeouts, throwing 84 pitches, in picking up his fifth straight win.

Steven Matz, Casey Legumina and Michael Grove (who gave up two eighth-inning homers) took it from there.

The Rays headed home after the game, and on Friday will open a seven-game homestand against AL East opponents Baltimore and Toronto.

Notes

— With limited lower bowl seats remaining for Saturday’s game against Baltimore, the Rays will open the upper deck (sections 300-312) at the Trop. A game ticket includes a Jordan Davis postgame concert and a Flappy Boi giveaway for the first 10,000 fans (T-shirt Saturday, voucher for bobblehead in September).

— The Rays have not yet named a starter for Friday’s home game versus Baltimore, with the possibility of a bullpen day or a call-up from the minors.