The Oakland Athletics are the hottest team in baseball and are staking their claim as the best team in baseball.  The A’s have won their last four series, 11 of their last 13 games and have a MLB best 31-16 record.

While their offense carried the load in Cleveland this past weekend, the A’s pitching staff led them through the three game set in Tampa.  That includes Manager Bob Melvin’s decision to move away from the closer-by-committee approach this week and announcing that Sean Doolittle will be the team’s closer for the foreseeable future.  Doolittle has responded with two saves in the same number of attempts in Tampa.

Let’s take a look at how the A’s continued their winning ways:

Game 1 final score: Athletics 3, Rays 0

The A’s offense struck in the top of the 2nd inning with Coco Crisp hitting a two run double and later coming around to score on a base hit from John Jaso.  That half-inning wound up being all of the offense in the game as Drew Pomeranz pitched his third straight 5 IP, O ER’s start for Oakland.  The bullpen took it the rest of the way for the combined four hit shutout.

Game 2 final score: Athletics 3, Rays 2

In one of the more bizarre box scores you will ever find, the A’s won Wednesday’s game by scoring three times on one hit, while giving up nine hits to the Rays.

The A’s struck first again in the top of the 2nd inning on a throwing error by Rays 2B Sean Rodriguez that allowed two runners to cross home plate.  In the top of the 4th inning, Brandon Moss provided the A’s only hit on the afternoon, his 10th homerun of the season.

A’s SP Tommy Milone had one of his strongest starts of the season going 5.2 innings while only allowing two earned runs.  Once again, the Athletics bullpen answered the call, finishing the remainder of the game without giving up a run.

Game 3 final score: Rays 5, Athletics 2

Sonny Gray and Alex Cobb had themselves a pitcher’s duel Thursday afternoon, with neither team getting on the scoreboard until the bottom of the 7th inning.  For the second consecutive day, the A’s offense struggled to breakthrough.  It wasn’t until the 9th inning and off of their ex-closer, Grant Balfour, that the A’s were able to tie the game up and send it to extra innings.  Even during the top of the 9th, the A’s had more than an ample opportunity to win the game, but Yoenis Cespedes just missed a HR and Josh Reddick and Alberto Callaspo failed to drive in the runners in scoring position.

Dan Otero, who may be a bit overworked right now, went back out to pitch the 11th inning (what was his third inning of work on the day) and quickly loaded the bases.  The skipper turned to Luke Gregerson and he quickly gave up the grand slam to end the game in dramatic fashion.

What’s Next?

The A’s will fly to Toronto tonight for a three game series with the Blue Jays this weekend.  They will be avoiding Mark Buehrle over the weekend as he is pitching in today’s game in Boston.

A quick note on recent injuries as both Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie returned to the lineup Thursday after missing games earlier in the week.  Both should be fine to play in Toronto this weekend.