Andujar’s blast helps Oakland A’s open East Coast trip on high note

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rookie Mitch Spence took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, Miguel Andújar hit a three-run homer, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Spence (4-2) had allowed just one base runner — a second-inning leadoff walk to Isaac Paredes — until José Caballero flared a single to center with one out in the sixth.

“He pitched effectively with the cutter and the slider tonight, which is kind of the game plan for him,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Spence. “He went almost six innings without giving up a hit, so he did his job.”

T.J. McFarland, Michael Kelly, and Mason Miller, who worked the ninth to get his 11th save in as many chances, completed a three-hitter.

Miller allowed a two-out single to Yandy Díaz and walked Brandon Lowe before striking out Paredes to end it.

For the Rays, Zack Littell (2-3) gave up three unearned runs, five hits and struck out nine over seven innings.

Oakland improved to 9-16 in May. Tampa Bay lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Spence was taken by Oakland in last December’s Rule 5 draft from the New York Yankees. It was Spence’s 14th appearance this season, with three coming as a starter.

“I noticed that they had no hits, but I was trying not to think about it,” said Spence, who threw a career-high 98 pitches. “But the biggest thing, when you know you’re close to the end, I just try and go out by out. These are the last guys I got to get, so I’ve got to push a little extra.”

Oakland took a 3-0 lead in the sixth when one-time Yankees player Andújar went deep against Littell. It was Andújar’s third game this season after being out following right knee surgery in March.

Athletics first baseman J.D. Davis was hit on the hand by an 89 mph pitch from Littell in the seventh. He stayed in to run the bases but was taken out defensively in the bottom half of the inning. He also got stepped on his leg by Tampa Bay’s Jonny DeLuca while taking a throw at first in the fifth.

Kotsay labeled Davis’ injury a contusion and said he didn’t have X-ray results.

NEVIN DFA’D: The A’s created depth at shortstop before the game by activating veteran utilityman Aledmys Diaz from the 60-day IL. To make room for Diaz, Tyler Nevin was designated for assignment.

Rookie Max Schuemann made his 19th consecutive start at shortstop and has held his own since Nick Allen was demoted and Darell Hernaiz went on the IL, but he’s been essentially the A’s lone option at the position. Second baseman Zach Gelof has played two games at shortstop since high school – both in a collegiate summer league.

Diaz played 40 games at shortstop for the A’s last season (31 starts) in addition to seeing action at every other infield position and left field.

At the end of spring training, Diaz, 33, went on the IL with a right calf strain. He played 10 games at Triple-A Las Vegas and hit .154 (4 for 26).

Nevin, the son of longtime big leaguer Phil Nevin, was claimed off waiver from the Orioles the first week of the season and had a big April, hitting .316 with three home runs, including homers in back-to-back games. But he had just one hit in his past 44 at-bats with 14 strikeouts.