Davis and Kennedy hit 2-run homers, Braden goes 6 solid innings as Oakland beats Tampa Bay

Davis and Kennedy hit 2-run HRs in Oakland’s win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rajai Davis and Adam Kennedy each hit two-run homers in the seventh inning, and Dallas Braden gave up two runs over six innings to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-2 on Saturday night.

Davis hit his two-run homer off Matt Garza (6-7) before Kennedy added another two-run shot on the only pitch Randy Choate threw to put Oakland ahead 4-2.

Braden (7-7), reinstated from the bereavement list before the game to pitch for the first time since July 1, allowed five hits, two walks and struck out six. The left-hander is just 3-2 despite allowing two earned runs or less in each of his last eight starts.

Garza allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings as Tampa Bay’s nine-game home winning streak ended.

Mark Ellis had a sacrifice fly and Orlando Cabrera drove in two with a double in the eighth that extended the Athletics’ advantage to 7-2. Oakland won for just fifth time in 16 games.

Gabe Kapler gave Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the second. Ben Zobrist made it 2-0 with a sixth-inning run-scoring single.

Davis replaced right fielder Ryan Sweeney in third. The Athletics said Sweeney’s departure was not due to an injury.

Oakland loaded the bases with two outs in the first, but failed to score when Garza retired Kurt Suzuki for his third strikeout of the inning. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one.

Athletics first baseman Jason Giambi left in the fifth with a bruised right elbow. The injury may have occurred when he was hit by pitch during the second.

Tampa Bay catcher Dioner Navarro departed in the seventh after he was hit on the side the mask on Jack Cust’s foul tip. He needed assistance to walk off the field.

Navarro was scheduled to undergo tests at an area hospital to see if he has a concussion.

Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the ninth by plate umpire Jeff Nelson for arguing what was called an error on Michel Hernandez, who had tried to pick a ball up with his mask after stopping a low pitch.

Hernandez was first charged with a catcher’s balk, but that ruling was changed by the official scorer to an error postgame.

Maddon, after watching a replay, said Nelson’s call that let a baserunner advance one base on the play was correct.

NOTES: Maddon said his post All-Star game rotation will be RHP James Shields, LHP Scott Kazmir, Garza, LHP David Price and RHP Jeff Niemann. … Oakland manager Bob Geren said Nomar Garciaparra will start playing around one game a series at first base. The move will allow Giambi to get additional time off. … Tampa Bay C Shawn Riggans (right shoulder) could play in a minor league in the next few days. … To make room on the roster for Braden, RHP Jeff Gray was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.