OAKLAND -- After giving up a one-run lead in the seventh inning against the A’s on Tuesday night, the Rays were in just the right spot to take it back. Manuel Margot reached on a leadoff double and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Francisco Mejía, putting the go-ahead run 90 feet away from home with the top of the lineup coming to the plate.

But that ideal chance to pull ahead came and went, and the streaking A’s managed to capitalize on a nearly identical situation against reliever Colin Poche in the eighth to deal the Rays their second straight one-run loss at the Coliseum, a 2-1 defeat before a rowdy crowd of 27,759. 

The A’s (19-50) extended their winning streak to seven games, more victories than they had in all of March/April (6-23) or May (also 6-23), while the Rays (48-22) lost consecutive games for only the seventh time this season.

“We, obviously, don't want to lose back-to-back games at any point. They're playing good baseball right now,” Poche said. “I think they're a better team than their record shows. [We've had a] couple of tight games [and] it just didn't bounce our way today.”

The Rays’ missed opportunities late in the game loomed large at the end of another frustrating night for their lineup. They scored 51 runs in their first 10 games this month, but they’ve managed only four in two nights against an Oakland staff with the Majors’ worst ERA.

The Rays only managed a pair of singles through four innings against opener Shintaro Fujinami and left-hander Hogan Harris before getting on the board in the fifth. Jose Siri ripped a leadoff double down the left-field line, advanced to third on a flyout by Taylor Walls and scored on Margot’s ground-ball single to left.

“We just couldn’t get much going. Their pitchers did a really good job,” manager Kevin Cash said. “It just kind of carried over from last night a little bit. We’re just a little bit quiet at the plate.”

But Tampa Bay kept Oakland’s lineup quiet until reliever Robert Stephenson issued a leadoff walk to Jace Peterson in the seventh then paid for it when Brent Rooker ripped a game-tying, 107.5 mph double to left field.

Still, the Rays had to like their chances when Yandy Díaz came to the plate against Harris with Margot at third and one out in the eighth. Instead, Díaz popped out in foul territory on a 3-2 changeup and Wander Franco flied out to left field.

“I feel good anytime Yandy’s at the plate. He is probably the one guy, if we could hand-pick a guy to go up there with a guy on third, less than two outs, I think that would be him,” Cash said. “That guy made some good pitches.”

The A’s quickly put themselves in position to score. Ramón Laureano hit a leadoff single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jonah Bride. The bunt hung in the air just enough to keep Laureano close to first base, and his hesitation likely gave Poche time to throw out the lead runner at second. But Poche took the out at first base, as Cash said the Rays tell their pitchers and infielders to do on plays like that.

“Looking back at the replay, there was a chance probably to get the guy at second,” Poche said. “But the way we're taught, and the way we play the game, is just take the for-sure out and take your chances after.”

Laureano stole third, which Poche viewed as the inning’s turning point, then Carlos Pérez smacked a chopper that bounced off diving third baseman Isaac Paredes’ glove. The ball bounced to Franco, but he didn’t have a play at the plate as Laureano dashed home to score the winning run.

“Guy on third, less than two outs, you want to either strike [him] out or keep the ball in the infield,” Poche said. “I was able to keep the ball in the infield. Just, unfortunately, it wasn't at somebody.”

The Rays had one last chance in the ninth, as Randy Arozarena worked a one-out walk against Trevor May and tried to steal second to get himself in scoring position. But Arozarena was thrown out by catcher Shea Langeliers, Paredes walked, and Siri struck out to end the threat.

“Offensively, we’re not putting a lot together. Sometimes, you have to force it a little bit,” Cash said. “Randy [being thrown out at second base in the 9th] -- really, really close play.”

“It is a game of inches,” added A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “Fortunately, those inches were on our side tonight.”