OAKLAND -- Upon being told of Kevin Cash’s suggestion that Emilio Pagan could be considered the most valuable member of the Tampa Bay Rays’ bullpen so far this season, the right-hander himself modestly but firmly contradicted his manager.

“I appreciate that,” Pagan said. “But it’s not possible with just one guy.”

In a way, the Rays’ 5-3 victory Friday night that ended their four-game losing streak proved both men right.

With one out in the ninth inning and the potential tying run at the plate, Pagan entered the game and coaxed harmless groundouts from a pair of dangerous hitters, Mark Canha and Marcus Semien, to record his fourth save. The decision eased the sting of the three-game sweep the Rays absorbed in New York, where they were outscored 21-4, and cured them of the hangover that lingered from Thursday, when the A’s scored four ninth-inning runs to prevail, 5-4.

“We had a rough go for three days in New York and then last night kind of was the icing on the cake,” Cash said. “Good to see the guys bounce back and find a way to win a game.”

Pagan was just one of seven pitchers Cash used to subdue the A’s. Nearly each one of them was integral to the Rays’ triumph.

Andrew Kittredge performed the opener’s role competently, working two shutout innings.

Jalen Beeks didn’t have his best stuff but did pitch two innings. Austin Pruitt assumed the bulk of the multiple-inning load by consuming three frames. Then came the pressure-packed eighth. With a run in, Matt Olson on second base and the Rays clinging to a 4-3 lead, Chaz Roe replaced Colin Poche and retired two dangerous hitters, Khris Davis and Ramon Laureano, on a groundout and a strikeout, respectively. Olson did not advance. Oliver Drake relieved Roe and retired Jurickson Profar on a groundout.

This was the same Roe who owned a 14.40 ERA in seven June appearances.

“We’re not the team we thought we were if we’re running from key guys, and Chaz Roe is a key guy,” Cash said.

Of course, pitching needs defense to thrive. The highlight of Tampa Bay’s evening in this area was the pair of blurry, accurate relays made by left fielder Tommy Pham and shortstop Willy Adames that retired Davis at home plate.

“It’s electric when you’re playing like that,” Adames said.

Tampa Bay’s middle infielders provided most of the offense, as each collected three hits. Adames homered off Wei-Chung Wang in the sixth inning. Brandon Lowe smacked a pair of run-scoring doubles to hike his team-high RBI total to 46 and help break a personal 0-for-15 skid.

“Obviously, a much-needed win,” Cash said. “It took every bit of our roster to get it done, our pitching staff to get it done.”