The Athletics had a chance to finish a sweep Sunday, but one run was not enough.
Dylan Beavers drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, and the Orioles held off the A’s 2-1 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The loss dropped the Athletics to 21-19, though they still took two of three in Baltimore.
Runs were scarce
This one started as a pitching duel and stayed there.
The A’s scored first in the second inning after Tyler Soderstrom doubled to right. Jacob Wilson reached on an error, and Carlos Cortes lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring Soderstrom home.
However, Baltimore answered in the third. Dylan Beavers doubled, Weston Wilson walked, and Blaze Alexander moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Then Gunnar Henderson tied it with an RBI single.
One swing decides it
Luis Severino worked into the sixth and kept the game close.
Still, the Orioles found the one rally they needed. Samuel Basallo doubled with one out, and Leody Taveras followed with a single. Then Beavers singled to left, scoring Basallo for a 2-1 Baltimore lead.
Severino was charged with two runs over 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits, walked four and struck out four.
The Athletics also got a key defensive play from Tyler Soderstrom in the fifth. With the game tied 1-1 and two runners aboard, Soderstrom made a leaping catch in left to retire Adley Rutschman and keep the game even. Luis Medina followed with two perfect innings and struck out four.
Missed chance at the plate
The Athletics finished with four hits and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Their best chance came in the seventh. Cortes singled and stole second, his first steal of the season. Zack Gelof then singled to center, but Taveras threw Cortes out at the plate to end the inning.
After that, the A’s put two on in the eighth with one out. However, Brent Rooker struck out, and Soderstrom flied out.
Numbers that mattered
Soderstrom had the A’s only extra-base hit, his 12th double of the season.
Cortes drove in the lone run. Gelof and Wilson had the other hits.
For Baltimore, Chris Bassitt allowed one run over six innings after entering in the second. Rico Garcia handled the ninth for his third save.
Up next
The Athletics are off Monday before returning home Tuesday to open a series against the Cardinals.
Jeffrey Springs is scheduled to start for the A’s. He enters 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA and 39 strikeouts. St. Louis is set to counter with Andre Pallante, who is 3-3 with a 4.34 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
