The Athletics found another way to let a late lead disappear Tuesday night.
Hogan Harris threw two wild pitches in the eighth inning, allowing the tying and go-ahead runs to score in a 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The defeat extended the A’s losing streak to six games.
The Athletics fell to 45-68 after leading 3-0 and 4-3. They have gone 9-32 since reaching 36-36 on June 15.
Ginn returns strong
J.T. Ginn gave the Athletics six competitive innings in his first start since July 18.
The right-hander allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out five. He also kept Cincinnati scoreless through four innings while the A’s built an early advantage.
Ginn had been sidelined by a blister after taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Washington in his previous start. On Tuesday, he settled in quickly before Cincinnati answered in the fifth.
Héctor Rodríguez walked, and Matt McLain followed with a double. Then Elly De La Cruz lined a two-run single to left.
De La Cruz advanced on the throw home and moved to third on Ginn’s wild pitch. Soon after, Sal Stewart’s sacrifice fly tied the game at 3.
Athletics build two leads
Tyler Soderstrom opened the fourth with a double and scored on Jeff McNeil’s RBI single. Then Jacob Wilson extended the lead in the fifth.
Donovan Walton walked, and Henry Bolte singled before Lawrence Butler forced Bolte at second. Butler then stole second, and Wilson drove in both runners with a two-out double.
The Athletics regained the lead in the seventh. Bolte singled, stole second and scored when De La Cruz made a throwing error on Butler’s ground ball.
Bolte finished 3-for-4 with a run and his 13th stolen base. Meanwhile, McNeil went 2-for-4 with one RBI.
Wilson drove in two runs, while Soderstrom doubled and scored. Overall, the A’s collected eight hits and went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Harris loses the zone
Brady Basso protected the 4-3 lead with a perfect seventh. However, Harris immediately created trouble in the eighth.
He walked De La Cruz and Stewart before striking out JJ Bleday. Tyler Stephenson then flied out, moving both runners into scoring position.
At that point, the Athletics were one out from escaping.
Instead, Harris threw a wild pitch that allowed De La Cruz to score. Then he walked Eugenio Suárez, with another wild pitch on ball four bringing Stewart home.
The Reds took a 5-4 lead without recording a hit in the inning.
Harris was charged with two runs, three walks and his fifth blown save. Elvis Alvarado entered and struck out Dane Myers after throwing another wild pitch.
One last chance
The Athletics still brought the tying run into scoring position in the ninth.
Alika Williams singled with one out, and Bolte added a two-out hit. However, Emilio Pagán struck out Butler to end the game and earn his 12th save.
The loss dropped the A’s into a tightening race near the bottom of the standings. Colorado entered at 45-69, while the Angels sat at 43-70.
For the Athletics, another close game ended with another bullpen failure.
Up next
The Athletics continue the series Wednesday in Cincinnati.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez starts for the A’s. He enters at 5-4 with a 5.79 ERA.
The Reds counter with right-hander Rhett Lowder, who is 3-7 with a 5.42 ERA.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, 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.
