The Athletics erased a two-run deficit and forced extra innings Friday night, but Baltimore delivered the final blow.
Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit two-out RBI singles in the 10th as the Orioles beat the A’s 4-3 at Sutter Health Park.
Jonah Heim homered in the seventh, while Lawrence Butler tied the game with an RBI single in the eighth. However, the Athletics could not complete the comeback after Baltimore pushed across two runs in the 10th.
The A’s fell to 53-82. Still, they remain one game ahead of the Angels in the AL West and one game better than Colorado in the race to avoid the majors’ worst record.
Lopez keeps it close
Jacob Lopez gave the Athletics a chance despite a difficult second inning.
Coby Mayo was hit by a pitch before Leody Taveras walked. Dylan Beavers followed with a two-out RBI single, then Taveras scored when Lopez committed a fielding error.
Because of that error, only one of Baltimore’s two runs against Lopez was earned. The left-hander allowed three hits and three walks across five innings while striking out six.
Meanwhile, the Athletics struggled to solve Brandon Young. They managed five hits over his seven innings and stranded runners at the corners in the second.
Late life
Heim put the Athletics on the board with two outs in the seventh. His solo homer to right, his 12th of the season, cut Baltimore’s lead to 2-1.
Then the A’s built another rally in the eighth.
Henry Bolte was hit by a pitch before Jeff McNeil singled. Zack Gelof moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Butler followed with a game-tying single to left.
However, the play also cost the Athletics a chance to take the lead. Beavers threw McNeil out at home as he tried to score from second.
Still, the bullpen kept the game even. Scott Blewett worked two scoreless innings, Luis Medina retired all three hitters he faced and Hogan Harris pitched a scoreless ninth.
Two-out trouble
Baltimore finally broke through against Brady Basso in the 10th.
With automatic runner Carlos Narváez at second, Basso intentionally walked Pete Alonso with one out. After Jackson Holliday struck out, Mayo singled home Narváez with two outs.
Encarnacion-Strand followed with another RBI single, scoring pinch-runner Gunnar Henderson for a 4-2 lead.
The Athletics answered in the bottom half. Gelof singled home automatic runner Alika Williams with two outs, cutting the deficit to one.
But Alex Hoppe retired Butler on a groundout to finish the game and earn his first save.
Basso took the loss after allowing two runs, one earned, in the 10th. The Athletics finished with nine hits, including two each from Gelof and Max Muncy.
Notably, the A’s have now dropped the opener in three straight series. They recovered to win the previous two against Houston and Minnesota.
Up next
The series continues Saturday at Sutter Health Park with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PT.
Jack Perkins is scheduled to start for the Athletics against Baltimore right-hander Shane Baz.
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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.
