Jack Perkins kept the Athletics close Saturday night, but the offense gave him little room to work. Perkins allowed just one earned run over five innings in a 5-3 loss to Baltimore at Sutter Health Park.
The defeat dropped the A’s to 53-83 and gave the Orioles the first two games of the series. Now, the Athletics will try to avoid a sweep Sunday after winning each of their previous two series.
Perkins keeps it manageable
Perkins worked around traffic for much of his start and limited Baltimore to two runs, only one earned. Coby Mayo walked to open the third before Perkins made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt.
Leody Taveras then doubled Mayo home for a 1-0 Orioles lead. However, Perkins escaped further damage by striking out Jackson Holliday and Pete Alonso.
Colton Cowser added a solo homer in the fifth to make it 2-0. Perkins finished with four hits allowed, four walks and five strikeouts across five innings.
He threw 80 pitches, including 53 strikes, and fell to 3-10. Still, the A’s remained within two runs when he left the game.
Chances go unfinished
Baltimore stretched its lead after Perkins exited. José Suarez allowed three hits in the sixth, including Taveras’ two-run double with two outs.
The Athletics finally answered in the bottom half. Jonah Heim walked before Jeff McNeil and Zack Gelof singled to load the bases with one out.
Lawrence Butler drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Heim. Then Donovan Walton was hit by a pitch, scoring McNeil and cutting the deficit to 4-2.
However, the A’s left the bases loaded when Max Muncy grounded out. They created another major opportunity one inning later.
Heim singled, Henry Bolte doubled and McNeil walked to load the bases with one out. But Gelof and Butler struck out, ending the seventh without a run.
One run away
Carlos Cortes pulled the Athletics within 4-3 in the eighth with an RBI single that scored Walton. Again, the inning ended abruptly when Heim grounded into a double play.
Baltimore added an unearned insurance run in the ninth. Cowser reached on Gelof’s fielding error and advanced to third on Butler’s throwing error.
Then Elvis Alvarado threw a wild pitch, allowing Cowser to score for a 5-3 lead. The A’s still brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom half.
McNeil singled, and Butler followed with another hit before both runners advanced on a double steal. However, Tommy White grounded out to end the game.
Bolte and McNeil each had two hits, while Cortes also finished 2-for-4. The Athletics collected 10 hits and six walks but went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.
Up next
The Athletics will try to avoid the sweep Sunday at Sutter Health Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PT, with Jeffrey Springs facing Baltimore right-hander Chris Bassitt.
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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.
