The Athletics built a 5-1 lead through three innings Sunday, but three Baltimore home runs erased it quickly. The Orioles scored seven unanswered runs to beat the A’s 8-5 at Sutter Health Park and complete a three-game sweep.
Gunnar Henderson homered twice and drove in five runs, while Coby Mayo added a three-run shot. Six of Baltimore’s first seven runs came on homers against Jeffrey Springs, who fell to 3-13.
The loss dropped the Athletics to 53-84. They remain one game better than the Angels in the AL West and one game ahead of Los Angeles and Colorado, who are tied for the worst record in baseball.
Early offense builds a cushion
Henderson gave Baltimore a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the first. However, the Athletics answered immediately.
Henry Bolte singled and Zack Gelof walked before Lawrence Butler doubled both home for a 2-1 lead. Butler also extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Then Brian Serven singled in the second before Jeff McNeil drove him home with a two-out double. The A’s added two more in the third after Tommy White doubled.
Serven followed with his fifth homer, a two-run shot to right-center that made it 5-1. At that point, the Athletics had scored five consecutive runs.
Long balls change everything
Baltimore needed only two more swings to take the lead.
Pete Alonso and Henderson singled to begin the fourth before Mayo hit a three-run homer. The blast cut the Athletics’ lead to 5-4.
Springs retired the next three hitters, but trouble returned with two outs in the fifth. Blaze Alexander singled and Alonso walked before Henderson launched his second homer.
The three-run shot gave Baltimore a 7-5 lead. As a result, the Orioles scored six runs on three homers against Springs.
Springs allowed seven earned runs on six hits and one walk across 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and surrendered three home runs.
The loss was his 13th of the season, tied for the second-most in the majors. Springs began the season 3-0, but he has now lost his last 13 decisions.
Bullpen stops the surge
Scott Blewett ended Baltimore’s fifth-inning rally and then struck out the side in the sixth. He finished with four strikeouts across 1 1/3 perfect innings.
Brady Basso followed with a perfect seventh. However, Baltimore added another run against Kade Morris in the eighth when Henderson tripled home Jackson Holliday.
Meanwhile, the Athletics could not restart their early offense. They were held scoreless over the final six innings after taking the 5-1 lead.
Bolte finished 2-for-5, while Serven went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Butler drove in two, and McNeil added an RBI double as the A’s finished with nine hits.
Up next
The Athletics open a series Monday against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. PT.
Gage Jump is scheduled to start for the A’s against Texas right-hander Jacob deGrom.
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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.
