A’s snap three-game skid with a dramatic win
The Oakland Athletics, who have the worst record in the major leagues, found a way to win a close game against the Kansas City Royals, who are not much better. Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run off Dylan Coleman in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the A’s a 6-4 win on Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s snapped a three-game skid and won for the second time in 10 games.
The A’s led most of the game, but squandered a 4-2 lead in the eighth when the Royals scored twice off Lucas Erceg, tying the game. Kansas City had another runner in scoring position when Michael Massey singled and appeared to steal second with two outs. Massey was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned after video replay, ending the inning.
Ryan Noda, just activated off the disabled list, led off the ninth and was hit by a pitch from Coleman (0-2). Rooker then slammed a 2-0 slider into the seats in left field for his second game-ending homer of the season. The Athletics won in front of their fifth-smallest crowd of the season (3,095) and avoided falling 56 games under .500 for the first time since 1920.
Gelof and Langeliers power A’s offense
The A’s got some production from their young hitters, as Zack Gelof, Jordan Diaz and Shea Langeliers all homered in the game. Gelof broke a 1-1 tie when he crushed a first-pitch slider from Alec Marsh over the wall in center leading off the third. It was Gelof’s sixth home run this month and ninth in his first 32 games, making Oakland’s hard-hitting rookie the quickest player in franchise history to reach that mark. Gelof entered the game tied for fourth in the major leagues with 12 extra-base hits in August, and was fifth in batting average (.385).
After Bobby Witt Jr.’s solo home run off starter Paul Blackburn in the sixth trimmed Oakland’s lead to 3-2, Langeliers countered in the bottom of the frame with his 12th home run, a 456-foot drive. Langeliers, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves in July, has been impressive behind the plate and at the bat for the A’s. He has thrown out 11 of 25 attempted base stealers and has a .280/.347/.520 slash line with 12 homers and 36 RBIs in 49 games with Oakland.
Royals use opener strategy but fall short
The Royals used Tucker Davidson as an opener in the game and he became the 20th starting pitcher the Royals have used this season, a franchise record and two more than the A’s (18). Davidson pitched two innings and allowed one run on two hits and two walks. He was followed by Marsh, who gave up three runs on four hits and two walks in four innings.
The Royals’ offense was mostly quiet, except for Witt Jr., who hit his 25th home run of the season in the sixth inning. Witt Jr., who is considered one of the top prospects in baseball, has been having a breakout year for Kansas City. He is batting .287/.344/.537 with 25 homers, 71 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 111 games. He is also playing solid defense at shortstop, making highlight-reel plays on a regular basis.
The Royals (40-87) have dropped six of seven and are on pace to lose more than 100 games for the third time in five years. They are also the only team in baseball that has not won a series on the road this season.
