A’s Yonder Alonso picks up where he left off in win over K.C.
Yonder Alonso’s doubles are spoiling the Royals’ postseason hopes.
Alonso and Marcus Semien hit two-run doubles as the A’s beat Kansas City 8-0 on Wednesday night, a third straight blow to the Royals’ playoff chances.
The 2015 World Series champions are five games shy of an AL wild-card berth with 17 games left, and would have to climb over five teams.
“I think our guys were really fired up coming into today,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.
There was some anger in that locker room today before the game, so I don’t feel any deflation.
Alonso’s two-run laser pinch double in the eighth inning Tuesday lifted the A’s to victory.
On Wednesday, his broken-bat double in the first scored Danny Valencia and Stephen Vogt, and Oakland was on its way.
A’s rookie left-hander Sean Manaea (5-9) earned his first road victory, retiring 13 of the final 14 batters he faced in five scoreless innings, striking out five and walking one.
Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura (10-11) threw 39 pitches, 28 after two outs, in a three-run third.
Ventura retired the first two batters and then gave up five consecutive hits, two of them doubles.
Oakland relievers John Axford, Liam Hendriks and Chris Smith held the Royals to one single the final four innings.
The A’s bullpen has restricted the Royals to one run and three hits over 121/3 innings in the first three games.
Chance at redemption:
Since returning to the majors Sept. 3, Daniel Mengden has allowed nine runs in 72/3 innings in two starts.