Athletics wake up with six-run sixth to beat Washington and win another series
OAKLAND — It was the fourth inning Sunday and the Athletics were trailing the Washington Nationals by three runs, a deficit that would soon climb to five.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay looked around the dugout and wasn’t pleased with what he saw. He made that known.
“Just a few kind words to let ‘em know I wasn’t really happy with how they were going about it,” Kotsay said.
The Athletics broke loose offensively in the sixth, scoring six runs with the bullpen closing out a 7-6 win at the Coliseum for their third straight series win. The last time the A’s won three straight series was May 31 through June 16 in 2021.
Right fielder Lawrence Butler, who had three hits including a run-scoring single in the big sixth, smiled when asked about Kotsay’s in-game lecture.
“I can’t be exact, but he did tell us to put some energy in it,” Butler said. “It’s a Sunday day game. Don’t retire. I guess he felt he had to say it and it worked so he might have to do it more often.”
The win improved the A’s record to 7-9 and put even more distance between the 1-6 homestand to open the season. On the two-city road trip that concluded Wednesday, the A’s won two of three against both Detroit and Texas and did the same thing to Washington one day after a loss in which they struck out 18 times.
“I thought the road series’ was great for us. And to come home, come back from behind and hold the lead, these guys are starting to come together,” Kotsay said.
Mitch Spence, the first of four relievers after starter Alex Wood couldn’t get out of the fifth, got the win and improved to 1-1. Mason Miller picked up his third save, striking out the side in the ninth on 13 pitches — nine of which broke 100 miles per hour with a high of 102.4.
Mason Miller, you are ridiculous pic.twitter.com/1yQsLq79xH
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 14, 2024
Derek Law (0-1) took the loss for Washington, giving up four earned runs in one-third of an inning in the A’s big sixth. The Nationals fell to 6-9.
Oakland’s victory came before a crowd of 8,637 on a Little League day, the A’s second-best attendance figure of the season behind 13,522 on Opening Night.
In the sixth, the A’s trailed 6-1 when Abraham Toro opened with a walk and after Zack Gelof struck out, J.J. Bleday doubled him to third. Law came in and struck out Seth Brown for the second out, and then things got interesting.
Third baseman Tyler Nevin singled to drive in a run, and Butler singled to right to drive in another and make it 6-3. Nevin scored on a wild pitch by Law, Shea Langeliers walked and so did Ryan Noda. Jordan Weems replaced Law and Darell Hernaiz walked to force in a run.
Toro, who opened the inning, then hit a single in front of a diving Jesse Winker in left to bring in two more runs and put the A’s up 7-6.
“Those are the at-bats we were looking for,” Kotsay said. “It was a good game for us as a team to build on. they took the at-bats professionally, didn’t try and do too much and took the walks when they were there.”
Lane Thomas homered for Washington, his second, in the fifth inning. It was a no-doubter against Wood that carried 429 feet and left the bat at 106.1 miles per hour.
Wood gave up four earned runs in 4 1/3 innings, but was more upset about his lack of command (57 strikes out of 100 pitches) than the long ball.
“I threw terrible,” Wood said. “I’ve definitely had worse lines but the lack of strikes was super uncharacteristic for me. You’re not going to win many games doing that.
The Nationals scored once in the fourth on an RBI double by Jacob Young, and twice in the third when Young, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a fielder’s choice, with Thomas plating another run with a run-scoring single.
The Athletics broke through against Williams in the fifth, with Butler hitting a double off the top of the fence in right and scoring on a single up up the middle by Shea Langeliers.
Washington reached Spence for two runs in the sixth in a soft RBI single to center by Meneses and a line single to left from Thomas to bring home another run. It was Thomas’ third hit of the game.
in case you forgot…
PITCHERS ARE ATHLETES pic.twitter.com/6kO8m70MhQ
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) April 14, 2024
Erceg’s eighth
Set-up reliever Lucas Erceg worked a scoreless eighth, getting a double play ground ball and then retiring Jesse Winker on an unconventional comebacker. Winker hit the ball solidly at Erceg, with the ball rolling toward first base. Erceg chased it down, then used his glove to push the ball. It rolled to first baseman Ryan Noda for the third out.
“It just kind of happened,” Erceg said. “I noticed the ball hitting off my foot and shooting away. I tried finding it as quickly as possible and got it over to Noda and happened to get an out.”
Danny Jimenez pitched a scoreless seventh for the A’s.
Davis leaves with groin strain
Nevin replaced third baseman J.D. Davis in the sixth inning, with the A’s announcing Davis was removed with a right groin strain. Davis will be evaluated Monday.