On a sunny Sunday in West Sacramento, the Athletics closed out their homestand with the finale of their series against the Miami Marlins. The Marlins completed the sweep with a 9-8 win over the A’s, staving off the hosts furious comeback after Miami pulled its starter, who was just six outs shy of a perfect game.
Marlins Score Early
The Marlins scored in the first inning for the second time this series. With one out, left fielder Heriberto Hernández hit his tenth home run of the season, a solo shot to center off A’s
starter Gage Jump. The Marlins added two more hits, but Jump worked out of the inning, stranding runners at second and third.
The Marlins extended their lead in the second inning. Following two straight singles, shortstop Otto Lopez hit a ground-rule double over the head of A’s left fielder Carlos Cortes, bringing home Jakob Marsee for the visitors second run of the game. First baseman Liam Hicks drove in Miami’s third run in two innings with a sacrifice fly off Jump.
A’s Pitching Awful
In the third inning, Marlins’ designated hitter Leo Jimenez hit his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left-center field to extend the visitors lead to 5-0. After hitting a batter, Jump allowed Brian Navarreto’s double before Otto Lopez added a sacrifice fly to bring home his team’s sixth run.
Jump’s afternoon was done after those three laborious, ineffective innings. He allowed six runs on eight hits, walking three while only striking out one. Jump may be hitting a rookie wall, and how he responds will be key to the rest of his season.
Right-hander Mason Barnett replaced him in the fourth inning out of the Athletics’ bullpen. He performed better than Jump, pitching two scoreless innings. The A’s left Barnett in the game one inning too long. Lopez and Hernández led off the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs, extending Miami’s advantage to 8-0 and setting a franchise record for home runs in a series. For Hernández, it was his second home run of the game.
The A’s finally pulled him, inserting fellow right-hander Justin Sterner. He did not give up any more runs, although he was helped by his teammates, who executed a relay throw to cut down a Marlins’ runner at the plate. Hogan Harris and Luis Medina followed with scoreless innings, with Medina escaping a bases-loaded situation
Perfect Perez
Meanwhile, Marlins’ starter Eury Pérez needed just 92 pitches to complete seven perfect innings. He struck out eight, keeping the A’s hitters off balance throughout his dominant outing. The A’s short-handed offense continued to struggle at the team’s hitter-friendly home ballpark, while its pitching staff gave up runs and baserunners galore.
A’s Offense Finally Wakes Up
Rather than let him have a shot at history, the Marlins took him out as it was just his third start since returning from the injured list. Right-hander Lake Bachar replaced him to pitch the eighth inning. He immediately ended the perfect game attempt by walking Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer then lined a single for the A’s first hit of the game. Next, Carlos Cortes ripped an RBI double, bringing home Butler for the A’s first run of the game.
With the bases loaded and zero outs, designated hitter Jonah Heim hit a grand slam, his ninth home run of the season making the score 8-5.
Miami Takes Back Control
After failing to record an out, the Marlins replaced Bachar with right-hander Michael Petersen, who stopped the bleeding, getting his team out of the inning still up three. In a big momentum swing, Athletics’ center fielder Henry Bolte was thrown out trying to steal second with Nick Kurtz at the plate and only one out.‘
Miami added an insurance run in the ninth against the A’s hard-throwing reliever Elvis Alvarado. With runners on second and third and one out, Hicks hit a soft RBI groundout that brought home the Marlins’ ninth run, increasing their lead by one.
A’s Comeback Falls Short
In the bottom of the ninth, the Marlins brought in their closer Pete Fairbanks to seal the series sweep. A’s second baseman Zack Gelof led off the inning with a single and then Butler doubled, advancing Gelof to third base. Gelof scored the A’s sixth run on a passed ball by Marlins’ catcher Joe Mack.
With Butler on third, Max Muncy on second and two outs, Heim came through again, lining a single up the middle to make it a one-run game. He finished with a career-high six RBIs, the lone A’s offensive bright spot today. Alas, Fairbanks retired catcher Brian Serven to end the game as the A’s last ditch comeback fell tantalizingly short.
This loss, which capped off a 1-5 homestand, drops the Athletics to 41-49 and into fourth place in the American League West. The “Green and Gold” will look to find more success on the road this coming week. Following an off day tomorrow, the team begins a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night. The A’s have not announced who their starter will be, while their hitters will face back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
