Fresh off a come from behind, ninth inning victory over the New York Yankees last night, the two teams were back at it this morning for the rubber match of the 3-game series at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Jeffrey Springs got the start for the Athletics today against Ryan Weathers for the Yankees.
Both pitchers were rock solid through five innings. Weathers allowed four hits and no walks, and Springs held them hitless through five with just one walk. The only negative so far was Brent Rooker leaving
the game during his first at-bat. After a swing and a miss, he immediately asked to be lifted from the game in pain. Lawrence Butler replaced him. The initial report was right side soreness. Look here for more info once we hear anything.
Springs continued holding the Yankees hitless through six innings, but despite a mattering of hits, the A’s have yet to score. Max Muncy tripled off the wall in deep right-centerfield to open the seventh inning.
Tyler Soderstrom drove him in with a single to right. Austin Wynns dropped a nice sacrifice bunt to move Soderstrom to second with just one out.
With one out in the seventh, Springs walked Giancarlo Stanton and then Ben Rice singled for the first hit of the game for the Yankees. The Yankees successfully executed a double steal with pinch runner Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Rice. But Austin Wells flied out to left to end the inning and the threat. Headed to the top of the eighth inning, the A’s led the Yankees 1-0.
Springs exited the game in the bottom of the eighth, replaced by Justin Sterner. After two quick outs, he walked Amed Rosario. That brought up Aaron Judge. After working Sterner to a full count, Judge grounded out to second to end the inning.
Former A’s hurler Paul Blackburn came in to pitch the ninth for the A’s. With one out, Max Muncy doubled. Soderstrom grounded out, but that allowed Muncy to advance to third, but now with two outs. Wynns struck out to end the top half of the inning and brought a bottom of the ninth showdown.
Hogan Harris entered to pitch the ninth. He got Bellinger and Chisholm Jr. on pop outs. That brought up Ben Rice. He may have spoiled Springs’ no-no, but he was not going to spoil the win for the A’s and the save for Harris. The A’s took the series from the Yankees and now head to Flushing Meadows for a three-game set against the neighboring Mets.
