The A’s took on the St. Louis Cardinals today at Sutter Health Park in the rubber match of the three-game interleague series. After dropping the opener Tuesday, the A’s bounced back with a 6-4 victory last night.
Taking the mound for the Athletics today is 28-year-old lefty Jacob Lopez. He faced off against Michael McCreevy for the Cards. Nick Kurtz got the scoring started out of the leadoff spot for the A’s with his seventh homer of the season. After a Langeliers single, and a Soderstrom double play
ball, Brent Rooker doubled. But hot-hitting Carlos Cortes struck out to end the inning.
Things were quiet for quite a bit, until the top of the fifth when Victor Scott II homered to right field. The solo shot tied the score 1-1. They took the lead the following inning when Jordan Walker rocked his 12th homer into deep centerfield. Lopez continued his implosion when he made an errant toss to first on a slow bouncer that he fielded cleanly but rushed the throw. Wynn made it all the way to third on a second errant throw and then scored on a base hit to right field. That made it 3-1 and ended Lopez’ day. Justin Sterner replaced Lopez and retired the sides. Mark Leiter Jr. then replaced him in the top of the seventh inning. Leiter Jr. set the Cards down in order. The A’s chased McGreevy in the seventh. Ryne Stanek replaced him. With one out, Zack Gelof continued his impressive resurgence with his fifth homer of the year.
That closed the gap to 3-2. JoJo Romero replaced Stanek. Thomas, Kurtz and Langeliers all singled, Langeliers knock brought in two, giving the A’s back the lead. Tyler Soderstrom ground into a force out, but that allowed Kurtz to get to third. That brought up Brent Rooker. Rook walked to load the bases again. Kotsay pulled Cortes for pinch hitter Michael Stefanic who grounded out to end the inning. But headed into the eighth, the A’s led 4-3.
Henry Bolte singled to lead off the eighth for the A’s. He swiped second, for his first stolen base of his MLB career. Unfortunately, he was stranded there when Colby Thomas struck out swinging. Jack Perkins replaced Scott Barlow to close out the game. Yohel Pozo singled to lead off the inning. He was replaced by pinch runner Thomas Saggese. He moved to second when JJ Wetherholt was plunked by a Perkins pitch. Iván Herrera singled, scoring Saggese to tie the score. Jordan Walker doubled to drive in Wetherholt, giving the Cards the lead 5-4. Kotsay yanked Perkins after that hit. Joel Kuhnel replaced Jack Perkins. Kuhnel hit Masyn Winn to load the bases. He was able to escape without any further damage.
Nick Kurtz was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Langeliers struck out on an overturned strike three, and Soderstrom flied out weakly to centerfield. That brought up Brent Rooker with two down and the game on the line. Rook struck out to end the game.
