The Athletics took the field this afternoon hoping to avoid a sweep by the Boston Red Sox
. After being shut out two consecutive nights, the question remained, would the A’s bats come to life today at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento? Mason Barnett took the mound for the A’s against Payton Tolle for the Red Sox.On the second pitch of the game, Jarren Duran doubled to right fielder Brent Rooker. He moved to third on a fly out by Alex Bregman. But he was stranded there as Barnett buckled down
and retired the side.
The A’s took their first lead of the series, in fact scored their first run of the series when Shea Langeliers, serving as the team’s DH today, hit his 30th homer to left center field in the bottom of the first.
The Sox got on the board following a Masataka Yoshida walk, and a single by Nick Sogard. Then, Nate Eaton doubled on a pop up that Nick Kurtz got to but collided with Zack Gelof allowing Masataka Yoshida to score. That tied the score at 1-1. Nick Kurtz, dropped down to sixth in the lineup today, launched his 30th homer to left field to lead off the bottom of the second. That put the A’s back in front, 2-1.
Alex Bregman doubled to center field, and Trevor Story followed with his own double to drive in Bregman. That tied the score at 2-2.
Jacob Wilson led off the bottom of the third by getting plunked by a pitch. Shea Langeliers walked moving Wilson to second. But two strikeouts and an infield bloop ended the inning with no damage done to the scoreboard.
The Red Sox scored again in the top of the fourth on hits by Eaton and Wong and then Duran ground out to score Eaton. With two outs, Sean Newcombe replaced Barnett. He was able to get the final out of he inning but not before the Sox took a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Jacob Wilson singled and Brent Rooker doubled off the wall to move Wilson to third. Lawrence Butler walked to load the bases, and Kotsay sent Tyler Soderstrom to pinch hit for Hernaiz with one out. Soderstrom doubled into the left field corner scoring Wilson and Rooker. Butler was thrown out easily at home attempting to score from first. This gave the A’s a 4-3 lead in this back-and forth game.
Justin Sterner replaced Sean Newcomb in the top of the sixth and tossed two scoreless innings maintaining the A’s one-run lead.
Elvis Alvarado replaced Justin Sterner in the ninth inning. David Hamilton greeted him with a base hit, but Willie MacIver nailed him trying to steal second with a perfect throw and Gelof tag. Carlos Narváez walked and was replaced by pinch runner Ceddanne Rafaela. Rob Refsnyder doubled, scoring Rafaela and tying the score once again. Hogan Harris replaced Alvarado and slammed the door, setting the stage for a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
Aroldis Chapman entered the game to face Langeliers, Rooker, Butler and maybe more. Langeliers doubled to start the inning. That ended Chapman’s 50 batter hitless streak. He had not given up a hit since July 23. Rooker lined out to right field but successfully moved Langeliers to third with just one out. Then Lawrence Butler deposited a 100.2 mph, four-seam fastball into left field to seal the victory.
The A’s took it to one of the best closers in baseball to avoid the sweep and take this one from the Red Sox 5-4.
