The Athletics prevailed in the rubber match, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in what was one of the pitching staff’s best performances of the season. The bullpen combined to shut out the Blue Jays, while center fielder Henry Bolte continued to provide the fireworks at the plate.
Opener Strategy Works for Both Teams
The two openers, A’s left-hander Brady Basso and Blue Jays right-hander Brayden Fisher, each set the tone with a scoreless first inning. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen replaced Fisher in the bottom of the second. With two outs,
the hosts got their first two baserunners before catcher Brian Serven struck out to end the Athletics’ first scoring opportunity of the game.
Bolte Blast
The A’s took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Bolte hit his second home run in as many games. The rookie’s 10th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Lorenzen, put the Green and Gold ahead 1-0 after three frames.
Basso Delivered Today
Basso remained in the game for the fourth inning. He allowed two hits, the first of which was incorrectly ruled a hit after first baseman Tommy White misplayed a grounder hit directly to him. The A’s southpaw escaped the jam, stranding two runners and preserving his team’s 1-0 lead. Basso tossed four scoreless innings on a season-high 68 pitches, allowing three hit and two walks while striking out four.
A’s Increase Their Lead
In the bottom of the fourth, White and Max Muncy hit back-to-back singles against Lorenzen, setting the A’s up with a chance to extend their lead. White scored the A’s second run on a wild pitch.
A’s Bullpen Holds Lead For Now
In the fifth inning, right-hander Scott Blewett replaced Basso, who gave the A’s a much longer start than everyone expected. The hosts’ defensive woes continued as left fielder Carlos Cortes’ misplay turned Brett Bateman’s base hit into a double.
Blewett escaped the threat by getting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to ground into a double play with runners on the corners and one out.The next inning, Blewett induced his second groundball double play, completing two scoreless innings of relief.
Right-hander Luis Medina followed with a scoreless seventh, keeping the A’s 2-0 lead entering the seventh-inning stretch. The Green and Gold had a chance to extend their lead in the bottom of that inning, but Toronto reliever Tyler Rogers stranded a runner at second.
Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris bounced back from Friday night’s blown save with a scoreless eighth inning against the top of the Blue Jays’ lineup.
Still holding a 2-0 lead, the Athletics turned to hard-throwing right-hander Elvis Alvarado for the save opportunity. Pitching for the first time this series, the 27-year-old allowed just one single, securing his sixth save of the season and the Athletics’ second straight series victory over a team with playoff aspirations.
The A’s have a well-deserved day off Thursday before continuing their homestand with a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners this weekend. Friday night’s pitching matchup will be a rematch from one of the four games these teams played in Seattle earlier this month. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will start for the Athletics, while right-hander George Kirby will take the mound for the Mariners.
