California’s Oakland (AP) The Oakland Athletics ended a nine-game losing streak on Tuesday night by defeating the Kansas City Royals 7-5, thanks to a home run by Zack Gelof, their first in almost three weeks.
Oakland won for the first time since June 7 thanks to two hits from Miguel Andujar and a career-high three doubles from JJ Bleday.
As we’ve seen the last several weeks, winning in this league is difficult, Gelof added. “It feels great to win at home in front of my supporters. I appeared to be having good at-bats today based on my work with the coaches and teammates.
With a 27-48 record, the A’s in last place have the fourth-worst record in the majors.
Prior to the game, there was a moment of silence in memory of Hall of Fame center fielder Willie Mays, who passed away earlier that day. In the 1973 World Series at the Oakland Coliseum, Mays recorded the last hit of his remarkable career.
Playing center field for most of his career, A’s manager Mark Kotsay noted, “I just wish I was half the player that he was.” “His smile and his impressive catches had a significant impact on the game of baseball.” We are feeling his loss today and will be for a very long time.
The Royals, who have lost three straight, were led by Nick Loftin, who hit their first home run of the season and had three RBIs.
After entering the game with a 5-for-30 funk, Gelof singled and scored in the first inning, then in the fourth, he took starter Alec Marsh (5-4) deep for three runs.
“I’ve been having some difficulties, but it’s all worthwhile when it works out,” Gelof remarked. “I felt amazing, and perhaps there will be more.”
Hogan Harris (1-0) earned the victory with five erratic innings of work—his first since he defeated the Royals at the end of 2023. Harris let up three runs (one earned) and four hits in his three previous starts, but he departed with the lead each time.
After loading the bases in the fourth, Kansas City scored twice off of Lucas Erceg in the eighth and brought the tying run on first base before Adam Frazier was struck out by Scott Alexander. In the ninth inning, Mason Miller got out three hitters to record his 13th save—the fourth-most by a rookie in team history.
After a 0–7 road trip, the A’s departed early for their homecoming.
Max Schuemann, the first hitter, walked and scored on Bleday’s double off the wall. Upon Bleday’s flyout move to third, Brent Rooker scored a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-0.
“We were definitely in the mood for some quality baseball and a victory,” Kotsay remarked. “We performed well with the bats tonight and much more so on the road. Overall, it feels nice to have recovered from our situation and to be back on track tonight.
Two unearned runs by Kansas City in the second inning knotted the score. Following a fielding mistake by Schuemann at shortstop, Freddy Fermin came around as Loftin ended a 0-for-14 drought with a home run on the following pitch.
After having a fantastic showing against the New York Yankees, Marsh allowed seven runs and seven hits in three innings, which is a career high.
