Athletics fall to Orioles 3-2 at the Coliseum

Solo homers by Andujar and Langeliers not enough

Fresh off as series sweep of the division rival Angels, the Oakland Athletics started a tough series with the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles. Hogan Harris got the start tonight against Albert Suárez who entered the game with a 4-2 record and 2.43 ERA in seventeen games (ten starts) this season.

The Orioles got on the board in the top of the first when Gunnar Henderson led off with a walk. He moved to second on an Adley Rutschman ground out then stole third and scored on a Shea Langeliers throwing error. The lead did not last long as Miguel Andujar homered to left field in the bottom of the first. It was his third of the season; and at the end of one, the score was tied at one.

Jordan Westburg doubled to lead off the second inning. Austin Hays doubled to effectively change places with Westburg on second. Hogan attempted to pick Hays off at second, but an errant throw allowed him to move to third. Harris then walked Colton Cowser with one out. Jorge Mateo lined out to A’s third baseman Brett Harris, giving his namesake the ability to get out of the inning with a ground ball. James McCann walked to load the bases. Harris struck out Henderson looking on a near perfect pitch. That brought up Adley Rutschman with the bases jammed and two outs. Harris walked Rutschman to bring in Hays. It was Harris’ third walk of the inning.

Zack Gelof led off the bottom of the second with a base hit. He stole second, his eleventh of the season, and moved to third on a throwing error by James McCann. But Max Schuemann struck out to end the threat.

Albert Suárez had the epitome of an easy inning, retiring the top of the A’s order on six pitches in the bottom of the third.

After a few effective innings in a row, Tyler Ferguson replaced Hogan Harris in the sixth. The final line on Harris was five innings, three runs (two earned), five hits, three walks and two k’s on 103 pitches. With one down, Austin Hays made it a 3-3 night with a base hit to right field. But Ferguson buckled down and got out of the inning with no damage.

Shea Langeliers made it a one-run game with a solo shot to center off Suárez in the bottom of the seventh inning. That was the end of his night, exiting with a 3-2 lead.

Austin Adams entered the game to pitch the eighth and tossed a 1-2-3 inning. Schuemann singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth. That allowed the A’s to turn over the lineup and hand the rally over to the top of the order. Schuemann stole second and moved to third on an effectively placed ground out by JJ Bleday. Miguel Andujar struck out, and then Rooker grounded out to end the inning and the rally.

Scott Alexander replaced Adams in the top of the ninth. Pinch hitter Ramon Urias drove a ground-rule double into the right field bleachers. Cedric Mullins replaced Urias at second and moved to third on a Jorge Mateo infield single. Mullins got caught in a rundown on a fielders choice by James McCann. Gunnar Henderson grounded out, and the A’s intentionally walked Adley Rutschman to load the bases with two outs. After staking Ryan Mountcastle to a 3-0 count, Alexander threw three straight strikes to end the rally for and electric crowd at the Coliseum.

Craig Kimbrel entered the game to close out the ninth for the Orioles. Tyler Soderstrom grounded out to short. Shea Langeliers struck out looking against the future hall of famer. That brought up Zack Gelof as the last hope for the A’s tonight. Gelof was his second strikeout victim of the inning, and the game ended with the Orioles winning 3-2 on “Jerry Garcia Night” at the ballpark.