The Athletics defeated the New York Yankees 6-4 on Saturday night at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, snapping the visitors' five-game winning streak and ending their own four-game losing skid.
Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz each hit two-run home runs for Oakland, while Tyler Soderstrom added a solo shot.
The offensive production came against Yankees starting pitcher Ryan Weathers.
Athletics starter J. T.
Ginn earned the victory by allowing just one unearned run over six innings. It was the first win by an Oakland starter since May 15.
Weathers took the loss despite striking out 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings.
He surrendered five runs on three home runs after entering with little run support from his offense.
The Yankees mounted a major comeback attempt in the top of the ninth inning after trailing by five runs.
They loaded the bases and forced in three consecutive runs via full-count walks before falling just short.
Oakland reliever Scott Barlow escaped the bases-loaded jam by retiring Jazz Chisholm Jr. on a groundout to first baseman Nick Kurtz, securing his second save of the season.
“We put up a good fight,” said Yankees third baseman Ryan McMahon.
McMahon sparked the ninth-inning rally with a one-out bloop single into center field before walks brought the team within two runs.
“You can’t win them all, but it was good to at least put some pressure on them and show them that we’re never out of anything,” McMahon added.
Yankees captain Aaron Judge nearly tied the game earlier in the fifth inning, but his 362-foot drive to right field was caught at the wall.
The ball would have been a home run in 16 other Major League ballparks.
“He’s a really good player,” Weathers said of Judge.
Weathers expressed regret over his pitch selection against Kurtz in the seventh inning, which resulted in a two-run home run right after a mound visit from his manager.
“I could have spun him there, but hindsight’s 20-20.
If I’m looking at it, I probably should have thrown a different pitch or at least executed a little bit better,” Weathers said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended his decision to keep the left-handed starter in the game to face the left-handed rookie hitter instead of turning to the bullpen.
“I don’t question leaving him in there for Kurtz,” Boone said.
The strategic choice ultimately cost the Yankees two additional insurance runs, but Boone remained pleased with how his club fought back.
“I’m going to take my left-on-left shot there with two outs.
After he got those first two and had thrown quite a few pitches to that point, that’s the one where maybe I go to Doval there,” Boone said.
New York stranded 10 runners on base throughout the game, minimizing the impact of their late surge.
“Love the finish,” Boone said. “Just couldn’t quite get over the hump there.”
Right-handed pitcher Will Warren is scheduled to start the series finale for the Yankees against left-hander Jacob Lopez for the Athletics.
