Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers (left) congratulates closer Mason Miller after retiring the Baltimore Orioles in the bottom of the tenth at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Fri Apr 26, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
In yet another electric performance on the mound Mason Miller finished off this game in the tenth inning for the 3-2 Oakland A’s (11-16) win over the first place Baltimore Orioles (16-9) at Camden Yards. The A’s now are three games off the pace in the American League West. This young team has been incredibly competitive lately. They did have the bases loaded in the ninth inning but got the job done in the tenth. In this game the team put together some at-bats in a great outing.
Game recap: Oakland took the early lead 1-0 in first inning when Shea Langeliers hit a solo home run. Baltimore tied up the game in the third inning 1-1. Ryan OHearn singled Gunnar Henderson home for the tie. Baltimore would take the lead in the fourth inning when Cedric Mullins homered to right and the 2-1 score would hold going into the top of the ninth inning.
Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling went 5.2 innings allowing 6 hits, 2 runs with 3 strikeouts. Going into the ninth inning, the Orioles had not gotten another hit in the game. TJ McFarland relieved Stripling for less than an inning and Mitch Spence would take over on the mound in the seventh inning going through the ninth inning.
With two runners on base and no outs in the ninth inning the A’s tied up the game 2-2. Abraham Toro doubled Brent Rooker home. There was a tight play at home plate and for the moment Oakland had a 3-2 lead but after review, JJ Bleday was called out and the tie remained.
With one out, Oakland had the bases loaded when both Darell Hernaiz and Lawrence Butler walked and the A’s were 90 feet from the lead. Ryan Noda came to the plate with two outs. Noda popped out and the A’s missed a golden opportunity leaving three runners stranded. The A’s Mitch Spence had a perfect ninth inning with three up and three down and this game went into extra innings.
In the tenth inning Shea Langeliers grounded into a fielder’s choice to third and Ryan Noda was out. With two outs Brent Rooker doubled Langeliers home and the A’s had taken the lead 3-2 and there would be no review on this one.
JJ Bleday struck out for the third out and Oakland was three outs away from a win in the first game of this series. Mason Miller would take the mound looking to try and lock this game down. It was three up and three down for Miller finishing the game with a 102 mph bullet and Oakland had won the game 3-2. This was Miller’s seventh save of the season.
Oakland finished the game with seven hits and the A’s bullpen kept the Baltimore offense at bay only allowing the six hits.
Game notes: Friday evening the A’s traveled from New York to Baltimore to take on the Orioles. Oakland is coming off a very nice competitive series against the New York Yankees. The A’s split the series with New York winning the first and fourth game of the series. Game two in that series was a 4-3 score and was anybody’s game but it went to the Yankees.
The A’s got some great pitching and saw quite a few home runs in that series. Friday night, A’s pitcher Ross Stripling went 5.2 innings gave up six hits and two runs and the Orioles Corbin Burnes went six innings giving up three hits and one earned run to open Friday’s series. The Orioles are in second place in a very tough AL East division.
Game Two against the Orioles will get underway Saturday . First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a (1-1, 3.38 ERA). Cole Irvin will get the nod for Baltimore with a (1-1, 4.64 ERA).
Sports Radio Service 