Baltimore Orioles defeat Oakland Athletics 3-2 for series sweep - MLB Update
The American League’s Baltimore Orioles romped to a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in the third-straight game for a series sweep at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore on Wednesday, June 8.
The game was scoreless in the bottom of the fifth inning as James Jerry Hardy bunt in a single to the right centre-field to nip the scoreless tie. On the next pitch, Mark Reynolds launched a flat 403-feet long two-run homer off A’s starter Josh Outman, who
otherwise was having a strong game.
"It's the way the game goes," Outman said. "Once we get a couple wins, we'll get our swagger back and will get back some of our confidence."
Trailing 3-0 in the top of the sixth inning, the A’s Daric Barton grounded into a double play, scoring Jemile Weeks who was already on third base. It was the first and last run the A’s scored in their ninth consecutive defeat earning game since they overpowered
the Orioles at their home ground for a series sweep.
The Orioles’ starter Zach Britton dominated throughout the game, as he struck-out six batters and allowed just one run on four hits along with two walks to earn his sixth win of the season. In his thirteenth start of the season, the left-hand hurler maintained
his ERA to just 1.42 over six innings.
Making a splendid win, Zach managed to stop the criticism from the opponents, who were expressing strong remarks after his two consecutive humiliating defeats, one of which was against the same opponent on May 29 when he consumed six runs on ten hits and
walked three over only five innings.
After Britton completed his spell, the A’s managed to score a second run this time against reliever Jim Johnson, who then escaped the eighth inning getting a strike-out. Closer Kevin Gregg threw a perfect ninth inning to earn his 12th save of
the season.
"It feels good to get wins," the Orioles’ catcher Matt Wieters said. "We got some good starting pitching and a good bullpen in this series. If our starting pitching keeps throwing like it did this series, then we're going to be a lot better ball club."
With this brilliant win, the Orioles have swept the series against Oakland. It will be interesting to see how Baltimore carries their winning momentum into their next match-up. Oakland put in a decent performance, but it was not enough to contain the Orioles’
offence.
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