Yoenis Cespedes shines as Oakland Athletics rout Baltimore Orioles 3-2 – MLB Update
Oakland Athletics edged the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on Friday, September 14 in the opening game of their three match series.
Manager Bob Melvin will be expecting the A’s to take their momentum into the next game to wrap up a much needed series win. Orioles, on the other hand, will be disgusted with their effort in a game that was of great importance. Starting pitcher Joe Saunders
made too many unforced errors to let Oakland dictate the terms.
His counterpart from the A’s, Tommy Milone pitched six plus solid innings, allowing just six hits and two runs for his 13th win of the season. Relief pitchers Pat Neshek, Ryan Cook and Grant Balfour combined to pitch 2.2 scoreless innings to help
Athletics hold on to their one run lead.
"We might be the first team in history to have fireworks after every game in the playoffs," Balfour joked of the unusually large crowd at O.co Coliseum in Oakland.
J.J. Hardy provided Orioles with a decent start as he reached first base safely on an error in the third inning to put his side on the board.
Yoenis Cespedes played a key role in deciding the outcome of the clash as he hit a home-run to left in the fourth inning to put A’s 2-1 ahead. Jonny Gomes singled to left centre in the fifth to break the tie.
"My body might be tired but I'm strong in my mind," Cespedes said.
"I'm going to rest after we get a championship," he further added. "I'm going to be in the lineup every day."
"I know it was a big pick-me-up for everybody to see him," manager Bob Melvin said of Jonny Gomes in a post game interview.
"It's huge," Milone said. "It's momentum killers for them."
Credit should be given to the A’s for showing great determination in a crucial American League game. With their win, Melvin and company improved their record to 83-61 to reduce the gap between themselves and Texas Rangers to just three games at the top of
American League West Division standings.
Oakland will be looking to build up some confidence at this crucial stage of the regular season and finish strong for a possible playoff spot.
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