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A’s bats bounce back take series from Yankees
Oakland Athletics’ Stephen Piscotty breaks his bat on a two-run single against the New York Yankees during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
2018.09.05 – Bouncing back from a tough loss to the NY Yankees the night before, the Oakland Athletics’ bats bounce back to take the series over the Yankees with a balanced offense. Stephen Piscotty hit a two-run single, Matt Chapman and Matt Olson each doubled in a run, and the A’s bounce back to take the series over the Yankees with a series finale 8-2 win.
Jed Lowrie added a run-scoring single as the A’s backed righty Mike Fiers (11-6), who escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first after Giancarlo Stanton’s one-out double and a pair of two-out walks. Fiers is 6-0 in six starts since joining Oakland, and the A’s have won all his outings.
The A’s moved within 3 1/2 games of the Yankees for the top AL wild card, also remaining 3 1/2 back of the AL West-leading Houston Astros.
“These guys play hard,” Fiers said. “I love playing for this team. They back me up no matter what. Long first inning, then we come up and put together good at-bats and put up four. You can’t ask for anything more and I think that kind of settled me down as well.”
2018.09.05 – Oakland Athletics’ Mike Fiers pitching against the New York Yankees during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., where the A’s bats bounce back to take the series over the Yankees on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Fiers fanned five in six innings, giving up three hits, and the lone hit he allowed after the first was Aaron Hicks’ lead-off single in the fourth before Gary Sanchez’s two-run homer in the seventh chased the Oakland starter.
New York right-hander Luis Severino (17-7) reached 200 strikeouts for the second consecutive season but was done with two outs in the third. He allowed six runs — five earned — on six hits. shortest outing of the season.
Severino was chased out of the game with two outs in the third after Stephen Piscotty’s two-run single increased the A’s lead to 6-0. It was the best start for the A’s bats to bounce back and take the series from the Yankees.
2018.09.05 – New York’s Giancarlo Stanton hit a one-out double in the first inning against the Oakland A’s during the a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Severino threw two wild pitches that scored separate runs in the first, when Sanchez also had a pair of passed balls.
“A couple misunderstandings at the plate. A lead-off double, then another double. A bunch of stuff. A couple of cross-ups with the signs. It was a mess,” Severino said. “I need to do a better job. I need to communicate more with Gary. I have to try to make it better.”
HALL OF FAME
The first class in the Athletics Hall of Fame was enshrined during a pregame ceremony.
Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson and the late Jim “Catfish” Hunter, along with Reggie Jackson and 1989 World Series MVP Dave Stewart were part of the class. So was late A’s owner Charlie Finley.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Brett Anderson (strained forearm) threw off a mound and will throw an extended bullpen Saturday during which he gets up and sits down three times while throwing about 15 pitches each session. If all goes well he could be activated to make a start on the next road trip beginning Tuesday at Baltimore.
Yankees: RF Aaron Judge took soft-toss swings and hit off a tee. He also did base-running and outfield work as he works back from breaking his right wrist July 26. He will continue a similar rehab regimen through the weekend. “Another positive step forward,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s building a little bit of momentum.”
UP NEXT
Athletics: Following Thursday’s off day, RHP Chris Bassitt (2-3, 3.19) pitches the opener of a weekend series at home against Texas.
Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (10-5, 3.83 ERA) takes the mound in Friday’s series opener at Seattle with an extra day of rest. He is 6-0 with a 2.34 ERA in seven career starts against the Mariners.
Updated September 6, 2018.
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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