Athletics rally late, snap 11-game road losing streak by beating Diamondbacks 9-4
Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof (20) slaps hands with teammate Shea Langeliers (23) after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
PHOENIX (AP) — Zack Gelof tripled to key a three-run eighth and the Oakland Athletics snapped a five-game losing streak, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-4 on Friday night.
The A’s also halted an 11-game road losing streak. They hadn’t won away from home since June 1 in Atlanta and had lost 15 of their previous 18 games overall.
Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker, right, connects for a run-scoring single as Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Tucker Barnhart, left, reaches for the ball during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“Overall it was a great game," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "We’ve hit a lot of home runs as an offense, but we haven’t built innings that way; walks, couple hits, it’s nice to see.”
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, center, avoids Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, right, to score as umpire Alex Tosi, left, moves during the play during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Gelof was 3 for 4 with the RBI triple, a walk and a stolen base.
“The month of June has been a lot better for him and he’s finishing up really strongly," Kotsay said.
Gelof's average went from .196 to .205 on Friday. He hit .267 with 14 homers as a rookie second baseman last season, but has found it tougher in his second year.
“All around we put it together,” he said. "It just feels good to win on the road.”
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Tyler Soderstrom’s home run off Ryan Thompson (3-3) leading off the eighth tied it at 4. Thompson then walked rookie Armando Alvarez before Gelof hit a line drive to the gap in right-center, scoring the go-ahead run. Max Schuemann followed by chopping a single over the head of shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to make it 6-4.
The A's hit three homers in the ninth off Brandon Hughes to put it out of reach. Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers went back-to-back, each for their 15th homers, of the season and Daz Cameron hit his third.
Scott Alexander (1-2) gave up a tie-breaking single to Ketel Marte in the seventh, but picked up the victory. Mason Miller, in a non-save situation, struck out two in the ninth to preserve the win.
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, right, celebrates his double as Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann (12) holds the ball during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit his 11th homer leading off the sixth for Arizona off JP Sears.
Arizona has lost three straight and is 1-3 on its homestand.
Diamondbacks starter Slade Cecconi threw 88 pitches in four innings, allowing three runs. He struck out seven and walked two.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Slade Cecconi throws against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
“We’ve got to pitch better,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “You can’t make assumptions because the Oakland A’s are here that we’re going to beat them three games. That’s a well-run team, they got a good manager with young players that are very enthusiastic.”
Arizona Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left, scores as Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, right, looks on for the baseball during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Sears went six innings for Oakland, allowing five hits and three runs. Only two hits came after the first inning; he walked one and struck out six.
Sears bounced back from his previous start against Minnesota, in which he pitched just 1 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and eight runs and hitting three batters.
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, left, scores ahead of a tag by Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, right, during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 28, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Before the game, Arizona called up RHP Humberto Castellanos from Triple-A Reno and sent down RHP Scott McGough.
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Lovullo said after the game that RHP Zac Gallen will be activated from the injured list. Gallen (5-4, 3.12 ERA) has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain since he left one batter into a May 30 start against the New York Mets. Oakland’s starter will be LHP Hogan Harris (1-1, 2.72).
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