JJ Blade Oakland Athletics 5-4 win over hosts Kansas City Royals
With the win in consecutive matches for the first time this year, Exercise Also captured his first series win
Blede doubled and scored in the second, then lifted a one-out solo shot to right in the third, his second of the year, for a 3–1 Oakland advantage.
The A’s increased their lead to 5–1 in the fourth after Brent Rucker’s double on Ryan Noda’s RBI triple.
Despite walking six, Ken Valdichuk (1–2) earned the win, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out six while throwing a career-high 114 pitches over five frames.
Brady Singer (2-4) did not face more than two consecutive batters in 23 overs over four innings, giving up five runs on six hits and three walks.
Singer has lost 4 of 5 and allowed at least five starts in five of his last six starts while posting a 10.05 ERA.
The start of the game was delayed twice, first by a retirement ceremony for former Royal Family star Lorenzo Cain, and later during Esterey Ruiz’s lead-off at-bat when he initially appeared to be hit by Singer’s 3–2 pitch. After a lengthy discussion between the umpires and managers, it was ruled a foul ball, and Ruiz was out on the next pitch.
Ruiz struck back in the second with a two-run, ground-ball single that hit hard to right, then immediately stole second, his major league-leading 16th. Ruiz is hitting .441 (15-for-34) with runners in scoring position.
Mackel Garcia’s two-out RBI double put Kansas City on the board early as they forced Waldichuk to throw 30 first inning pitches.
Freddy Firmin led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot, his second, and Bobby Witt, Jr., followed with a two-run homer, his sixth, cutting Oakland’s lead to 5–4.
five Exercise‘ Reliever Zack Jackson worked four shutout innings around seven baserunners and earned his first save. Royal Family Was 2-for-13 overall with runners in scoring position.
Kansas City tied with Oakland for baseball’s worst record.
– Field Level Media