OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s entered Thursday’s game sinking in a four-game losing streak, on the outside looking into the playoff picture. The New York Yankees came into town riding an 11-game winning streak, a 2.5 game cushion atop the wild card standings. The A’s losing streak extended to five games in a 7-6 loss on Thursday night, falling 2.5 games back of the Boston Red Sox for the second wild card spot.
The A’s looked headed for a blowout loss when the Yankees posted six runs in the second and third innings against James Kaprielian. Giancarlo Stanton and Brett Gardner hit solo home runs in the second inning — Stanton’s banging off the concrete above the center field suite windows.
Then Anthony Rizzo hit an opposite field double off Josh Harrison’s glove in left field to score another. And Joey Gallo followed with a three-run shot.
The A’s of last week might’ve crumbled, but they showed fight, scoring six unanswered runs. Matt Chapman and Sean Murphy hit back-to-back solo homers in the third inning off Yankees starter Jameson Taillon. Then loaded the bases with a pair of walks and Harrison’s single the next inning. Chapman’s walk scored the first run, then on an 0-2 count, Elvis Andrus knocked a two-run single to cut the Yankee’s lead to one run.
Harrison’s home run in the fifth inning tied it and started a whole new ballgame.
Both teams were locked in a dead heat. Sergio Romo loaded the bases on Aaron Judge’s double and two walks with one out, but escaped it by forcing a pop out and ground out to end the inning.
Lou Trivino got two quick outs in the ninth inning, but issued a four-pitch walk to Rizzo. It came back to bite when pinch runner Tyler Wade stole second, then took third on a wild throwing error by Murphy behind the plate. He scored on Judge’s bloop single to give the Yankees the lead.
