Yankees Turn Triple Play, But Lose To A’s

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer in the first inning, then bounced into a triple play in the sixth, as the Oakland Athletics held on for a 4-2 win over the New York Yankees in the finale of a three-game series.

Adam Rosales added a sacrifice fly for Oakland, which managed to salvage a win in the series and snapped a three-game slide in the process.

Dallas Braden (3-0) tossed six solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. The Athletics bullpen came up huge, as Brad Ziegler threw two perfect innings and Andrew Bailey locked the game down with a scoreless ninth to record his second save of the season.

Marcus Thames and Mark Teixeira each hit a solo homer for the Yankees, who had a six-game winning streak snapped. Despite the setback, New York turned its first triple play in nearly 42 years.

In the bottom of the sixth and runners on first and second, Suzuki hit a grounder to Alex Rodriguez, who stepped on third, starting the 5-4-3 gem. It was the first triple play turned by the Yanks since June 3, 1968 against Minnesota, a span of 6,632 games.

CC Sabathia (2-1) threw a complete game but was tagged with the loss. The burly left-hander allowed four runs -- three earned -- on four hits and six walks and fanned five over eight frames. Sabathia dropped to 5-8 in 19 lifetime starts against the Athletics.

Oakland jumped on Sabathia for a three-spot in the first. Rajai Davis drew a leadoff walk, took second on a ground out, then stole third. After Ryan Sweeney walked, Suzuki cracked a first-pitch sinker into the left-field stands.

The Yankees threatened in the third, putting runners of first and second with one away, before Braden settled down to retire Nick Johnson and Teixeira on fly balls.

Then in the home sixth, Daric Barton reached on a lead-off single and Sweeney walked, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Suzuki came up and grounded the first pitch into the 5-4-3 triple play.

Ziegler replaced Braden and tossed two perfect frames before Bailey took over for the ninth. The hard-throwing righty retired Teixeira and Rodriguez before allowing a base hit to Robinson Cano. After Cano made it to second on defensive indifference, Nick Swisher grounded out to end the game.

Oakland had dropped 13 of the last 15 overall matchups versus the Yankees entering play...The Athletics placed outfielder Travis Buck (strained right oblique) on the 15-day disabled list earlier on Thursday and selected the contract of outfielder Matt Carson from Triple-A Sacramento...Carson got the start in left field and went 0-for-3....The game was played in a brisk 2:07.