Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run home run off of Joe Saunders in the fourth as the Oakland Athletics kept pace in the AL West race with a 3-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
A’s Top Orioles 3-2, Build Wild-Card Lead
Friday night, the A’s bested the Orioles 3-2, upping their wild-card lead while the Orioles remained in a first-place tie with the Yankees in the American League East.
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Baltimore failed to leap over the Yankees for sole possession of the AL East crown when the offense stagnated against rookie pitcher Tommy Milone. Milone pitched 6 1/3 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) off of six hits for his 13th win this season. Grant Balfour pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save.
Chris Davis clubbed his 26th home run in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2, but Saunders wasn't able to hold it together. Jonny Gomes singled to left center to score Adam Rosales to give Oakland its final 3-2 lead.
Saunders lasted six innings and gave up three runs while striking out six. He lost his second game as an Oriole.
With the loss, Baltimore fell back in step with the New York Yankees, who also lost to the Rays 6-4. With the win and the losses by the two AL East teams, the A's retain their two-game lead for the first AL wild card while the Orioles and Yankees are tied for both the AL East crown and the second AL wild card.
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