WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A four-game losing streak that had sapped momentum from the Athletics came to an emphatic halt Saturday night, powered by three home runs and a strong starting pitching performance that the team had been lacking for weeks.
Shea Langeliers and Nick Kurtz each launched two-run homers, and Tyler Soderstrom added a solo shot as the A’s defeated the New York Yankees 6-4 at Sutter Health Park. The win snapped a skid that had dropped Oakland to last place in the AL West.
J.T. Ginn (3-3) delivered the club’s first win by a starting pitcher since May 15, limiting the Yankees to one unearned run over six innings. New York had entered the game on a five-game winning streak, outscoring opponents 42-12 during that stretch.
“It feels good to get back in the win column,” Ginn said. “The guys came out swinging early, and I just tried to keep us in the game.”
Scott Barlow earned his second save but made it interesting, walking the first three batters he faced in the ninth inning to force in three runs before retiring Jazz Chisholm with the bases loaded to end it.
The A’s jumped ahead in the first when Langeliers crushed a two-run homer off Yankees starter Ryan Weathers (2-3). Soderstrom made it 3-0 with a solo blast in the sixth, and Kurtz added his 10th homer of the season in the seventh to push the lead to 5-1.
Weathers struck out 10 batters over 6 2/3 innings but received little run support for the fourth consecutive start. He now owns the third-lowest run support among qualified pitchers this season.
The Yankees’ only run off Ginn came in the fourth inning when Jazz Chisholm stole second base, and the throw from catcher Shea Langeliers deflected off second baseman Alika Williams’ glove, allowing Cody Bellinger to score from third.
A brief controversy arose in the fourth when Langeliers challenged a 2-0 pitch using the ABS system. Home plate umpire Adam Beck ruled the pitch a strike despite the MLB.com replay showing it was 0.8 inches low. The call did not ultimately affect the inning, as Langeliers drew a walk.
The series concludes Sunday with Yankees right-hander Will Warren (6-1, 3.55 ERA) facing Athletics lefty Jacob Lopez (4-2, 5.73).
