Durant Slowed By Sore Calf At U.S. Training Camp
OAKLAND, Calif. -- — Heston Kjerstad hit a three-run homer, Grayson Rodriguez had eight strikeouts in six innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Sunday.
Kjerstad’s center field shot put the Orioles ahead 4-0 in the first. Anthony Santander hit his 23rd homer of the season earlier in the inning to start the two-out rally off A’s starter Mitch Spence (5-5). Kjerstad also reached in the third on an error by A’s center fielder JJ Bleday, who dropped a fly ball for an error. Santander scored the Orioles' fifth run on the play.
Kjerstad, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk two weeks ago, is batting .295 in 44 at-bats this season.
“He’s given us a boost,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He’s got that power potential and he’s taking good at-bats.”
Kjerstad said that he's finding a groove with more consistent playing time.
“The more at-bats you can get, the more consecutive days you can play, it helps you get in a rhythm or stay in a rhythm,” Kjerstad said.
Rodriguez (11-3) has won six of his past seven starts. He allowed three runs in six innings, and struck out eight or more for the fifth time this season to lead the club.
The Orioles went 4-2 on a six-game road trip, denying the A’s a winning record this season against one of the best teams in the American League.
Hyde told the team the winning road trip represents “championship baseball” for the 57-33 Orioles.
“Being able to go to the West Coast, it’s not easy,” Rodriguez said. “If we’re able to go 4-2, that great. That’s going to carry us deep into October.”
Oakland still went 4-2 on the homestand, matching its best record on a homestand of six or more games over its past two years.
The A’s scored twice in the sixth on Tyler Soderstrom's RBI double and Shea Langeliers' sacrifice fly. They cut the deficit to 5-3 in the seventh, but Gunnar Henderson drove in an insurance in the ninth for the Orioles with an RBI single.
“The way that our bullpen came in and held it until the ninth, that’s the formula we were successful with earlier in the year,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “We believe that we can come back against teams and we showed that today with some good at-bats, especially in the (later innings), which is a good sign.”
Craig Kimbrel earned his 23rd save of the season in front of an announced crowd of 14,524 at the Coliseum.
ALL-STAR SELECTIONS
A’s closer Mason Miller, who leads all rookies with 14 saves, was selected to the All-Star Game on July 16 as the team’s representative. Miller is the first A’s reliever to make an All-Star team since Liam Hendriks in 2019.
“It’s really surreal, and it feels great to just look at the work I’ve done, to sit here and have that recognition now — it’s awesome,” Miller said.
Orioles starter Corbin Burnes made his fourth All-Star team, joining teammates Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman, who were selected as starters. Hyde and several players lamented that the Orioles, who lead the American League in wins, only have three All-Stars.
“When you win as many games as we have in the last year and a half, and you only get three guys in — and you’re on the pace that we are on right now, and won 101 games last year with a lot of the same group, you’d think you’d get more guys in” Hyde said. “I’m disappointed in that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Left-hander Kyle Muller (left shoulder tendinitis) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list after four rehab appearances. In a corresponding move, the A’s optioned left-hander Jack O’Loughlin to Triple-A Las Vegas.
UP NEXT
Orioles: Right-hander Dean Kremer (4-4, 3.93 ERA) is expected to pitch on Tuesday when the Orioles play the Cubs at home to start a three-game series.
Athletics: Right-hander Joey Estes (3-3) is scheduled to start on Tuesday when the A’s begin a three-game set at the Red Sox.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
New Arrivals.webp?v=1665355826Linen And Textile Category Photo2 1b43fc63e428915b1c2fd4ff0b1919e2 Linens2 6c22ba384c639a88da02bb33b3686a1aLinen Rental RentalHQ Sl Linen Sheets Of 2023 Tout Badge 29ef5dd4078f47878348c6641782fa32 Hero 4 Craft 84ce27 5f44af3ccff549319b99127ea96ebf99~mv2 Unnamed H512 Linen Service 2022 (1) ?format=1500wLinens 2023 477914 95b80c5da9ba4110a765aa509537d71f~mv2 A31c05d75342e0408ef2e306a87c20bb Il Fullxfull.2971475269 T08g Linentableclothcom ?fit=contain&trim=true&flatten=true&extend=25&width=1200&height=63006a671c9a183832d442fb4507c0fec8c Linens Banner 1 MLH 04.01 05.15 1200x ?v=1648793122Page 1 Thumb Large Lake Geneva Overlays And Runner Rental0ae79117 0c44 466b 8c5e 4e4ff4b76642 F12a2b01 6bae 456f 9603 8d650a673d72 ?v=1702321956&width=3000Bhg Detail Southern Living Heirloom Linen Cotton Sheet Set Dillards Dburreson 001 4 0c28b4a9fc33442c85bf8be5baee83a8 HLS 3264 480x480 ?v=16399808805d789d4384d2e7288dfd3e32 1568185667633 Rsp Linen Sheets Test Southern Living Heirloom Cotton Set Dburreson 09 Cdcdd9903a854c6b92e77a8d55825f95 S060G 2022 ?v=1650457389&width=533O Spr Linen Sheets Test Southern Living Heirloom Cotton Set Dburreson 04 D5532f99939348fc9d46dd9905f74d8a A 1 1000x571 Hospitality Linen 2 4 Bhg Linen Sheets Test West Elm European Flax Set Dburreson 42 B24ec63cea8a407f86668846601b139c New Carousel Swatch 1536x991