Athletics Edge Orioles 5-4 with Rooker's Key Hit

Brent Rooker stepped up when it mattered most, delivering the go-ahead hit that propelled the Athletics to a 5-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night. Jacob Wilson contributed significantly with three hits and two RBIs, showcasing a strong performance that helped secure the win.

Mason Miller, tasked with closing out the game, recorded his 13th save by striking out two batters in a tense eighth inning. He entered with one out and the bases loaded, managing to strike out Adley Rutschman on just three pitches. The ninth inning saw him walk Ramón Laureano on a full count before Ryan O'Hearn flied out and Ramón Urías grounded out to seal the game.

The Orioles initially took control of the game when Dylan Carlson launched a two-run homer in the second inning off JP Sears, giving Baltimore a 2-0 lead. Jackson Holliday added to their momentum with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Laureano, extending the lead to 3-0 in the third.

However, the Athletics responded fiercely in the bottom of the third. Lawrence Butler ignited the rally with his 20th double, followed by Wilson’s two-run single. Tyler Soderstrom capped off the inning with a grounder that put Oakland ahead 4-3.

Holliday wasn’t done yet; he tied the game with his eighth homer, a solo shot leading off the fifth inning. Remarkably, he finished just a triple shy of completing the cycle.

In a pivotal moment during the fifth, Butler, Wilson, and Rooker strung together three consecutive singles, allowing the Athletics to reclaim the lead at 5-4.

Sears (5-5) struggled on the mound, surrendering four runs and four hits over five innings. On the other hand, Kremer (5-6) allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

A concerning moment for Oakland occurred when Denzel Clarke exited after colliding with the wall in center field while making a catch in the fifth inning.

Miller’s performance was highlighted by his ability to strike out pinch-hitter Heston Kjerstad with the bases loaded in the eighth, showcasing his dominance with a fastball clocked at 103.1 mph.

Despite their victory, the Athletics continue to struggle with a team ERA of 5.79, ranking as the worst in Major League Baseball, while the Orioles sit close behind at 5.10.

Looking ahead, Orioles right-hander Charlie Morton (2-7, 6.20) is set to face Athletics right-hander Luis Severino (1-5, 4.54) in Saturday's matchup.