Brent Rooker's Power Play Secures Athletics' Victory Over Blue Jays

Brent Rooker launched a pivotal two-run homer in the fifth inning, propelling the Athletics to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night. Mason Miller showcased his skills by striking out Ernie Clement and George Springer with the tying run on second base in the ninth inning, sealing the win for Oakland.

The ninth inning began with Miller walking pinch hitter Joey Loperfido. Nathan Lukes advanced him to second with a well-placed bunt. However, Miller responded fiercely, hitting Clement with a blistering 103.3 mph fastball before fanning Springer on a slider after previously clocking two pitches over 102 mph, both of which were strikes.

Earlier in the game, rookie Leo Jiménez made headlines by hitting his first career home run—a solo shot off Jacob Lopez (3-5)—to give the Blue Jays a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Ernie Clement doubled to start the third and later scored on Bo Bichette's two-out double, extending Toronto's lead to 2-0.

Rooker responded in the third with an RBI double off Kevin Gausman (6-7), leveling the score at 2-all after Lawrence Butler's single had driven in the Athletics' first run. Rooker's 20th home run came two innings later, following Nick Kurtz's two-out single, giving Oakland a 4-2 advantage.

In the eighth inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked against Michael Kelly and later scored on Alejandro Kirk's sacrifice fly, narrowing the gap to 4-3.

Lopez pitched five innings, allowing two runs and four hits while walking two and striking out five. Elvis Alvarado struck out four consecutive batters in 1 2/3 innings before exiting after Clement's bloop double in the seventh. Both Kelly and Sean Newcomb contributed by recording two outs each, while Miller secured his 18th save in the ninth.

Gausman faced challenges, giving up four runs and five hits along with two walks over five innings of work.

This loss marked Toronto's second defeat in their last 13 games, a surprising turn given their recent dominance over Oakland. The Blue Jays had previously won their first five matchups against the Athletics by a combined score of 46-24, consistently scoring at least eight runs in each encounter.

Looking ahead, Blue Jays right-hander José Berrios (5-3, 3.53 ERA) is set to face Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs (7-6, 3.92) on Sunday.