A’s Lose 5-3 in Frustrating Performance
· Yahoo Sports
The Athletics faced the Baltimore Orioles hoping to bounce back from last night’s extra-inning defeat. The Orioles prevailed for a second straight day, winning 5-3 in a close, dramatic Saturday night contest.
Orioles Strike First Again
A’s starter Jack Perkins got his outing off to a good start with two scoreless innings to begin the game. Orioles right-hander Shane Baz matched Perkins with two scoreless innings of his own.
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In the top of the third inning, Orioles first baseman Coby Mayo drew a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on Perkins’ throwing error on a pickoff attempt. With one out, Leody Taveras hit a ground-rule double to put the Orioles up 1-0. Perkins recovered to strike out the next two batters and limit the damage. For the second straight day, an A’s pitcher’s fielding error led to a run scoring.
Perkins’ command issues continued, as the fourth inning was the third straight in which he walked the leadoff batter. The Orioles failed to capitalize, as Perkins escaped the two-on, no-out jam without allowing the visitors’ lead to increase.
Orioles In Control
Meanwhile, the Athletics injury-depleted offense struggled against Baz, who needed just 63 pitches to breeze through five scoreless innings. He induced double plays in consecutive innings to wipe out potential A’s rallies. Not letting runners steal or putting on the hit and run are among the reasons the A’s rank near the MLB leaders in ground-ball double plays this season. That plus the team’s hack at every pitch offensive approach explains why the team has not scored more runs this season.
The Orioles scored a second run off Perkins in the fifth inning. Center fielder Colton Cowser hit his 13th home run of the season, a solo shot to center. Perkins finished the fifth inning, stranding two runners after allowing Cowser’s home run. He allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits, walking four and striking out five.
A’s Bullpen: A Mess
Left-handed reliever Jose Suarez replaced Perkins in the sixth inning, making his first appearance since returning from the injured list. His performance raised questions about whether the team would have been better off leaving him at Triple-A, or designating him for assignment.
After allowing two singles, Suarez surrendered Taveras’ two-out, two-run double past a diving Tommy White at third base, putting the Orioles up 4-0. A more agile athletic defender may have stopped that hit from getting down the line, further proving White’s limitations at the hot corner.
A’s Comeback Begins
Seeking another comeback, the A’s loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth against Baz. Right fielder Lawrence Butler drew a bases-loaded walk, bringing home Jonah Heim to put the hosts on the scoreboard.
With two outs, Baz hit Donovan Walton with a pitch, bringing home a run and cutting the Orioles’ lead to 4-2. That was the last straw for Baz, as right-hander Alex Hoppe replaced him out of Baltimore’s bullpen. Hoppe retired Max Muncy to end the inning and keep his team in front.
A’s Awful With RISP
Right-hander Luis Medina maintained his team’s momentum by pitching a scoreless seventh inning. The A’s newest waiver-wire claim, right-handed reliever Chris Roycroft, threw a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance with the Green and Gold.
In the bottom of the seventh, Heim singled, and then Henry Bolte doubled to give the A’s a prime scoring opportunity against Orioles reliever Rico Garcia. With one out and the bases loaded, Baltimore brought in right-hander Yennier Cano, who escaped the jam by striking out Zack Gelof and Butler on nasty splitters.
The Athletics had another scoring chance in the bottom of the eighth after Orioles right-hander Cam Sanders walked two straight hitters. This time, the hosts took advantage as left fielder Carlos Cortes lined an RBI single to cut the A’s deficit to one.
Carlos Cortes makes it a one-run ballgame 🤩 pic.twitter.com/MC8wvOUO2R
— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) August 30, 2026
Case in Point Why A’s Are In Last Place
Heim, who has delivered several clutch late-inning hits for the A’s this season, failed to come through. For the third time tonight, the hosts could not bring a runner home from third with fewer than two outs. Heim swung at a pitch well outside the strike zone, grounding into his second double play of the game.
The A’s frustration from wasting all those scoring opportunities carried over to the top of the ninth inning. Three errors on one play put the Orioles leadoff runner on third. Cowser quickly scored Baltimore’s fifth run of the night on a wild pitch by pitcher Elvis Alvarado.
Not the prettiest A's defense you'll ever see.
— Uprooted (@uprootedoakland) August 30, 2026
A ground ball gets past Zack Gelof, gets thrown in wildly by Lawrence Butler, and is ultimately kicked into the stands by Jonah Heim.
Colton Cowser was awarded three free bags. #Athleticspic.twitter.com/ApxhKs6wsV
The A’s rallied in the bottom of the ninth against Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge. However, it was nothing more than a tease, With the game-tying run on second base, White grounded out to third base to end the game.
Somehow, the Orioles managed to hang on in this game that fully demonstrated why the A’s have not taken the step toward relevance under Manager Mark Kotsay. The Green and Gold made three errors on defense, while wasting several run-scoring opportunities. The Athletics recorded 10 hits, but finished the game2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 on base.
Tomorrow, the A’s will look to avoid being swept at home. Old friend Chris Bassit will start for the Orioles, while A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs is expected to pitch, whether it is from the jump or after an opener.