Olson’s 10th inning double leads A’s walk-off against Pads

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

Matt Olson’s 10th inning two-run double off the wall in right field led the A’s to a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win against San Diego Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Mark Canha greets Starling Marte at home plate as he scores the winning in the A’s 5-4 tenth inning triumph over San Diego as losing pitcher Tim Hill looks on at the Coliseum Wednesday afternoon.

Handcuffed by solid Padres pitching for eight innings, Oakland came to bat in the bottom of the ninth with only two hits following a strong six inning effort by San Diego starter Joe Musgrove and a pair of relievers. Facing All-Star closer Mark Melancon, the major league leader in saves, and trailing 3-1, Ramon Laureano laced a lead-off double. Two outs later, after a walk put runners on first and third, back-to-back singles by Matt Chapman and Yan Gomes tied the game and sent it into extra innings.

With Lou Trivino on the mound for Oakland to start the tenth, the Padres were able to parlay a ground out and a fielders choice to score their ghost runner and take a 4-3 lead, setting the stage for the A’s ninth walk-off win of the season. After Starling Marte led off with a single against Tim Hill (5-6, 2.90) to put runners on first and third, Olson’s 26th double of the season allowed the speedy Marte to score all the way from first for the win, allowing Oakland to pick up a game on the first place Astros and move within 4.5 games of the top spot in the AL West.

“Anytime you have a walk-off win at home, especially when you’re behind and things aren’t looking good as the game goes along, and you tie the game against a closer that’s been really good, it ranks right up there. We needed this win,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER
A’s catcher Sean Murphy easily tags out San Diego’s Jurickson Profar at the plate during the fourth inning of Oakland’s 5-4 win over the Padres.

Speaking of Marte, Gomes (and Josh Harrison), all trade-deadline acquisitions last week, Olson said, “They’ve been great. The way that they’re swinging the bat and how they carry themselves on the field is super important. It’s nice to have veteran guys come in who’ve been doing it for a while, and in different ways. It brings a different mindset and perspective. Being able to talk with them and work, it’s been awesome having them.”

After an off day tomorrow, the A’s return to action for a three-game weekend series at the Coliseum against the Rangers starting Friday night. Chris Bassitt (11-3, 3.28) is scheduled to face Mike Foltynewicz (2-10, 6.00) in the opener.

GAME NOTES:

Prior to the game, Oakland announced the signing Khris Davis to a Minor League contract. Traded to Texas for Elvis Andrus in February, the 2018 major league leader in home runs was released by the Rangers in June following an unimpressive injury-plagued debut after 22 games. The plan is for him to start off with the A’s Triple-A team in Las Vegas.

The win snapped a streak of five consecutive losses in one-run games for the A’s.

The A’s four stolen bases Tuesday night tied their season-high. Combined with the three they had Sunday in Anaheim, it’s the first time they’ve had at least three swipes in back-to-back games since April 2012.

Oakland is now 10-7 in interleague play with three games remaining against the Giants at the Coliseum August 20-22.

The A’s have made just one error in their last 12 games. Their 45 errors this season is the fewest in the American League.

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