All-Star Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking two-run homer and drove in three runs overall to lead the Athletics to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Lawrence Butler also drove in a run as the Athletics evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Rooker and Miguel Andujar each had two hits and Mason Miller registered his 18th save for the Athletics.
Leo Jimenez homered and Ernie Clement and Bo Bichette had two hits apiece for Toronto, which lost for the just second time in 13 games.
In the top of the ninth, Miller walked Joey Loperfido, who was sacrificed to second by Nathan Lukes. Clement and George Springer were both called out on strikes to end it.
Jacob Lopez (3-5) gave up two runs and four hits over five innings for the A’s. He struck out five and walked two.
It was a big turnaround for Lopez, who was pounded while lasting just 1 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays in Toronto on May 29. He allowed seven runs and six hits in the 12-0 loss.
Elvis Alvarado was solid in relief on Saturday for the Athletics. He followed Lopez and allowed one hit and one walk in 1 2/3 innings and he struck out four.
Toronto’s Kevin Gausman (6-7) allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked two.
All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson of the Athletics returned after a three-game absence due to a left hand contusion. He went 1-for-4.
Nick Kurtz stroked a two-out single in the fifth off Gausman before Rooker came to the plate. The Home Run Derby contestant warmed up for the competition by sending a drive over the left-center wall to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead.
Toronto moved within one in the eighth as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drew a leadoff walk off Michael Kelly and Bichette followed with a double. Alejandro Kirk then hit a sacrifice fly to score Guerrero.
Sean Newcomb replaced Kelly and struck out Addison Barger and Jimenez to end the threat.
Toronto grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Jimenez smacked a two-out homer to left-center.
The Blue Jays added a run in the third as Clement led off with a double and scored on Bichette’s two-out two-bagger.
The Athletics fought back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Denzel Clarke reached on an infield single and moved up another base on catcher Tyler Heineman’s throwing error. Butler followed with an RBI single.
One out later, Kurtz reached on catcher’s interference by Heineman. Rooker followed with a run-scoring double to right to tie it at 2.
–Field Level Media
