Miami Marlins vs Oakland Athletics Match Player Stats On May 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 24, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Sonny Gray allowed one run and struck out a season-high 11 batters over seven innings, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 4-1 victory over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday at the Oakland Coliseum.

Gray (2-1) allowed three hits, walked one and won back-to-back games for the first time since April 16 and 22 last season. He was one strikeout shy of matching his career high set on Sept. 23, 2014, against the Angels. He had double-digit strikeouts for the first time since fanning 10 Rangers on May 3, 2015.

Jed Lowrie went 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run for the A's. He matched his career high for hits, accomplishing the feat for the seventh time. Khris Davis hit a two-run homer in the first inning, his team-high 14th of the season.

Marlins right-hander Edinson Volquez (0-7) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings with two strikeouts and two walks. Volquez lost his seventh straight decision to open the season, tying Joe Fontenot for the longest such streak in franchise history. The seven-game skid is his longest career in-season losing streak. He has lost a career-high eight straight games, dating to last season.

Nine of Gray's strikeouts came on sliders -- all but one swinging. He struck out two Marlins on fastballs, one looking. He had at least one strikeout in each of his first six innings. Gray struck out all three batters he faced in the third, then the final three he faced in the fourth. when Miami had its first two hits and only run of the game.

The A's struck quickly, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of first inning when Lowrie hit a two-out double and Davis followed with an opposite-field home run to right field.

Miami cut Oakland's lead to 2-1 in the fourth. Dee Gordon led off with a single, Miami's first hit off Gray, and moved to third when Giancarlo Stanton grounded a single to center. Gordon scored on a strike-three, wild pitch to Marcell Ozuna.

Oakland answered with a run in the fifth to make it 3-1. Matt Joyce walked with two out, and Lowrie smoked an RBI double down the right field line.

Oakland added a run in the seventh against reliever Brad Ziegler, a former Athletic. The A's had three hits in the inning, including Lowrie's RBI single.

Santiago Casilla pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.

Marlins rookie right-hander Drew Steckenrider made his major-league debut, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

NOTES: Marlins CF Christian Yelich (right hip flexor) was out of the lineup. Yelich left Tuesday night's game in the bottom of the eighth inning. "He's already moving around 10 times better than he was yesterday," said Michael Hill, Miami's president, baseball operations. "Just going to make sure we get it under control and it doesn't get any worse." ... Oakland RHP Bobby Wahl (strained right shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and RHP Zach Neal was recalled from Triple-A Nashville. ... A's 1B Yonder Alonso (right hand/wrist contusion) missed Wednesday's game, one day after being hit by a pitch in the sixth inning Tuesday night. X-rays taken Tuesday night were negative. A's manager Bob Melvin said Alonso was "a little sore" but should return to the lineup Friday against the Yankees after the Oakland's off day Thursday. ... A's LHP Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and will pitch a simulated game Saturday at extended spring training in Arizona.