The Sports Xchange
Jun 16, 2017
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Khris Davis blooped a two-run, walk-off hit with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, leading the Oakland Athletics to an 8-7 victory against the New York Yankees on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series at Oakland Coliseum.
Yankees right-hander Giovanny Gallegos (0-1) came on in the 10th, trying to protect a 7-6 lead. After Gallegos retired the first two batters, Rajai Davis singled and moved to third on Chad Pinder's double. Gallegos intentionally walked Jed Lowrie, loading the bases.
Davis hit a soft fly to shallow center that went off the glove of second baseman Starlin Castro, who tried to make a diving catch. Rajai Davis and Pinder scored on Khris Davis' third career walk-off hit.
Lowrie went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a triple for the A's. Yonder Alonso had two hits, including a solo home run. Pinder went 3-for-6 with a double, an RBI and a run.
Castro hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the top of the 10th inning.
Castro had three hits, including a double, and scored three runs. Chris Carter, a former Athletic, went 2-for-5 with his 13th career homer against Oakland and drove in two runs. Gary Sanchez went 3-for-3 with a double, walked twice and drove in two runs.
Brett Gardner grounded a one-out single to right off Liam Hendriks (3-1) in the 10th. Gardner went to third on Aaron Hicks' infield single, and Hendriks walked Aaron Judge, loading the bases. Castro brought Gardner home with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The A's broke a 5-5 tie with a run in the eighth inning when Matt Joyce grounded into a fielder's choice off Dellin Betances with the bases loaded, driving in Alonso.
The Yankees answered with a run in the ninth off closer Santiago Casilla, who had his third blown save in 13 chances. Castro doubled with one out and scored on Sanchez's single to center.
Yankees rookie left-hander Jordan Montgomery gave up four runs and seven hits, including two home runs, over 5 2/3 innings in a no-decision. He struck out five and walked one.
A's right-hander Sonny Gray allowed three runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. He struck out six and walked three.
Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games with a single in the sixth inning. Gregorius has the longest active hitting streak in the major leagues.
The A's grabbed a 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning when Lowrie hit his eighth home run of the season. He sent Montgomery's 0-1 curveball into the left-field seats.
Oakland increased its lead to 3-0 in the second inning. Rookie Matt Chapman walked with two out in his first major league plate appearance and moved to third on Josh Phegley's ground-rule double. Adam Rosales grounded a double down the left-field line, driving in Chapman and Phegley.
The Yankees scored three times in the sixth to pull even. Castro lined a one-out single and moved to second when Gray walked Sanchez. Gregorius lined a single to right, loading the bases, and Chase Headley hit an opposite-field, two-run single to left. Carter brought Gregorius home with a sharp single to left, knocking Gray out of the game.
The A's regained the lead at 4-3 in the bottom half when Alonso launched Montgomery's 2-0 fastball to straight-away center field. The home run was Alonso's 17th, an ongoing career high.
The Yankees responded with a run in the seventh when Castro singled off reliever Ryan Madson with two out, stole second base and scored on Sanchez's double to deep center.
Oakland regained the lead at 5-4 in the bottom of the frame as Joyce had a pinch-hit single off Chad Green, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Chad Pinder's single to center.
Carter crushed a solo home run to left-center with one out off John Axford in the eighth to make it 5-5.
NOTES: Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day disabled list. ... The Yankees recalled RHPs Luis Cessa and Domingo German from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Cessa will likely start in Sabathia's place Saturday or Sunday against the A's. ... RHP Ronald Herrera was optioned to Double-A Trenton by the Yankees. He made his major league debut Tuesday against the Angels. ... Yankees 1B Greg Bird (right knee contusion) was shut down from his rehab assignment at Triple-A and he'll be examined Friday by team Dr. Christopher Ahmad. Bird went on the disabled list May 2 with a bone bruise in his right ankle. He fouled a ball off his knee Sunday. ... The A's fired longtime pitching coach Curt Young and promoted bullpen coach Scott Emerson to replace him. Young, a former A's pitcher, was in his sixth season of his second stint as Oakland's pitching coach. ... Oakland called up 3B Matt Chapman from Triple-A Nashville. To make room for Chapman on their 25-man roster, the A's designated 3B Trevor Plouffe for assignment.