Field Level Media
May 31, 2023
A fielding error by third baseman Austin Riley allowed Seth Brown to score the winning run in the ninth inning and give the Oakland Athletics a 2-1 walk-off win over the visiting Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
The A's have won the first two games of the series and go for their first sweep of the season on Wednesday afternoon. It was Oakland's fifth walk-off win of the season.
Atlanta reliever Raisel Iglesias (1-2) walked Brown, Ramon Laureano and JJ Bleday to load the bases with one out in the ninth inning. Jonah Bride hit the second pitch he saw to Riley, who bobbled it and threw too late to home to erase Brown.
The winning pitcher was Shintaro Fujinami (2-5), who retired the only batter he faced in the ninth inning.
Oakland starter JP Sears pitched six innings and allowed one run on four hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Sears has posted a 2.42 ERA (six earned runs in 22 1/3 innings) over his last four starts.
Atlanta starter Bryce Elder pitched a season-high 7 1/3 innings and gave up one run on five hits, with three walks and five strikeouts. It was his 16th straight start of at least five innings pitched. He had six starts in May and pitched to a 1.72 ERA (seven runs in 36 2/3 innings) but did not get a decision for the fifth consecutive start.
Atlanta got on the board in the third inning when Kevin Pillar hit a solo homer to left. Pillar has homered in each of his last three starts. He also doubled on Tuesday.
The A's tied the game with a run in the fifth. Esteury Ruiz drove in Shea Langeliers with a single to left field. Ruiz leads all major league rookies with 60 hits.
Ruiz drew a one-out walk in the eighth inning but was picked off by reliever A.J. Minter and thrown out at second base. The play was upheld on video review and Minter fanned Ryan Noda to end the inning.
--Field Level Media