The Oakland Athletics defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-5 on Monday night in West Sacramento, California, scoring the winning run on an infield single by Jeff McNeil in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Athletics had built a commanding five-run lead, but Toronto mounted a late comeback. Andrés Giménez hit a solo home run in the ninth to tie the game at 5-5. The Blue Jays’ other offensive contributions came from Alejandro Kirk and Kazuma Okamoto, who also homered. However, according to the report, Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease gave up five runs—four earned—over five innings.
For Oakland, Henry Bolte had a strong performance from the leadoff spot, hitting a home run and scoring three times. The rookie also drew three walks and stole three bases. Zack Gelof contributed two home runs and knocked in two runs, while also stealing two bases and scoring twice.
The game-winning play came after Max Muncy reached on an infield single to start the ninth. Pitcher Louis Varland (5-5) then walked both Donovan Walton and Bolte to load the bases with two outs. McNeil hit a slow roller to shortstop and beat the throw to first, allowing the winning run to score.
Oakland built its lead through the first seven innings. Gelof drove in the first run with a ground-rule double in the first inning, then scored on a throwing error by Okamoto at third. Kirk homered to right-center in the second. Carlos Cortes had an RBI single in a two-run third inning, and Bolte hit his ninth home run over the right-field wall in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-1.
Toronto scored in the seventh when Okamoto hit his 29th home run off starter Jacob Lopez. The Blue Jays added two more runs in that inning on an RBI double by Giménez and a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Josh Smith.
The victory improved Oakland’s record to 5-1 in their last six games after a five-game losing streak. The Blue Jays, who fell to 72-73, remained one game behind Cleveland for the last American League wild card. The teams meet again Tuesday with Blue Jays RHP José Soriano (11-7, 3.52 ERA) facing Athletics RHP Jack Perkins (3-10, 6.50).
Key facts
- Jeff McNeil’s infield single in the ninth inning scored the winning run for the Athletics
- Oakland overcame a four-run lead deficit to defeat Toronto 6-5
- Henry Bolte hit a home run and scored three times from leadoff, with three walks and three stolen bases
- Zack Gelof hit two home runs and drove in two runs for the Athletics
- Blue Jays remained one game behind Cleveland for the last AL wild card spot