Brent Rooker and Max Schuemann hit three-run home runs, contributing to the Oakland Athletics’ decisive 19-8 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
The Athletics hit home runs in each of the first four innings, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2003. Shea Langeliers and Tyler Nevin also homered, with Kyle McCann adding a two-run shot in the eighth inning. Oakland built a commanding 10-0 lead by the end of the second inning and stretched it to 17-1 by the sixth.
“It felt like everyone was hitting well,” said McCann. “It’s great to see the team perform like this because it can really boost confidence moving forward,” he added. “When one person starts hitting, it seems to lift everyone else.”
Rooker, who had three hits and drove in four runs, got the Athletics on the board with a three-run homer in the first inning. Schuemann’s home run in the second came during a seven-run outburst, where eight consecutive Oakland batters reached base.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay praised his team’s offensive display, calling it their best of the season. Oakland, who scored 20 runs against the Marlins on May 4, is the only team with multiple games scoring 19 or more runs this season.
“They didn’t let up on their hitting,” Kotsay noted. “Even with a comfortable lead, they kept taking quality at-bats. They weren’t just swinging for the fences; they were waiting for pitches they could handle, and that’s a credit to their approach today.”
Langeliers added a two-run homer in the third inning, his 17th of the season leading all catchers. Nevin’s home run extended Oakland’s lead to 13-1 in the fourth. Miguel Andujar contributed three hits and three RBIs.
Both Nevin and Brett Harris also had three hits each. Oakland totaled 18 hits compared to Baltimore’s 16, with the game played in front of 8,526 fans at the Coliseum.
The 19 runs and 18 hits allowed by Baltimore were season highs. “These types of games happen, and unfortunately, we gave up a lot of runs,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde lamented.
