Heston Kjerstad hit a three-run home run, and Grayson Rodriguez struck out eight batters over six innings as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Sunday.
Kjerstad’s homer in center field gave the Orioles a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Anthony Santander hit his 23rd home run earlier in the inning to start a two-out rally against A’s starter Mitch Spence (5-5). Kjerstad also reached base in the third inning due to an error by A’s center fielder JJ Bleday, who dropped a fly ball. Santander scored the Orioles’ fifth run on that play.
Kjerstad, who was brought up from Triple-A Norfolk two weeks ago, has a batting average of .295 in 44 at-bats this season.
“He’s provided a boost for us,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “He has that power potential and he’s been taking good at-bats.”
Kjerstad mentioned that he’s getting into a rhythm with more consistent playing time.
“The more at-bats you get, the more consecutive days you can play, it helps you get in a rhythm or stay in a rhythm,” Kjerstad said.
Rodriguez (11-3) has won six of his last seven starts. He allowed three runs over six innings and recorded eight strikeouts, marking the fifth time this season he’s struck out eight or more batters to lead the team.
The Orioles finished their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record, preventing the A’s from having a winning season record against one of the top teams in the American League.
Hyde praised the team’s road trip performance as “championship baseball” for the 57-33 Orioles.
“It’s not easy to travel to the West Coast,” Rodriguez commented. “Going 4-2 is great. It’s going to carry us far into October.”
Despite the loss, Oakland went 4-2 on their homestand, matching their best record in a homestand of six or more games over the past two years.
The A’s scored twice in the sixth inning on Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI double and Shea Langeliers’ sacrifice fly. They reduced the deficit to 5-3 in the seventh inning, but Gunnar Henderson secured an insurance run for the Orioles with an RBI single in the ninth inning.
