Tyler Nevin hit a home run for the second game in a row, helping the Oakland Athletics win 5-1 against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
In addition to his homer, Nevin also got a single and a sacrifice fly, contributing to the A’s fourth win in their last five games.
“When you’re feeling confident, you just want to keep it going,” Nevin said. “I’m sticking to my routine, not trying to overdo it, and remembering what worked for me to keep the momentum.”
The Pirates struggled with just two hits in the game, marking their lowest hit count of the season and their fifth loss in six games.
“We need to find a way to turn things around,” said Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton. “We need to have more consistent performances in our at-bats.”
The game, the Pirates’ first in Oakland since 2016, had a small crowd of 3,528 fans. The Athletics have announced plans to play their home games in Sacramento for at least the next three seasons while their new stadium is being constructed in Las Vegas.
Although Oakland starter Joe Boyle faced some challenges with his pitching accuracy, throwing only 45 of his 91 pitches for strikes, he managed to hold Pittsburgh to just one run and one hit over five innings, with four strikeouts and four walks.
“I felt confident,” Boyle said. “I’m glad I could help the team. There are things I need to work on, of course. But we’re making progress, getting better every time.”
Boyle had some early struggles, throwing two wild pitches in the first inning, one of which allowed Ke’Bryan Hayes to score the Pirates’ first run. Nevin then hit a home run in the bottom of the first to tie the game.
“His batting has been impressive,” praised A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “He’s disciplined and professional in his at-bats. He battles hard. And he’s shown power with those home runs in the last couple of games.”
Shea Langeliers and Max Schuemann added sacrifice flies in the fourth inning, extending the A’s lead to 3-1.
