OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Josh Harrison hit a two-run single, Starling Marte added an RBI double, and the Oakland Athletics beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Friday night.
James Kaprielian pitched three-hit ball over five innings to remain unbeaten in three starts since coming off the injured list to help the A’s hold off their Bay Area rivals before a crowd of 40,133 – the largest at the Coliseum in nearly two years.
The A’s remain two games behind the Astros in the AL West and a half game ahead of the Red Sox for the second wild card.
“It’s always exciting to play in front of a crowd like we had tonight,” Harrison said. “We had a little bit more black and orange than I would like but at the same time it’s always better when you get the last laugh getting the victory. So far, so good.”
Mike Yastrzemski homered for San Francisco. The Giants have lost back-to-back games for the first time since late July.
Harrison got the A’s going in the fourth with a single that came after Jed Lowrie’s leadoff walk and a double by Yan Gomes. Both runners easily scored.
Yastrzemski, batting ninth, snapped a 3-for-26 funk with his 19th home run leading off the fifth.
Up 2-1, Mark Canha reached on a fielder’s choice, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Marte’s double. As Marte stole third, Jose Alvarez’s throw bounced past third baseman Wilmer Flores and into foul territory, and Marte scored easily.
“What he’s doing, I’ve seen for years,” Harrison said of Marte, who was his teammate when both were with Pittsburgh. “He hasn’t lost a step. Hes a guy that can change a game offensively, defensively, on the bases. He’s another element that makes us dangerous.”
Kaprielian (7-4) briefly lost control in the third with three consecutive two-out walks – the last two coming on nine pitches – before getting slugger Kris Bryant to fly out to center where Marte made a running catch. Kaprielian had four strikeouts and four walks.
“Early in the game he looked great,” ’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Maybe not his best command after that. Some balls were up in the zone, he walked some guys but he’s a really tough competitor and those are the guys that find a way to get outs when they have to.”
Four relievers combined for four scoreless innings. Lou Trivino pitched the ninth for his 21st save.
Giants starter Alex Wood (10-4) allowed two runs and five hits in five innings. He had been unbeaten in 11 starts following a San Francisco loss.
“We didn’t get it done, that’s all that matters,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “I did think we were driving more balls in the air but wasn’t enough. We didn’t execute tonight.”
TRAINING ROOM
Giants: 3B Evan Longoria was held out of the lineup a second straight day as a precaution while still experiencing soreness in his hand from a swing. Wilmer Flores started in Longoria’s place. ... RHP reliever Tyler Rogers has a sore biceps from being hit by a line drive. ... RHP Johnny Cueto, on the injured list nursing an elbow flexor strain, is back home in the Dominican Republic because of a death in the family. He is expected to rejoin the club for next week’s series at the Mets.
Athletics: INF/OF Chad Pinder was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing 34 games with a strained right hamstring. Oakland cleared roster room for Pinder’s return by optioning OF Seth Brown to Triple-A Las Vegas. ... RHP Mike Fiers, sidelined since May 7 with a sprained pitching elbow, was set to play catch on flat ground for a second time Saturday then throw the first bullpen session of his rehab next Friday. “I’m just ready to get back,” Fiers said. ... RHP Chris Bassitt, who will have surgery next week after being struck in the face by a line drive Tuesday night in Chicago, visited the clubhouse during the series finale with the White Sox on Thursday and had everybody encouraged. “He was really upbeat,” reliever Sergio Romo said. “We waited for him to crack a joke. He told a typical Bass joke and it was like, ‘He’s back!’” Bassitt was already talking about his return this season with manager Bob Melvin on Thursday.
HONORING PEDRO
A pregame ceremony honored Pedro Gomez, the longtime baseball correspondent for ESPN who died unexpectedly in February at age 58, and also former A’s broadcasting voice Monte Moore, who received the inaugural Monte Moore Award for outstanding broadcaster. Gomez is the 2021 recipient of the Ron Bergman Award for Journalism named for the longtime Bay Area sports writer.
UP NEXT
LHP Sean Manaea (8-8, 3.77 ERA) pitches Saturday for the A’s having lost his last two decisions and going winless over three August starts, none of which he has pitched deeper than five innings. The Giants send sputtering All-Star RHP Kevin Gausman (12-5, 2.40) to the mound trying to win his fourth consecutive start. Gausman, who already has set a career-high for wins, has made it past the fifth inning once during his winning streak.
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AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.
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