Lowrie's double keys rally as A's top Orioles 5-4 (Aug 11, 2017)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Rookie Matt Olson is a relative newcomer to the Oakland Athletics, though he's been up long enough to know that comebacks have become the team's trademark this season.
''That really is a knack that you can't replace,'' Olson said after their latest late-inning rally.
Jed Lowrie had two hits, including an RBI double in a decisive eighth inning, as the Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-4 on Friday night.
''There's never a time when we feel we're completely out of a game and that's big going forward as the games go forward to know that we're still in it, regardless,'' Olson said.
The A's trailed 4-3 when Lowrie doubled in Matt Joyce with the tying run off Brad Brach (3-3). Chad Pinder's sacrifice fly two batters later drove in the go-ahead run as Marcus Semien beat a strong throw from Joey Rickard in right.
''There was a lot more to the game than that but I know everybody's focus is there,'' Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. ''Brad's been great for us and tonight just wasn't his night. Just got some balls elevated and command was a little off.''
Lowrie, who's been the subject of trade rumors all season, also doubled to start a three-run rally in the bottom of the fourth. He leads the majors with 37 doubles.
''He's been through it many times,'' A's manager Bob Melvin said.
''This is as healthy as he's been, and he's been able to go out multiple days in a row. He's as consistent as anybody we've had all year.''
The A's snapped a three-game skid, while the Orioles lost for the third time in four.
Olson hit his fifth home run off Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez, a two-run shot in the fourth inning.
Adam Jones hit his 21st home run off A's starter Paul Blackburn in the second for the game's first run.
Jimenez left the game in the bottom of the sixth inning after getting hit in the lower right leg with a hard-hit grounder off the bat of Chad Pinder.
Jimenez pitched 5 1/3 innings of six-hit ball. He struck out a season-high 11, eight in the first three innings. His career high is 13.
''I was lucky it didn't get any bones or anything,'' Jimenez said. ''Got me in the side of the calf. It got me in the same spot where I got hit in Minnesota the last day before the All-Star break, so it wasn't 100 percent pain-free yet. It got me in the same spot.''
Santiago Casilla (3-5) worked a scoreless eighth for the win and Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
HOT HITTER
Tim Beckham was 2 for 4 and has hit safely in all 11 games since the Orioles acquired him in a July 31 deadline trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. He's batting .500 (22 for 44) with his new team.
DAVIS BACK
Slumping Orioles 1B Chris Davis was back in the lineup batting seventh a day after Showalter gave him a day off. The slugging first baseman is batting .108 (4 for 37) over his last 10 games and .176 (15 for 85) since being reinstated from the disabled list (right oblique strain) on July 14. He was 0 for 3 with a walk in Friday's game.
ROSTER MOVES
The A's promoted newly acquired OF Boog Powell and RHP Michael Brady from Triple-A Nashville and optioned OF Jaycob Brugman and 1B-OF Mark Canha to Nashville. The A's acquired Powell on Aug. 6 in a trade with the Seattle Mariners for All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Bobby Wahl is scheduled to undergo surgery on his pitching arm Monday to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome, which is the compression of nerves or blood vessels from the neck to the armpit area. There is no timetable for his recovery, Melvin said. Powell was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to illness.
UP NEXT
RHP Dylan Bundy (11-8, 4.15 ERA) is 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA in his last two starts. He gave up one unearned run in two innings in relief in his only appearance against the A's. LHP Sean Manaea (8-6, 4.15) has given up six home runs in his last four starts after giving up eight in his previous 17 starts. He's never faced Baltimore.
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
