A’s swept in New York as Yankees blast off again
Anthony Volpe's fifth-inning grand slam put the game far out of reach as the A's pitching struggled.
NEW YORK (AP) — The A’s allowed four runs in the first inning and seven more in the fifth Wednesday afternoon on their way to being swept in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium, this time by a score of 11-3.
Manager Mark Kotsay pulled rookie starter Kyle Muller in the fifth inning after he allowed Anthony Rizzo and Aaron Judge to reach base, but the Oakland bullpen couldn’t stop the Yankees’ onslaught. Rico Garcia gave up a two-run home run to DJ LeMahieu, loaded the bases and threw a 95 mph fastball over the heart of the plate on his first pitch to Anthony Volpe. The Yankees rookie deposited it over the centerfield wall to stretch a five-run lead to nine.
Muller, one start after becoming the A’s first starter to earn a win this season, allowed six earned runs and five hits over four-plus innings, striking out six Yankees.
At 22 years, 12 days, Volpe became the youngest Yankee to hit a grand slam at Yankee Stadium.
With New York leading 1-0 in the first on Gleyber Torres’ sacrifice fly, Bader hit a drive off Muller (1-3) that just cleared the right-field video board.
A’s right fielder JJ Bleday attempted to make a leaping catch. A fan sitting in the front row appeared to reach over and make the catch. Replays appeared to show the fan’s glove was over the padding of the fence and the homer stood after umpires initiated a review.
“There wasn’t interference in terms of the play with our defender, but it did look as if the glove reached over the wall but really hard to tell,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “So, I understand why the call stood.”
The Yankees hit nine homers in the series. Judge finished Wednesday’s game 3 for 4 with two runs scored and Rizzo was 2 for 4.
Carlos Pérez and Jace Peterson hit back-to-back homers off New York starter Jhony Brito in the second inning, cutting the Yankees’ lead in half.
The A’s didn’t score again until Bleday homered in the seventh off Deivi García, who pitched the final three innings in his first major league appearance since May 29, 2021, and got his first career save. García was optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after the game.
Brito allowed two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings. He left after Brent Rooker doubled and Jimmy Cordero (2-1) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.
One bright spot for the A’s was Shintaro Fujinami, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen after Garcia’s trouble.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: OF Ramón Laureano remained in concussion protocol. Laureano left Monday night’s game in the first inning after his neck and shoulder hit the right-field fence hard when he made a leaping catch to take away a home run from Torres . … RHP Adrian Martinez (strained right elbow) threw 1 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Yankees: RHP Luis Severino (right lat strain) allowed one run and two hits over 3 1/3 innings while throwing 49 pitches in a rehab start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre. Severino’s next rehab start will likely occur next Tuesday. … OF Aaron Hicks (left hip tightness) was feeling better after leaving Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Start a four-game series at home against the Texas Rangers. Oakland did not announce a starter for Thursday and will face RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-2, 3.22 ERA)
Yankees: Domingo Germán (2-2, 4.35 ERA) opens a four-game series against Tampa Bay on Thursday.