Mountcastle hits two of Orioles’ 5 HRs in 8-1 win over A’s
Sep 3, 2022, 7:38 AM | Updated: 8:45 pm
Baltimore Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle (6) is greeted by Gunnar Henderson (2) after hitting a two-run home run against Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Adam Oller which scored Anthony Santander during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
(AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
BALTIMORE (AP) — Ryan Mountcastle hit two of the Orioles’ five homers and drove in four runs, and Baltimore defeated the Oakland Athletics 8-1 on Saturday night.
Adley Rutschman, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander also homered for the Orioles, who have won four straight and are 1 1/2 games behind Toronto in the race for the American League’s third wild-card spot.
Baltimore improved to 71-61 and is 10 games over .500 for the first time since May 12, 2017.
“We just have to control what we can control and try to win as many games as we can,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “If we don’t win, nothing good is going to happen.”
The Athletics jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by catcher Sean Murphy off Austin Voth.
Mountcastle countered with two-run homers in the first and third innings — his 20th and 21st of the season — off Adam Oller (2-7), giving Baltimore a 4-1 lead. Mountcastle had a multi-homer game for the third time this season and the sixth time in his career.
“It seems like the last month, maybe two months, that every game has been very important,” Mountcastle said. “For me to start picking it up now is big.”
Voth was replaced by Keegan Akin (3-1) after loading the bases with one out in the fourth. Pinch-hitter Chad Pinder hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat.
“For me, that was the key to the game, getting the ground-ball double play,” Hyde said.
Mullins and Santander boosted the lead to 6-1 with solo homers in the bottom half of the fourth. Oller, who is on his fourth stint with the Athletics this season, had allowed just four runs over his previous three starts.
“He’s continuing to mature, he’s continuing to grow with this opportunity and that’s kind of what we’re looking for,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said of Oller.
A single by Rutschman drove in Jorge Mateo, who had stolen his 29th base and took third on a throwing error by Murphy in the sixth. Rutschman rounded out the scoring with his ninth homer in the eighth inning.
“We have power throughout, we’re athletic,” Hyde said. “We’re getting better. We’re pretty young, but it’s fun to watch.”
Oakland has lost 22 of its last 32 games dating back to July 30.
YOUNG GUNS
Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Kyle Stowers were selected in the 2019 draft and in the lineup together for the first time. It was the only time in Orioles’ history the top three selections from one draft started the same game.
MOVES
Orioles: RHP Anthony Castro was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians and optioned to Triple-A Norfolk.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Zach Jackson had an MRI that showed a right shoulder strain. The Athletics plans to wait seven or 10 days before they start the rehab process.
Orioles: RHP Tyler Wells (lower left side discomfort) will throw a bullpen session within the next few days before the team decides where he will have his next rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Adrián Martínez (3-3, 5.28 ERA) was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Aug. 28 and picked up the win that day against the Yankees in a 4-1 victory.
Orioles: RHP Spenser Watkins (4-5, 4.26 ERA) suffered his fourth consecutive losing decision in his last outing at Cleveland on August 30.
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