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 Then A's left fielder Yoenis Cespedes led off with an infield
single off Baltimore closer Zach Britton and moved to third on right
fielder Brandon Moss' broken bat single to right.
"Now you're thinking good things are going to happen," A's manager
Bob Melvin said just minutes later.
More like great things for the A's.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson crushed Britton's first pitch over the
center field fence for a three-run, walk-off home run, lifting the
A's to a 5-4 victory at the O.co Coliseum. The walk-off homer was
Donaldson's third of his career and second this season. He has five
walk-off hits overall.
"I enjoy those moments," Donaldson said. "It's one of those things
where you've got to try to relish the opportunity, and anytime I can
step up to the plate with an at-bat to help our team win the game or
win the game right there, I feel better about it."
The A's, who lead the American League West, beat the AL East leading
Orioles in the opener of their three-game series.
Donaldson, who started for the American League All-Star team,
crushed Britton's sinker for his 21st home run of the season.
"It was definitely tough," said Britton, who had gone 10 straight
games without giving up a run. "I made some good pitches but they
got on. I was one pitch from getting a double play ball. But
Donaldson really put a good swing on the pitch -- you have to tip
your cap to him. It was a sinker. It's my best pitch. I'm one
quality sinker away from getting that double play and getting us
closer to winning the game."
As has happened so often in the past, Donaldson saved his best swing
for the game's biggest moment.
"Nothing was given to him in this game," Melvin said. "He had to
fight to get into the position he's in now. He's got a football
mentality, and he is a gamer. A lot of his best work is done late in
games with guys on base."
Donaldson started at third base for the American League in the
All-Star Game and took part in the Home Run Derby.
"Everybody kept saying how it was going to mess my swing up,"
Donaldson said. "Maybe it's the fact that I didn't hit a lot of
homers in the home run derby. So with that being said, I think I
saved a couple."
Machado and second baseman Jonathan Schoop hit two-run homers,
powering the Orioles to a 4-2 lead, but it disappeared in the ninth.
Machado faced the A's for the first time since a bat throwing
incident June 8 at Camden Yards that cost him a five-game
suspension. Machado was booed loudly by A's fans whenever he came to
the plate or made a play in the field, but he answered with a loud
home run off right-hander Jeff Samardzija in the seventh that put
the Orioles ahead 4-2.
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Baltimore shortstop J.J. Hardy ripped a one-out single, and Machado
lined Samardzija's next pitch over the left-field fence for his 10th
home run of the season. Machado went 2-for-4 on the night.
"I paid my dues already," Machado said. "I was suspended five games,
I sat out. The booing is part of the game and I have to get used to
it. You have to be able to block it out. You just try and channel
your energy to do well. I have to gain everyone's respect back from
everyone that I let down. And just move on."
Schoop hit a two-run homer in the fifth, putting the Orioles ahead
2-1, but A's catcher Derek Norris answered with a solo shot in the
bottom of the inning.
Samardzija, making his third start since being traded from the
Chicago Cubs to Oakland, gave up four runs on six hits, including
two home runs, over seven innings but escaped with a no-decision,
thanks to Donaldson.
"He loves those spots," Samardzija said. "Just from being here for
two weeks I can tell that. He kind of gets those big eyes and gets
excited. That's a guy you want up in that situation, two guys on and
no outs in the ninth."
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman allowed two runs on four hits
over 6 2/3 innings but also got a no-decision. Tillman struck out
six and walked one.
Left-hander Eric O'Flaherty pitched a scoreless ninth and got the
win for Oakland.
NOTES: A's CF Coco Crisp, who missed the past four games while
dealing with a sore neck, returned to the lineup. ... Oakland RF
Josh Reddick (strained right knee), who played two rehab games this
week for Class A Stockton, continued his rehab assignment Friday
night with Triple-A Sacramento. Reddick will play Saturday and
Sunday for Sacramento then be re-evaluated, A's manager Bob Melvin
said. ... Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (sprained right ankle) threw a
bullpen session Thursday and will throw another one Sunday. If all
goes well, he'll make a rehab start Wednesday, Orioles manager Buck
Showalter said before the game. "Yesterday was better. The last
thing is throwing from the stretch. I'm hoping that goes really well
Sunday and he can go out and pitch," Showalter said.
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