Oakland A’s rally to wild 11-9 win over Atlanta Braves

Miguel Andujar (22) of the Oakland Athletics singles during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

By BILL TROCCHI (Associated Press)

ATLANTA (AP) — Miguel Andujar went 4 for 5 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored and the Oakland Athletics ended Chris Sale’s seven-game winning streak with an 11-9 victory against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday.

Brent Rooker also homered and drove in four runs for Oakland. His two-run double in the sixth gave the A’s a 10-9 lead. No. 9 hitter Max Schuemann went 4-for-4 with three runs scored.

“From an offensive standpoint, it was one of our best games of the year,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “We obviously faced a really elite pitcher who is having a really good year. By putting our at-bats together, we showed we had a really good game plan and we stuck to it.

Marcell Ozuna hit his 17th home run and finished with four RBIs for the Braves, who lost 11 of 17. Michael Harris II had three hits and Matt Olson launched a two-run homer.

Michael Kelly (3-2) earned the win with a hitless inning. Dany Jiménez had a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.

Sale had his worst outing with Atlanta, allowing eight runs and nine hits in four innings. He struck out four and walked one. This is the most points he has allowed in a game since 2019.

“Today was almost the exact opposite of what I did to be successful,” Sale said. “There was nothing specific.”

Sale, in his first season with the Braves, had a 1.17 ERA in his previous seven starts. The A’s, meanwhile, entered tied for 29th in the majors in runs and tied for 30th in batting average. Sale allowed as many runs in the first inning (two) as he did in five dominant starts in May. He gave up four more in the second thanks in part to a three-run homer by Andujar, and two more in the fourth on a two-run homer by Rooker.

“We did a good job correcting the mistakes he made,” Rooker said. “Obviously he doesn’t make a ton of them, and that’s why he’s so good and why his stuff is electric. He throws around the zone and doesn’t leave much in the middle. That’s what makes him who he is. The pitches he made made some mistakes up the middle, we were able to capitalize on them and give them some good swings.

Jimmy Herget (0-1) suffered the defeat in relief of Salé.

The Braves scored six runs in the fifth to turn an 8-3 deficit into a 9-8 lead. Olson’s two-run homer tied the game and Adam Duvall put Atlanta ahead with an RBI single.

The A’s rebounded in the sixth to regain the lead when Rooker drove in Schuemann and Andujar with a double.

“To fall behind in the match after taking the lead and then the next set to take it back definitely shows the fight and the work and the will of this group,” Kotsay said.

Atlanta threatened in the seventh, but Andujar made a catch in left field off Jarred Kelenic’s sinking liner with two on and two outs.

Oakland starter Aaron Brooks, who was in position for his first win since 2019 with a five-run lead after four innings, lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed seven hits and seven runs. He struck out one and walked one.

Kotsay was ejected in the sixth by home plate umpire James Hoye for arguing balls and strikes.

FOLLOWING

Oakland RHP Luis Medina makes his season debut Sunday after recovering from an MCL strain. RHP Charlie Morton (3-2, 4.29 ERA) starts for the Braves in the finale of a three-game series.

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