Miguel Andujar, Brent Rooker lead Oakland Athletics’ explosion against brawling Atlanta Braves

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.

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.

In his first season with the Braves, Sale 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.

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.

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

Oakland starter Aaron Brooks, who was on pace to earn 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.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay was thrown out in the sixth by home plate umpire James Hoye.

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.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb