Homer-happy A’s intention for unbelievable achievement in opposition to Orioles

The Oakland Athletics can seize an unbelievable season-series win over the Baltimore Orioles when the golf equipment go head-to-head for the sixth and closing time Sunday afternoon in Oakland, Calif.

The A’s hit 5 house runs — together with one in a novel McCann vs. McCann showdown — en path to a 19-8 romp on Saturday. That gave the crew with the second-worst document within the American League three victories in 5 matchups this season in opposition to the crew with the second-best document.

When Kyle McCann, the Oakland backup catcher, homered off of James McCann, Baltimore’s backup catcher who was summoned to pitch the eighth inning, it gave the A’s 12 homers in 5 house video games this week.

Oakland has gone 4-1 in these video games, the loss coming 3-2 within the collection opener vs. Baltimore on Friday.

All-Star hopeful Brent Rooker has homered in three of these 5 video games to boost his team-leading season whole to 18. Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler and Max Schuemann have hit two homers apiece, whereas McCann, Miguel Andujar and Tyler Nevin have one every.

Attempting to maintain A’s hitters within the park on Sunday might be right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (10-3, 3.45 ERA), who has allowed simply 10 homers in his 15 begins this season.

The 24-year-old received the Orioles’ six-game Western swing off to a quick begin Tuesday with 6 1/3 shutout innings in a 2-0 win at Seattle. He has gained 5 of his previous six begins, together with street efforts at Toronto, Tampa Bay and Houston.

Rodriguez didn’t face the A’s once they visited Baltimore in April, however he has pitched in opposition to them as soon as earlier than — in his second main league begin in April 2023. He was tagged for 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings, however no house runs, in a recreation the Orioles rallied to win 12-8.

The Orioles may have many issues on their thoughts Sunday, together with exacting some revenge, breaking even within the season collection and finishing a successful journey. But a potential distraction looms with Major League Baseball set to announce full All-Star Game rosters Sunday afternoon.

Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman already had been voted in as American League starters by the followers. A mixture of participant balloting and commissioner’s workplace picks will fill out the groups, with a number of Orioles — together with Ryan O’Hearn, Ryan Mountcastle, Anthony Santander, Jordan Westburg, Corbin Burnes, Craig Kimbrel and even Rodriguez — thought-about candidates to earn a visit to Arlington, Texas, for the July 16 recreation.

Among the group, Mountcastle (twelfth house run Saturday), Westburg (3-for-9 with two doubles) and Kimbrel (save in Friday’s win) have helped their instances probably the most within the collection.

“Everybody may be very deserving,” Henderson mentioned. “Hopefully all of them make it.”

Orioles hitters will get one closing likelihood to pad their stats as they cope with A’s rookie right-hander Mitch Spence (5-4, 4.15 ERA), who recorded his second main league win when he pitched three no-hit innings to finish a 3-2 triumph at Baltimore on April 26. It was the one time he has confronted the Orioles.

Like Rodriguez, the 26-year-old Spence is coming off a pointy efficiency on Tuesday, when he restricted the Los Angeles Angels to at least one run in 5 1/3 innings in a 7-5 win.

–Field Level Media