Orioles score early and hold on for 3-2 win over Athletics (updated)

OAKLAND – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde grew up in Santa Rosa, about an hour away from the Oakland Coliseum. He attended games with his father and friends, recounting those days as some of his fondest memories. Rickey Henderson stole bases at a record pace. Dennis Eckersley closed out games. The Bash Brothers hit tape-measure home runs and slammed their suspiciously massive forearms in celebration.

“There was some really good baseball being played here for a long time,” Hyde said, “and some great, great teams that played here.”

Not anymore.

The last-place Athletics are moving to Las Vegas but will relocate to Sacramento for the next three seasons until their new home is ready. The Orioles are making their final stop here. They might get a little sentimental during batting practice, but that’s it.

They’d like to put a bow on a sweep and offer it as a going-away present.

The first of three games fell their way tonight, with Albert Suárez allowing two runs in six-plus innings in a 3-2 victory before an announced crowd of 9,654 on Jerry Garcia Night.

The Orioles (56-32) are grateful for the three-game lead they hold over the Yankees after winning seven of their last nine.

Suárez followed his six scoreless innings against the Rangers by surrendering a pair of solo home runs. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six.

“So good," Hyde said. "I think it’s the first time going into the seventh inning this season. Good curveball working tonight. The fastball had a bunch of life. We talked about it his last start. Just an outstanding six full innings and great job by our bullpen after.”

"Two pitches that were, I feel like, right in the middle," Suárez said. "All in all, it was a good performance, and I'm happy."

Shea Langeliers’ leadoff homer in the seventh brought Hyde from the dugout with the Orioles ahead 3-2. Jacob Webb disposed of the three batters he faced, Yenner Cano stranded Max Schuemann on third base in the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel recorded his 22^nd save and 439^th of his career with a spotless ninth.

Asked about having confidence in Kimbrel, Hyde said, "Well, it’s hard not to right now the way he’s closing games for us. Not easy to pitch in one-run games. That’s why it would be nice to get a couple more hits there. But awesome job going 1-2-3 there in the ninth.”

“He’s Craig Kimbrel," said Austin Hays. "He’s doing what he’s done for 14 years in the big leagues, and it’s still lightning, electric stuff. I’m glad I’m not in the box.”

Miguel Andujar hit a game-tying home run in the first inning, only the third surrendered by Suárez in 59 2/3 innings. Andujar pulled a cutter over the left field fence at 109.8 mph off the bat.

Suárez retired 12 in a row, 14 of 15 and 17 of 19 before Langeliers launched a fastball 412 feet to center field. He struck out three consecutive batters in the second after Zack Gelof’s leadoff single, covering for James McCann’s throwing error on a stolen base – with Jorge Mateo failing to stop the ball from going into center field.

"We love playing defense behind him," Hays said. "He throws strikes, he knows how to pitch and use all his pitches in all counts. It’s fun to watch."

Suárez was making his return to the Bay Area after pitching for the Giants for parts of the 2016 and '17 seasons. He got a little nostalgic when the team bus rode past Oracle Park.

"I was like, 'Oh, that was like my last home,'" he said. "Being back here is something that brings a lot of memories, a lot of good memories. So I'm just happy for it."

The Orioles led 1-0 in the top of the first on Gunnar Henderson’s leadoff single, his steal of third base with two outs, and Langeliers’ throwing error.

Jordan Westburg and Hays, celebrating his 29^th birthday, opened the second with back-to-back doubles. Hays raced to third base on Hogan Harris’ errant pick-off throw, and walks to Colton Cowser and James McCann loaded the bases with one out. Henderson struck out looking and Adley Rutschman walked for a 3-1 lead.

Harris threw 41 pitches in the inning, on top of 20 in the first.

Hays also doubled in the third inning, his first game with multiple two-baggers since Sept. 27, 2023. His single in the sixth produced his second three-hit game of the season, the first on June 11.

"Yeah, that’s a good birthday present to myself right there," Hays said. "A couple doubles and a nice lucky knock and a win."

"That was super cool," Hyde said. "Haysy swung the bat great. And we had traffic. That game should have been blown open early in the game, unfortunately. Then we squandered that situation there in the top of the ninth. We’re getting guys on, we’re just not getting the big hits right now to break games open. But Haysy had an outstanding game for us.

“Being a pro right now. He wants to play and he’s doing a great job of staying ready. He’s a really good player. Started the All-Star Game last year. And I appreciate his patience and I appreciate how he’s handled everything this season. He’s playing his butt off every time he gets the opportunity, and he showed it today.”

Hays puts in the extra work to make certain that he can answer the bell the few times that it rings.

"Just trying to do as much game-related things as I can. Fastball-breaking-ball mix off arms and hitting a lot of machine on the field," he said. "I haven’t done that a ton in the past. Trying to utilize, even when we’re on the road, anytime the field’s open to be able to use that machine just to see really realistic shapes that I’m going to see in the game with baseballs on the field and see the ball flight. I think that’s been helping a lot."

Schuemann reached on an infield single to lead off the eighth and made it to third base with one out after a steal and ground ball. Cano struck out Andujar and Westburg made a nifty pick-up on a short hop to throw out Brent Rooker.

“They get kind of lucky there," Hyde said. "He gets the ground ball like he always does and just kind of in the right spot. Gunnar makes a nice play to get to it. And the stolen base. And they do a nice job of moving the runner. And then he goes right through the heart of the order with Andujar and Rooker with a big punchout, and Westy makes a great play. A game-saving type of play. So we did a lot of really good things that inning.”

The margin stayed at one after Ramón Urías led off the ninth with a pinch-hit double and Mateo beat out a bouncer to short. Pinch-runner Cedric Mullins was caught in a rundown between third and home on McCann’s grounder, Henderson grounded to short with the runners holding, Rutschman was walked intentionally to load the bases and Ryan Mountcastle struck out.

The Orioles went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, but they didn’t let it ruin their night.

The teams will play again in less than 24 hours. The A’s are giving away Rollie Fingers bobbleheads on Sunday, another nod to their glorious past.

Another diversion from the dreary present and the countdown until they’re gone.

“It’s a little sad,” Hyde said.

The music still blared in the clubhouse.

* Triple-A Norfolk’s Tucker Davidson allowed two runs and three hits in four innings, with three walks and six strikeouts. Garrett Cooper hit his fourth home run.

TT Bowens hit his ninth home run with Double-A Bowie. He also collected his 18^th double. Jud Fabian had a single, double and two RBIs.

Peter Van Loon tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings with two hits, no walks and six strikeouts.

High-A Aberdeen’s Tavian Josenberger hit his fifth homer.

Single-A Delmarva’s Braylin Tavera had two hits, walked twice and stole a base.