by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Oakland A’s hitter Josh Reddick splinters the bat to fly out while New York Yankee catcher Brian McCann is behind the plate

NEW YORK–The Oakland A’s received a terrific performance from lefty Eric Surkamp Wednesday night in New York. Surkamp did not get out of the fifth inning in his first two starts with Oakland. He managed to work into the sixth but did not get the decision. His opponent, Michael Pineda also gave up two runs and did not have a decision, either.The A’s bullpen was terrific as was the Yankee’s. However, the A’s was better as the A’s won 3-2. The Yankees used Chasen Shreve, Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Johnny Barbato. Barbato gave up the winning run to the A’s in the eleventh. The A’s bullpen kept the Yanks off the board to secure the win. The A’s improved to 7-7 and the Yankees fell to 5-7.

The Yankees put one on the board in the bottom of the first. Surkamp retired the first two batters he faced. The third hitter, the veteran Carlos Beltran, doubled to left. Surkamp walked Mark Teixeira to put men on at first and second. The designated hitter, Alex Rodriguez hit a single to left to drive in Beltran with the first run of the game. The pitch was right over the middle of the plate, and A-Rod did not miss. Surkamp struck out catcher Brian McCann to end the inning. Surkamp threw twenty-four pitches in the frame.

In the top of the second, the A’s tied the game at one. Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso singled to put runners on at first and second. Marcus Semien, swinging on a 3-0 pitch, singled to left to drive in Lowrie with the tying run.

The Yankees regained the lead in their half of the fifth inning. Shortstop Didi Gregorius led off with a single. The A’s got Gregorius in a rundown as he took off on a 3-2 count to avoid a double play. Gregorius appeared to make it back to first safely, but, he was ruled out as he ran out of the basepath. Brett Gardner walked on the next pitch. Starlin Castro doubled to left. Gardner stopped at third and then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlos Beltran. Yankees lead 2-1 after five.

The A’s  answered in the top of sixth. Danny Valencia, leading off, tripled into the gap in left-centerfield. Brett Gardner got his glove on the ball but couldn’t make the catch. The Yankees brought the infield in to cut off the run at home. Stephen Vogt struck out. With the infield still drawn in, Jed Lowrie singled to right to drive in Valencia with the A’s second run of the game.

There was no more scoring in regulation, and the game went to extra innings. The A’s broke through in the eleventh to win the game. Jed Lowrie doubled with one out. Khris Davis grounded out, and that allowed Lowrie to advance to third. Mark Canha singled past Yankee shortstop Didi Gregorius to drive in Lowrie with the winning run. The A’s win the first game of the three-game series 3-2.

Game Notes- Eric Surkamp, who did not get a decision, pitched very well Tuesday night. He went five and 2/3rd innings and allowed two runs and seven hits. He threw a career-high ninety-nine pitches. Marc Rzepczynski retired one batter to close out the sixth. The bullpen allowed just one hit in 5 1/3rd innings of work.John Axford retired the side in order in the seventh. Sean Doolittle did the same in the eighth. Fernando Rodriguez pitched the ninth and tenth. He allowed just one hit in the ninth and set the Yanks down in order in the tenth.Ryan Madsen closed out the game for the A’s as he put the Yanks down 1-2-3 in the eleventh. Rodriguez received credit for the win and Madson the save.

Jed Lowrie was the hitting star for Oakland. He had three singles and a double. He scored one run and drove in another.

There was a celebrity sighting at the game Tuesday night. Larry David, creator of “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was in the front row in back of home plate. David played the voice of George Steinbrenner in the Seinfeld series.

Game two will be played in New York Wednesday night at 4:05 pm PT.Kendall Graveman will go for Oakland, and Nathan Eovaldi will be on the hill for New York.

Time of game was three hours and thirty minutes, and 31,952 watched the A’s beat the Yankees.