by Jerry Feitelberg

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland A’s pitcher Sonny Gray throwing against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s bats were on fire late in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers Tuesday night. The A’s won the game 5-3. The A’s, who had scored just four runs in their last four games were able to get key hits when it counted to propel them into victory lane. A’s starter Sonny Gray pitched six strong innings. Gray allowed two runs, one of which was unearned. Gray gave up six hits, and he did not get a decision. The A’s bullpen, for the most part, was excellent. Sean Doolittle pitched a strong seventh. Ryan Dull was magnificent in the eighth, and Ryan Madson closed out the game for Oakland. The one sour note was the performance of John Axford. Axford has been struggling lately and tonight was no exception. He faced two hitters and each one doubled.

The Brewers scored a run in the top of the fourth. Sonny Gray had allowed just two hits up to this point in the game but the Brewers’, behind two singles and a double, put the first tally of the game on the board. The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Max Muncy and Jed Lowrie singled to put runners at first and third with one out. A’s catcher Stephen Vogt drove in the tying run when he ground out. Lowrie, running on the play, reached second safely, and that allowed the run to score.

The Brew Crew scored an unearned run in the top of the sixth to regain the lead. Ryan Braun led off with a single. With one out and Braun at first, Sonny Gray threw the ball past first baseman Yonder Alonso for an error. The ball rolled far enough down the line to enable Braun to make it safely to third. The Brewers’ big slugger, Chris Carter, singled to left to drive in Braun with Milwaukee’s second run. The A’s tied the game in their half of the sixth. Former Brewer, Khris Davis singled to start the frame. Davis advanced to second on a passed ball. A’s Designated hitter, Billy Butler, made a productive out as hit to advance Davis to third. With two out, Marcus Semien singled to right to drive in Davis. The score is tied at two after six innings of play.

The A’s scored three unearned runs in the seventh inning. Brewer shortstop committed an error to open the floodgates for the A’s. The A’s scored the go-ahead run runners at first and second and one out. Yonder Alonso singled to drive in Danny Valencia. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien drove in two more when he tripled to left-center. The A’s are in the lead 5-2 heading into the top of the eighth.

The Brewers first two batters in the eighth hit back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit to two.  Bob Melvin brought in former Brewer, John Axford, to pitch. Scooter Gennett doubled and then scored on a double off the bat of Ryan Braun. Melvin took Axford out and replaced him with Ryan Dull. Dull, who had not allowed an inherited run to score so far this season, was magnificent, and he retired the next three Brewers and ended the threat. Ryan Madson retired the Brewers in order to preserve the win for Oakland.

Game Notes- Marcus Semien had three hits, including a triple, and drove in three runs for the Green and Gold.  Jed Lowrie was 3-for-5, and Danny Valencia pitched in with two hits. Valencia was hit by a pitch on the wrist, but he was able to continue.

With the win, the A’s improve to 29-41 while Milwaukee drops to 31-40. Game two will be played Wednesday afternoon at 12:35 Pm at the Coliseum. Rookie Daniel Mengden will go for Oakland, and his opponent will be Junior Guerra.

Time of game was three hours and thirty-two minutes, and 14,810 faithful watched their beloved A’s defeat the Brewers.