Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s bats came alive Tuesday night as they pummeled the Baltimore Orioles 16-2. The A’s led the whole way. A’s starter Brett Anderson was in cruise control until the top of the fifth. Anderson had allowed the O’s just one hit in his first four innings of work. The O’s scored two in the fifth to make it a 4-2 game. The roof came crashing down on them in the bottom of the sixth when the A’s scored 10 runs. They had three homers in the inning, and the game was just about over as they led the O’s 14-2. The A’s tacked on two more in the eighth and 14,310 fans went home very happy.

The A’s drew first blood in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, A’s catcher Beau Taylor, hitting from the left side, blasted his first career home run to put the A’s on the board. The Green and Gold led 1-0 after three.

The A’s added three more in the fourth. First baseman Matt Olson led off with a booming double off the wall in left field. Orioles’ pitcher Gabriel Ynoa hit Khris Davis with a pitch to put men on at first and second with no out. The next hitter, Ramon Laureano, who robbed former Athletic Renato Nunez of an extra-base hit in deep center field, hit his 11th dinger of the year to drive in Olson and Davis. The A’s now led 4-0.

The O’s cut the deficit to two in the top of the fifth. Brett Anderson, who had given up just one hit in the first four innings, was burned by Orioles’ second baseman, Jonathan Villar. Villar sent Anderson’s pitch over the wall in center field wall for the O’s first run. Keon Broxton followed with a single and then stole second to get into scoring position. Orioles’ third baseman Rio Ruiz hit a sharp ground ball that was fielded by Marcus Semien. Semien tried to nail Broxton at third, but his throw got by Matt Chapman at third. Broxton scored, and Ruiz ended up at second base. Only one run was earned. The A’s still led 4-2.

The A’s blew the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth. They sent thirteen men to the plate. They had eight hits, including a two-run blast and two three-run round trippers as they scored 10 times. Three runs were earned, and seven were unearned. Robbie Grossman hit the two-run blast and Khris Davis and Stephen Piscotty each hit a three-run job. Marcus Semien drove in a run with a triple to extend his hitting streak to fifteen games.

The A’s scored two more in the eighth when Chad Pinder hit a pinch-hit home run with a man on board to make it 16-2.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 38-36. The O’s fell to 21-52. They have the worst record in the American League East.

Brett Anderson improved to 7-4 and O’s starter Gabriel Ynoa dropped to 0-4.

The A’s hit six home runs in the game. It was the first time at the Coliseum since September 2003 when they did it against the Los Angeles Angels.

Up Next: The A’s conclude the three-game series against the O’s Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum. Chris Bassitt will pitch for the A’s, and the O’s have not announced their starter. Game time is at 12:37 pm.