Oakland Athletics starting pitcher James Kaprielian, right, walks back to the mound as Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies, left, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 31, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Atlanta Braves beat the A’s 4-2 on a cool Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s had won the first two games of the three-game series. A’s manager Mark Kotsay hoped his team could find a way to beat the Braves and record their first three-game winning streak of the season.

That did not happen. The A’s starter James Kaprielian pitched well for the first four innings on Wednesday. Kaprielian was seeking his first win of the 2023 campaign. The Braves put together a three-run rally in the fifth to end Kaprielian’s hope for a win. The game summary follows below.

A’s starter James Kaprielian pitched extremely well for the game’s first four and 1/3rd innings. Things went south very quickly. With one out, Eddie Rosario singled. It was just the second hit Kaprilian had allowed.

The Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies blasted his 11th home run of the season to put the Braves ahead 2-0. Shortstop Orlando Arcia singled. Kap[rielian struck out Michael Harris for the second out. Ronald Acuna doubled to left center. The ball bounced on one hop over the wall.

Arcia would have scored had the ball not been ruled a ground-rule double. The A’s intentionally walked former A’s slugger Matt Olson to load the bases. Kaprielian hit Ustin Riley with a pitch to force in Arcia with the Braves’ third run. A’s manager brought in lefty Richard Lovelady to pitch. Lovelady retired Travis D’Arnaud for the third out.

The A’s rallied to put two on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Brent Rooker doubled. Braves’ starter Jared Shuster walked Ryan Noda to put two men on with one out. The A’s right-fielder Ramon Laureano singled to plate Rooker with the A’s third run.

Noda went to third on the play. A’s manager Mark Kotsay had Noda running on the next pitch. It was a smart move, as the Braves shortstop had one play. He had to get the runner at first. Noda scored on the play. The Braves lead 3-2 after six complete.

With lefty Ken Waldichuk on the hill for the A’s in the seventh, the Braves put together a single, walk, and another single to make it a 4-2 game. The Q’s failed to score in the seventh, eighth, or ninth innings. The Braves win 4-2.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s record falls to 12-46. The Braves improved to 33-23.

The A’s line was two runs, three hits, and no errors. Atlanta’s line was four runs, seven hits, and one error. 

The winning pitcher was Jared Shuster. Shuster improved to 2-2 for the year. Kapielian took the loss, and he is 0-6.

There was just one home run in Wednesday’s game. The Braves Ozzie Albies homered for the 11th time this year.  

The A’s are off on Thursday. They are headed east to play three games with the Miami Marlins, three with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and three with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Lefty Logan Harris (0-0 ERA 10.13) will pitch for Oakland Friday night against the Marlins. The Marlins will counter with righty Edward Cabrera (3-4 ERA 5.02).

The time of the game was very fast, 2:14. 6429 fans were on hand to watch the A’s lose their 46th game.