Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers hits a three-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Sep 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

Photo courtesy of Oakland A’s Twitter.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- After losing yesterday to the Tigers the A’s bounced back winning by a final of 8-2.

Getting the start for Oakland was Ken Waldichuk who coming in had a 3-8 record with a 5.25 era. While Detroit had Sawyer Gipson-Long on the mound who had a 1-0 record with a 2.70 era.

Scoring got going quickly for the A’s as in the first inning Ryan Noda singled and Zack Gelof doubled getting in a run.

Things quieted down until the fifth inning when after Javier Baiz got a double Carson Kelly homered on a 1-1 pitch giving the Lions the lead 2-1.

Once again both offensives slowed down until the bottom of the six when Detroit brought on Will Vest in relief of Gipson-Long. That first pitch would be launched right back out into the stands by Brent Rooker who got his 29th home run of the season tying the game up at two.

The fun didn’t stop for the A’s though as Tony Kemp reached on an error and then Lawrence Butler singled. On the play though unfortunately for Oakland Kemp rolled his ankle meaning he was only able to hobble to first on a ball that could’ve been double. Thankfully for the green-and-white Kemp ended up being alright and stayed in the game.

With the pressure mounting Tyler Holton came in to replace Vest and the A’s made a change as well bringing in Shea Langeliers to pinch hit. That move ended up paying off for Oakland as on a 2-0 pitch Langeliers launched one to left field making it 5-2. That home run was Langelier’s 21st of the season.

The A’s found some insurance in the seventh when with the bases loaded Esteury Ruiz poked one to right field scoring two. Ruiz would not be done there as he then stole second and third which brought his total stolen bases up to 63. One more run was brought home by the A’s as Lawrence Butler got a run home on a sac fly making it 8-2.

That score ended up being the final as Waldichuk got the victory and Vest took the loss.

The third game of this home series for the A’s will be played Saturday at 1:07 p.m. Starting pitchers for the Tigers TBA and for the Oakland A’s Joe Boyle (0-0 ERA 0.00) at the Oakland Coliseum.