By Jessica Kwong

NEW YORK–The Oakland Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium with a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees in the series opener on Monday afternoon.

Both teams were scoreless through eight innings in the matinee. The game started in a dramatic fashion, with Yankees manager Aaron Boone getting ejected only five pitches in over a fan’s remark directed at the home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt.

Boone questioned whether Esteury Ruiz swung at the pitch before being hit on the back foot by Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodón’s slider. After a fan from behind the dugout shouted at Wendelstedt, he ejected Boone.

“In the entirety of my career, I have never ejected a player or a manager for something a fan has said. I understand that’s going to be part of a story or something like that because that’s what Aaron was portraying,” stated Wendelstedt.

“I heard something come from the far end of the dugout, had nothing to do with his area but he’s the manager of the Yankees. So he’s the one that had to go.”

Rodón and Oakland’s starting pitcher JP Sears were both working toward shutouts.

Sears, who pitched six innings, said it was “obviously a good day, feeling good”. Sears said he was “trying to mix it up really well. I think it worked out early on. I was able to get my sinker in there kind of middle of the game to the righty, and I just feel like I used that to the point really well.”

At the top of the ninth inning, the A’s edged their opponent out.

Zack Gelof hit a home run on a fly ball to right center field, allowing Abraham Toro to score and putting Oakland up 2-0. A’s manager Mark Kotsay said he dropped Gelof down the order to try to get him comfortable and relaxed, and the result was great.

“I say Zack’s been grinding and hasn’t had the success he started out with last year but a big day for him,” said Kotsay. “You know he’s had his issues with lefties as well, so to see him go off on a lefty, on a really good lefty, is a good sign.”

Gelof, who came in 3-for-19 against left-handed pitchers, said “it’s something that I focused on in the offseason”.

Mason Miller earned his fifth save this season after striking out three batters and pitching a scoreless ninth inning. It was his first time tossing at Yankee Stadium.

“Walking around before the game, it’s got a different air about it, for sure,” said Miller.

The A’s (9-14) are 1-3 to start their 10-game road trip. They are 7-14 in 21 games against the Yankees (15-8) since the beginning of the 2021 season.

A crowd of 30,366 was in attendance at Yankee Stadium for the first in the four-game series.

Starting pitchers for game two for Tuesday at Yankee Stadium for the A’s Paul Blackburn (2-0 ERA 1.08) for the Yankees Marcus Stroman (1-1 ERA 2.42) both pitchers with decent ERAs first pitch is at 4:05 p.m PDT.