New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole pitched nine innings and struck out seven batters in their win over the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum Fri Sep 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

New York (AL, 80-64). 000 010 000 3. 4. 8. 0

Athletics (67-87). 000 100 000 1. 2. 3. 0. 10 innings

Time: 2:36

Attendance: 23,426

Friday, September 20, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–There were some chants of “Let’s go, Yankees” this crisp Friday evening at the Coliseum, but there also were boos for Aaron Judge and plenty of unexpectedly loud and assertive urgings of “Let’s go, Oakland.”

We hadn’t heard a mixture like that on the shores of the Nimitz River in years. The balance of decibels shifted dramatically when the visitors broke open what had been a 1-1 tie between the playoff bound Yanks and the Sacramento bound A’s, putting three runs across the plate to take a 4-1 lead and eventually take the game, 4-2. Judge, by the way, went hitless.

JT Ginn, who made his big league debut this past August 21, pitched five strong innings for the Athletics, not outstanding but nothing like what you’d expect from a 25 year old rookie with 0-1, 4.95 record. Ginn allowed one run (it was earned) on four hits and a walk, throwing 78 pitches, 46 for strikes to 18 pinstripers. Ginn wasn’t involved in the decision but lowered his ERA by more than half a run, bringing it down to 4.40.

The A’s bullpen was effective through the regulation nine frames, with Michel Otáñez, Scott Alexander, Tyler Ferguson, and Mason Miller throwing an inning apiece of shutout ball. Alexander yielded the only Yankee hit over that span, and Otáñez and Miller were the only ones in the quartet to issue a walk.

It was TJ McFarland, pitching two thirds of an inning in the 10th, who couldn’t handle the Yankees’ offense, and you really couldn’t blame him. He gave up a lead off single to Anthony Rizzo that sent zombie runner Jasson Domínguez to third.

Juan Soto, pinch hitting for Tristan Grisham, was at bat when Domínguez scored and Cabrera, pinch running for Rizzo, advanced to second on a passed ball. Soto then smacked a two bagger to left, driving in Cabrera.

Jon Berti ran for Soto, and he scored on Anthony Volpe’s single to right. After Alex Verdugo sacrificed Volpe to second, the A’s called on Grant Holman, who stopped the hemorrhage by striking out Gleyber Torres and retiring Austin Wells on a fly to center.

There must be some sort of a jinx on winning the 2023 Cy Young Award. The National League’s winner was Blake Snell,whose travials with the Giants are well known to fans in the Bay Area. The AL winner, Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, started Friday night. He spent the first 75 games of this season on the injured list, courtesy of an inflamed right shoulder.

Did I mention that he’s a righty? Cole brought a 6-5, 3.97 record to the game—hardly Cy Young numbers—and pitched a beautiful nine innings, needing only 99 pitches (68 strikes) and allowing a measly two hits and a walk.

The A’s managed to score and run, and it was earned. In fact, Gerrit didn’t allow an Athletic to reach base safely until Lawrence Butler opened the bottom of the fourth with a 1-0 single to center. The A’s right fielder paid tribute to Friday night’s bobblehead honoree by stealing second and scoring a Rickie run on Sean Langeliers’ RBI single two outs later.

That brief advantage didn’t last long. Ginn weakened in the top of the fifth and issued a two out walk. Back to back singles by Trent Grisham and Anthony Volpe restored the balance. You already know what happened to upset that balance.

The A’s had a shot at making up for their tenth inning meltdown, but all they could muster was a single tally when JJ Bleday led off by singling the placed runner, Brent Rooker, home with a futile run. Luke Weaver earned his third save by fanning Shea Langliers, Seth Brown, and Zack Gelof to end the game.

The three game series will resume Saturday evening at 6:07pm PT, with a battle of southpaws between the Athletics’ JP Sears (11-11, 4.24) and the Yankees’ Carlos Rodón (15-9, 4.12)