Swanson’s doubles lead Atlanta past Athletics
OAKLAND, Calif. — Dansby Swanson learned in college not to carry the memory of fielding miscues to the plate, a lesson the Atlanta shortstop has taken to heart during his first full season in the majors.
After committing his team-leading 14th error in the second inning against Oakland on Saturday, Swanson came back with two big at-bats to keep the Braves rolling.
He hit a tiebreaking double off closer Santiago Casilla in the ninth inning to drive in Danny Santana — one of two unearned runs scored by Atlanta — and the Braves held on to beat the Athletics 4-3 for their second straight win at Oakland Alameda Coliseum.
“Whenever you don’t execute something that you should, it can kind of stay with you,” Swanson said, “but it’s something I take pride in — mental toughness and trying to move past things like that. I’m never one to throw things or lose my cool, but I have certain little things that I can do to help me get over things like that.”
Santana had two hits, two runs and three stolen bases, and Matt Adams added a sacrifice fly in his return to the lineup as Atlanta won for the 10th time in 14 games.
“It’s amazing how they never get done, just keep coming back, and it’s always somebody different,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of his players. “It’s not one guy carrying, it’s everybody doing their job.”
Atlanta led 3-1 behind knuckleballer R.A. Dickey before Khris Davis hit a tying two-run home run off Arodys Vizcaino in the eighth.
After Johan Camargo struck out swinging against Casilla (1-3) to open the ninth, Santana reached base on Oakland shortstop Franklin Barreto’s second error of the game. Santana stole second, then scored when Swanson doubled down the left-field line.
Swanson also had an RBI double in the seventh.
“It just kind of shows what this team’s about,” Swanson said. “We just go about our business and try not to let the game dictate what we’re trying to do. We just keep going at it and keep going at it.”
Sam Freeman (1-0) retired two batters for the win. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his 18th save.
Ryon Healy singled twice and had an RBI for the A’s, who have lost four straight.
The home run by Davis was his 22nd this season and spoiled a solid outing by Dickey, who allowed one run over six innings and was in position to earn his third straight win.
A’s rookie starter Paul Blackburn grew up about 45 minutes east of Oakland and had numerous friends and family in attendance. He allowed one unearned run over six mostly strong innings. The 23-year-old right-hander, who hit Brandon Phillips with the 10th pitch of the game, gave up three hits with four strikeouts.
“It honestly wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be,” Blackburn said. “Last night, just sitting there thinking about everything, I couldn’t really sleep, but I was excited and I didn’t have as much nerves as I thought I was going to have.”