Suzuki homers twice as Braves sweep Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. — Kurt Suzuki’s first home run against his former team made the Atlanta catcher smile. The second felt even better and extended the Braves’ recent run of good fortune.
It was just another twist in Atlanta’s up-and-down season.
Suzuki led off the 12th inning with his second home run of Sunday’s game, lifting the Braves over the Oakland Athletics 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep.
“It gives you a little extra adrenaline, I guess you could say,” Suzuki said. “I got a little bit of cheers in the beginning of the game. I know the coaching staff over there. I’ve played for those guys. It’s a good adrenaline feel coming around the bases.”
One inning after Atlanta closer Jim Johnson blew a save for the sixth time this season, Suzuki lined a shot to left on a 3-1 pitch from John Axford (0-1). Suzuki also homered off starter Sean Manaea to begin the second.
It’s the third multihomer game of Suzuki’s career but first since 2011, when he was with Oakland. The shots helped Atlanta finish its sixgame West Coast trip on a positive note after a rocky beginning.
“Couldn’t happen to a better guy,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Big hit after big hit all year for him. It’s nice to see when good things happen to the good guys.”
Johnson (6-1) got the win despite three walks, and Arodys Vizcaino retired three batters for his second save. Vizcaino got Franklin Barreto to
fly out with two runners on to end it.
The Braves wasted leads of 2-0 and 3-2 but held on to win for the 11th time in 15 games.
Khris Davis hit his 23rd home run and reached base four times for the A’s, who have lost five straight. They wasted multiple opportunities to win in extra innings, including stranding two runners in the 10th. In the 11th, Rajai Davis struck out looking with the bases loaded.
“We maximized our opportunity in one inning and we didn’t come through, and that cost us,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “(Suzuki) is smart, and he knows when to look for a fastball and get the head out, and he did both times.”
Atlanta took a 3-2 lead when Matt Kemp doubled off the wall in center with two outs in the 11th as Oakland rookie Jaycob Brugman attempted to make a leaping catch but missed. Bruce Maxwell’s RBI single off Johnson in the bottom of the inning tied it.
On the injury front, Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman played third base Saturday as he began his rehab assignment with Class AAA Gwinnett. He had a walk and a strikeout in two plate appearances before the game was suspended due to rain.
He is next expected to play today after taking Sunday off. Freeman, a first baseman since breaking into the majors at the start of the decade, has missed 44 games with a fractured left wrist.