Athletics fall short after late rally in loss to Cubs

CHICAGO – A late rally fell short on Monday as the A’s dropped a 6-5 decision to the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a threegame Wrigley Field series. But it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Marcus Semien slammed a pair of homers while Nick Martini had one with bases empty. Chicago’s Javier Baez clubbed two home runs and Nicholas Castellanos and Ian Happ each added solo shots.

The Cubs broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning, touching A’s reliever Blake Treinen for four runs – including home runs from Baez and Happ, a pinch hitter. The A’s scored three times in the eighth but got no closer.

Treinen (6-4) suffered his first loss in his last nine outings dating back to July 17.

A’s starter Chris Bassitt and Cubs right hander Kyle Hendricks each worked through six innings without decisions.

The Cubs went up 1-0 lead in the first on Castellanos’ 12th homer of the season and first since joining Chicago last week in a trade with the Tigers.

Bassitt kept it from getting worse, shutting down a second inning Chicago rally by working out of a bases-loaded jam, striking out Hendricks and leadoff batter Jason

Heyward.

Semien gave the A’s a 2-1 lead in the third with a two-out homer that brought home Jurickson Profar.

Baez clubbed his team-leading 27th homer to lead off the Cubs sixth. The solo shot to left forced a 2-2 tie and led to activity in the A’s bullpen as Bassitt’s pitch count reached 76.

Bassitt did not return for the seventh and Happ greeted Treinen with a towering solo home run to right for a 3-2 Cubs lead. Castellanos made it

4-2 with an RBI double to left-center to drive home Jason Heyward.

Baez collected his 28th homer with a shot to center that also drove in Castellanos to make it 6-2.

The A’s replied with a three-run eighth as Martini slammed a two-run homer to right – his first of the season – while Semien followed with his second homer of the night and 19th of the year.

Semien had another chance in the ninth with two runners on and two out, but flied out to left to end the game.

Bay Area News Group/tns Oakland Athletics' starting pitcher Chris Bassitt delivers against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday in Chicago.