A’s settle for road HR mark, split
Team homers in 25th straight away game, a loss to Chicago
CHICAGO >> The A’s are the proud owners of a major league record for home runs in 25 consecutive road games.
But they would have also liked to depart Chicago with a victory to go with it instead of settling for a fourgame split.
Mark Canha’s fifth-inning solo home run marked the 25th straight road game with at least one A’s homer, breaking the big league record of 24 shared with the 1996 Baltimore Orioles.
“It would have been nice if we won the game and set the record, but it shows we have some power,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
But right-handed starter Paul Blackburn (1-2) was hit for five runs in a decisive fifth inning and departed after allowing another in the sixth as Chicago claimed a 10-3 decision and a two wins in the four-game series at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The A’s now have a major leagues-
leading 68 home runs away from the Coliseum and 104 among the current active roster.
Canha owns 10 of them, and he accounted for two of the A’s first runs.
The A’s opened a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Canha’s sacrifice scored Matt Olson. Canha then slugged his 10th homer of the year — a solo shot to left in the fifth — for a 2-0 lead and the new major league mark.
The White Sox replied with five runs in the bottom of the inning, with a three-run double by Yoan Moncada followed by RBI singles from Avisail Garcia and Jose Abreu. Daniel Palka’s sixth-inning solo home run with one out made it 6-2 and prompted Blackburn’s departure.
Yolmer Sanchez then greeted reliever Liam Hendriks with a solo home run to right-center for a 7-2 Chicago lead. With two out, Hendriks gave up a threerun homer to Moncada as the White Sox opened a 10-2 lead.
Blackburn gave up six runs (all earned) on eight hits while striking out four.
White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon (1-2) picked up his first win since Aug. 21, 2017. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits and struck out three over eight innings.
“The first four innings, even the last innings, I felt good,” Blackburn said. “Then it went downhill.”
• Before Sunday’s game, the A’s also added pitching help with the arrival of veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson.
Jackson, 34, joined the A’s from Triple-A Nashville and is scheduled to start today’s opener of a four-game series in Detroit.
The A’s are Jackson’s 13th big league club since 2003, his rookie season with the Dodgers. He’s 98-120 with a 4.67 career ERA and was 5-6 with the Nationals last season.
Washington released Jackson on June 1 and the A’s signed him to a minor league contract on June 6, assigning him to the Sounds.
“From what I understand, he’s a terrific gentleman and another great resource for the younger guys to see how he goes about his business,” Melvin said.
Today’s original starter — right-hander Frankie Montas (4-1, 2.41 ERA) — moves to Tuesday’s second game while left-hander Sean Manaea is now scheduled for Wednesday.
• Right-handed starter Daniel Mengden is back home to have his sprained right foot examined.
He left after two innings on Saturday with a right foot sprain and is still listed as Thursday’s starter.
“He’ll get it checked out at home and then we’ll see where we go from there,” Melvin said.