Rosales drives in two in the ninth to lift A’s past Tigers
Down to its last strike, struggling team rallies for a walk-off win
OAKLAND — Down to their last strike in the ninth inning Saturday night, the A’s appeared destined for their 10th loss in 12 games, continuing their rapid descent in the American League West.
A short time later, after Adam Rosales delivered a first-pitch two-run single off Detroit closer Francisco Rodriguez, the A’s had prevailed 6-5 over the Tigers, exchanging any feelings of doom for a raucous on-field celebration before a crowd of 16,651.
Rosales, still wearing the remnants of a shaving cream pie, didn’t mind the pummeling considering the end result.
“It was awesome. I loved it,” Rosales said. “That’s what you always want to feel, that emotion.”
It looked as if the A’s had little chance for such an ending. They trailed 54 when Rodriguez opened the ninth inning by striking out Yonder Alonso, who up to that point had supplied most of the power with two home runs and three RBIs.
Rodriguez then got Ryon Healy on a line out to left, bringing up catcher Bruce Maxwell. Maxwell started off 0-2, then somehow drew a walk.
Next up was Matt Joyce, who doubled into the right field corner, sending Maxwell to third. Rosales was next, he got the fastball he was looking for, and he delivered the game-winning hit.
“Two outs, an 0-2 count, a great at-bat by Maxwell to get on base, and now you have some sort of life,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Joycie hits the double, and Rosie was aggressive on the first pitch. What a night. A lot of contributions, man. We used just about everyone we had.”
Frankie Montas, a right-hander who pitched a scoreless top of the ninth with one strikeout and a fastball that broke 100 mph, got his first major league win.
Montas and the rest of the A’s bullpen picked up for starter Jesse Hahn, who threw 101 pitches in 32⁄3 innings and trailed 41 when he departed. He was followed in order by Daniel Coulombe, Liam Hendriks, Ryan Dull and Ryan Madson with the Tigers getting just one more run.
“I obviously didn’t have a feel for anything,” Hahn said. “Didn’t have command of my fastball, didn’t have a feel for my offspeed stuff. It was a battle for me the whole time.”
At the end of the game, Hahn was on a couch in the clubhouse, cheering with teammates.
“At this point in time, that was exactly what we needed,” Hahn said. “That’s how win streaks start. Great team win right there. Everyone had each other’s backs. That’s what it’s all about.”
Until the big finish, it appeared the A’s were wasting another in a string of big games by Alonso, who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a tworun shot in the sixth.
It was the first twohomer game of Alonso’s career.
“I’m just glad we got the win, that’s really all that matters,” Alonso said. “It wouldn’t have meant anything if we would have lost.”
With eight home runs, Alonso has surpassed last year’s season total of seven and is one shy of his career high of nine with the San Diego Padres in 2012. In his last 16 games, Alonso has seven home runs and 15 RBIs, and he drove in five of the A’s first six runs of the homestand.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-run triple by Andrew Romine and an RBI single by Nick Castellanos.
Healy, who made two errors in that inning, answered back with a solo home run in the bottom of the inning off Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann.
Sean Manaea breezed n through a 38-pitch bullpen session and is nearing a return from the disabled list with a shoulder strain.
“I felt like I was trying to go 100 percent and everything felt, really, really good,” Manaea said. “I don’t know what the timetable is yet, but we’re going to discuss that and lay out a plan for the upcoming week. I felt really happy with everything. The pitches were there, the mechanics were good.”
Melvin said Manaea threw “really good. it’s the best he’s felt. We’ll make a decision what we’re going to do, whether it’s going to be one rehab start to make sure we’re past this or put him a game.”
Catcher Josh Phegley, n placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list on May 4, caught two bullpen sessions and took batting practice.
Right-handed pitcher n Daniel Mengden, who has missed all season recovering from right foot surgery, will throw 60 pitches for Triple-A Nashville on Monday. Chris Bassitt, recovering from Tommy John surgery nearly a year ago, will throw 75 pitches on Tuesday.
Reliever John Axford, n who has missed all season with a shoulder strain, is tentatively scheduled for a bullpen session Tuesday.