OAKLAND, Calif. — Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run homer while playing with a sore right wrist, and the AL wild card-leading Athletics beat the Orioles 3-2 last night to prevent Baltimore from moving into sole possession of first place in the AL East.
Jonny Gomes hit a go-ahead RBI single in the fifth to back A’s rookie Tommy Milone in the opener of a key series between playoff contenders. Oakland (83-61) received a clubhouse visit before the game from pitcher Brandon McCarthy, more than a week after he was struck in the head with a line drive and had surgery.
The Orioles (81-63) remained tied atop the division with the Yankees, who lost 6-4 at home to the Rays.
Milone (13-10) allowed one earned run over 6 1/3 innings to win for the fourth time in five starts. He induced three double plays, allowed six hits, struck out two and walked two. His 13 wins are an Oakland rookie record.
Athletics starters have walked three or fewer batters in 43 straight games.
McCarthy, the team’s opening-day starter, was hit in the head by a liner from the Angels’ Erick Aybar on Sept. 5 and had surgery. He was released from the hospital Tuesday.
Gomes had everybody sign a batting helmet for the pitcher with the words “heads up” written on the bill.
Cespedes, the rookie from Cuba, blasted his 19th homer. That gave Oakland 85 home runs since the All-Star break.
Cespedes played left field and batted cleanup a day after leaving a loss to the Angels in the fifth inning after injuring his right wrist on a slide.
“I’m going to rest after we get a championship,” Cespedes said. “I’m going to be in the lineup every day.”
Chris Davis then tied it at 2 when he hit his 26th home run leading off the fifth.
The sellout crowd of 35,067 — a big turnout for fireworks night — booed Baltimore starter Joe Saunders (2-2) when he intentionally walked Cespedes in the fifth.