OAKLAND -- The A's brought the potential game-winning run to the plate in Thursday's 9-6 loss to the Orioles after loading the bases against the toughest closer in the American League. Four innings earlier, simply getting to that point seemed like a daunting challenge.
Baltimore finally cracked Oakland's pitching after three days of futility, scoring three runs in the fourth inning off Andrew Triggs prior to Mark Trumbo's grand slam in the fifth. That gave the Orioles a 7-0 lead, and they were up 9-2 after seven innings.
But Max Muncy homered to lead off the eighth, Yonder Alonso drove in two runs off Orioles setup man Darren O'Day, and Billy Butler added an RBI single.