It took the Oakland Athletics (20-58) flying north of the border in order for them to finally win their 20th game of the season and break an eight-game losing streak, but that's precisely what they did on a random Friday by beating the Toronto Blue Jays (41-36) 5-4 on the road.
After winning seven consecutive games, capping that masterful run with a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on June 13 in celebration of the Oakland faithful's organized Reverse Boycott... the A's never again won a game.
It took them losing eight straight before they could finally find lightning in a bottle on Friday, June 23, when they visited the powerhouse Blue Jays in their very own country and went on to beat them thanks to one single run in the final inning.
The A's started strong, put together three runs in the first frame right off the bat (literally), and hold the lead until the bottom of the third inning when Toronto took it thanks to a four-run half inning of their own.
TK continues to amaze on defense pic.twitter.com/aLbBIMRfXi
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 24, 2023
Tony Kemp got the party started early in the first with a single and a stolen second base. Kemp led off all A's batters with Esteury Ruiz getting a day off. JJ Bleday homered a two-run ball and made it 2-0 A's only for Shea Langeliers to bring Aledmys Diaz home later on the first frame.
Danny Jansen doubled for the Jays in the bottom of the third and Kevin Kiermaier hit an RBI double, cutting the A's lead to 3-1. George Springer walked, and Bo Bichette grounded into a force out. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a three-run home run, the first for him this year in Canada, putting the Blue Jays ahead 4-3.
Recent call-up Conner Capel was hit by a pitch in the fifth, which would turn out to be the game-tying event of the affair after JJ Bleday hit a sac fly that allowed Capel to reach the home plate.
Shea BANGeliers for the lead 💥 pic.twitter.com/3UfjhJV44p
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 24, 2023
Nothing happened until the ninth inning arrived. Veteran Jace Peterson lined and all hopes were nearly lost. Until Shea Langeliers stepped up to the plate, of course. Langy hit a solo bomb, put the A's ahead boasting a commanding 5-4 lead, and that was it for the Jays and the visiting Athletics.
Trevor May recorded the save, his fourth of the season, allowing just one hit in one inning pitched. He followed on James Kaprielian's strong (barring that fifth inning) performance in which he went six-deep allowing four runs on six hits while striking out eight hitters with only one walk given.
Sam Moll pitched one frame filled with zeros and Lucas Erceg (2-0) got the win for the A's throwing 17 pitches through an inning and striking out the three men he faced then and there.
Your superheroes stay in Canada for the weekend, facing the Blue Jays again on Saturday with an earlier first-pitch time in a matchup that will pit rookie Hogan Harris (2-1, 4.45 ERA) and ace Jose Berrios (7-5, 3.64) against each other.
The A's will try to escape the back-to-back weekend games without reaching 60 losses on the year, which would mean beating the Blue Jays in at least one of the next two games. Let's go get it, folks!