Newcomers come up huge for A's in 4-2 win over Cardinals

The spotlight of Tanner Roark’s Oakland debut occurred when the right-hander struck out Marcell Ozuna with the bases loaded to finish a 35-pitch third inning.

It got here instantly after Roark labored by means of a protracted at-bat in opposition to Paul Goldschmidt, and set the tone for what the right-hander described as a “grinder” of a day.

“Simply how we drew it up,” Roark stated with a smile.

Roark pitched 5 innings of one-run ball, and the Athletics beat Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Sunday.

Jurickson Profar linked for his 15th homer because the A’s gained for the sixth time in seven video games. Dustin Garneau had two hits and two RBIs after he was claimed off waivers Saturday.

Roark (7-7) allowed 4 hits, struck out six and walked two. He pitched out of a pair of jams in his first begin since he was acquired in a commerce with Cincinnati at Wednesday’s deadline.

The Cardinals twice had two on and two out in opposition to Roark however failed to attain every time. Ozuna struck out within the third, and Matt Carpenter struck out swinging within the fourth.

“He is a bulldog,” A’s supervisor Bob Melvin stated. “He did not need any a part of popping out of that sport after 4. He felt nice. If I might have ran him on the market for the sixth he’d have been all for it.”

Roark fanned Ozuna after a 14-pitch battle in opposition to Goldschmidt. The NL Participant of the Month for July, Goldschmidt fouled off eight consecutive pitches earlier than drawing a stroll.

“Physique language can play an enormous half in a 35-pitch inning,” Roark stated. “It’s a must to have that no-emotion (look). You possibly can’t give in. When you give in, that is whenever you get beat.”

Liam Hendriks retired three batters for his 11th save.

Garneau additionally got here up huge in his second stint with the A’s after being placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Angels. He singled main off the third, hit a go-ahead two-run double off Wainwright within the fourth and walked and scored on a wild pitch within the eighth. Garneau performed 19 video games with the A’s in 2017.

St. Louis fell 1½ video games again of NL Central-leading Chicago, which swept Milwaukee with a 7-2 victory.

Wainwright (7-8) struggled along with his command a lot of the afternoon. The correct-hander hit two batters, walked three and allowed three runs in 5 2/Three innings.

“I used to be a little bit too effective with my pitches,” Wainwright stated. “They did an excellent job of getting in some counts and drawing walks off us all day. That is what they do, they try to wait you out and put you in unhealthy counts.”

Paul DeJong homered for the Cardinals, who misplaced every of their 4 video games in opposition to the A’s this season.

Carpenter was 1 for five with two strikeouts in his first sport again off the injured checklist. Carpenter missed 17 video games with a bruised proper foot.

Profar linked within the sixth, belting a towering drive that landed halfway up the staircase past the wall in proper discipline.

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“It is type of a learn-as-you-go type of deal. See what pitches are working for him and the place we all know we will assault their hitters. He actually had all 4 pitches working for him so it made calling a sport in opposition to that good lineup simpler.” – Garneau, on catching Roark for the primary time in his profession.

FREEBIES

St. Louis issued 15 walks within the two-game collection.

“That is why you lose two in a row,” supervisor Mike Shildt stated. “In a means, we’re enjoying in opposition to ourselves. In opposition to groups which might be disciplined you need to be within the strike zone. All of their runs had been self-inflicted.”

BUT WE’RE FRIENDS

Stephen Piscotty was hit by a pitch from Wainwright within the fourth, proper after Wainwright plunked Mark Canha. Piscotty, who spent his first three seasons in St. Louis, was hit by a pitch from Dakota Hudson on Saturday.

CARDINALS MOVES

St. Louis recalled right-hander Ryan Helsley from Triple-A Memphis, optioned first baseman Rangel Ravelo to its high farm membership and designated right-hander Mike Mayers for project.

TRAINERS ROOM

Cardinals: C Yadier Molina, who has not performed for the Cardinals since July 6 due to a strained proper thumb tendon, started a minor league rehabilitation project with Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Shildt expects the nine-time All-Star again by mid-August.

Athletics: Left-hander Sean Manaea has been shut down due to ache in his proper aspect, though Melvin indicated it wasn’t critical. Manaea had an analogous challenge in late June and recovered shortly.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (6-4, 5.15 ERA) returns to the beginning rotation in opposition to the Dodgers on Monday. Wacha pitched out of the bullpen in his three earlier appearances.

Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (7-5, 3.84 ERA) begins in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on Monday for the primary time in his profession. Bassitt is 2-1 because the All-Star break.

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