Oakland Athletics' Tony Kemp #5 celebrates with teammates after hitting an RBI walk-off single in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The A’s won the game 4-3.(Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
By BEN ROSS | Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Tony Kemp hit a game-ending single in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 4-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night.
With the score tied 3-all, Ryan Noda led off the ninth with a walk against James Karinchak (0-2). Noda advanced to second on a groundout by Esteury Ruiz before Kemp singled him home.
Ruiz and Jace Peterson also drove in runs to help Oakland snap a six-game home losing streak to Cleveland.
Trevor May (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
Gabriel Arias homered for the Guardians, who lost for the first time since opening day, snapping a four-game win streak. José Ramírez had an RBI double.
Ruiz doubled in Noda to put the A’s ahead 1-0 in the third. Peterson added a sacrifice fly two batters later.
Cleveland tied it in the fourth on an RBI groundout by Josh Naylor and Arias’ solo homer off Oakland starter JP Sears, who allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Ramírez gave the Guardians their first lead in the fifth on a pop-fly double to shallow center. The ball bounced off Kemp’s glove as he nearly collided with Ruiz charging in from center field.
The A’s pulled even in the sixth when Seth Brown reached on a dropped third strike, allowing Kemp to score from third.
Cleveland ace Shane Bieber gave up three runs in six innings with seven strikeouts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn (torn fingernail) will begin a rehab assignment Friday at Class A Stockton. He is expected to throw approximately 35 pitches.
UP NEXT
RHP Hunter Gaddis (0-0, 9.82 ERA) pitches Wednesday afternoon for Cleveland in the series finale. Oakland counters with LHP Kyle Muller (0-0, 1.80).
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears #38 throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Cleveland Guardians Mike Zunino #10 strikes out against Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears #38 in the third inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears #38 walks off the mound as Cleveland Guardians’ Gabriel Arias #13 rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Cleveland Guardians’ Gabriel Arias #13 celebrates after hitting a solo home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears #38 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Carlos Perez #44 scores on a sacrifice fly by Jace Peterson #6 in the third inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Esteury Ruiz #1 attempts a bunt in the third inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Ramon Laureano #22 is safe at second base after hitting a double as Cleveland Guardians’ second baseman Andres Gimenez #0 takes the throw in the seventh inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Trevor May #65 throws against the Cleveland Guardians in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Cleveland Guardians’ Myles Straw #7 tosses his helmet after striking out against Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Trevor May #65 in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Ryan Noda #49 is safe at second base while watching the throw to first base as Cleveland Guardians shortstop Amed Rosario #1 looks on in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp #5 hits an RBI walk-off single in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Ryan Noda #49 scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Mike Zunino #10 on an RBI walk-off single by Tony Kemp #5 in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Ryan Noda #49 celebrates after scoring on an RBI walk-off single by Tony Kemp #5 in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp #5 celebrates with teammates after hitting an RBI walk-off single in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Cleveland Guardians at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. The A’s won the game 4-3.(Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Originally published at Associated Press
