TORONTO (AP) Chad Pinder hit his first career grand slam and the Oakland Athletics overcame a four-run deficit, rallying to score five times in the eighth inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Saturday.
The Athletics have homered in all nine games of their current road trip, hitting 18 total home runs. They’re 6-3 on the swing with one game remaining.
The Blue Jays did all their scoring in the fifth. Gio Urshela hit a two-run homer, Yangervis Solarte hit an RBI double and Kevin Pillar added a sacrifice fly.
It stayed that way until the eighth, when Stephen Piscotty hit a one-out RBI single off reliever John Axford.
Tyler Clippard (4-1) came on and retired Dustin Fowler, then walked pinch-hitter Jed Lowrie to load the bases for Pinder, who connected on a 1-1 pitch.
Emilio Pagan (1-0) worked two innings for the win. Lou Trivinio pitched the eighth and Blake Treinen finished for his 10th save in 12 opportunities as Oakland won for the fifth time in six games.
Toronto has lost 11 of 14 at home, including the past five straight.
The bullpen meltdown spoiled a solid effort by Sam Gaviglio, who pitched 5 1-3 shutout innings in his first start for Toronto. Pitching in place of Marcus Stroman, who’s out with shoulder trouble, Gaviglio gave up six hits and walked one.
Oakland left-hander Sean Manaea allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. He has given up four runs each of his past four starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: LHP Brett Anderson (shoulder) was put on the 10-day disabled list and RHP Ryan Dull was recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Anderson left Friday’s start after one inning, becoming the second straight Oakland starter to last fewer than three innings.
Blue Jays: OF Teoscar Hernandez returned after missing the previous two games because of a sore back. … OF Randal Grichuk (right knee) is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week. Grichuk was injured making a diving catch on April 29. … SS Troy Tulowitzki (heel spurs, both feet) has resumed fielding drills and has a follow-up appointment next week with the doctor who performed his April 2 surgery. Tulowitzki has not played since last July.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Daniel Mengden (3-4, 3.75) is 3-2 with a 2.97 ERA in his past seven starts.
Blue Jays: RHP Joe Biagini (0-2, 7.98) is 2-14 with a 6.05 ERA in 21 career starts.
—
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
25% Bonus via Western Union
