Orioles 6, Athletics 3
Kevin Gausman was dominant over a career-high seven innings while Adam Jones and David Lough each homered and drove in two as host Baltimore evened its three-game series with Oakland.
After collecting his first three major-league wins in relief last season, Gausman (1-1) picked up his first victory as a starter, yielding a run on four hits and a walk while striking out six. Jones finished with two hits – his fourth multi-hit effort in five games – and Lough scored twice as the Orioles won at home for only the third time in 10 tries.
Sonny Gray (6-2) entered the contest with a 5-0 record with a 1.37 ERA in seven road starts since losing at Baltimore on Aug. 25 and was roughed up by the Orioles again, giving up a season-high five runs on four hits and four walks over a season-low 5 1/3 innings. Coco Crisp homered and recorded three of Oakland’s seven hits while Kyle Blanks knocked in a pair with a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning.
Jones gave the Orioles the early advantage in the opening frame when he drove a 3-1 fastball from Gray over the fence in right-center for his second home run in three days before Crisp extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a solo shot in the third. The game remained deadlocked until the fifth when Lough drew a one-out walk and Caleb Joseph followed with an RBI double to deep right.
Gray recovered to retire Ryan Flaherty, but Nick Markakis singled home Joseph and Manny Machado drew a four-pitch walk ahead of Jones, who capped the three-run frame with a run-scoring single to center. Gray departed after walking J.J. Hardy in the sixth and Lough greeted former Baltimore closer Jim Johnson with a two-run blast to right.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland still owns the best road record in the majors at 21-12, but has dropped six of its last nine away from home. … Gausman drew the start in place of Miguel Gonzalez, who was placed on the disabled list on Friday. … Athletics 3B Josh Donaldson entered the contest batting.370 with 10 RBIs in his last eight games against Baltimore, but struck out in all four at-bats.