Athletics 5, Yankees 4
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Third baseman Brett Lawrie and center fielder Billy Burns each homered, and the Oakland A's came from behind to defeat the New York Yankees 5-4 Thursday night at the O.co Coliseum.
Burns hit a solo shot in the fifth inning and Lawrie a game tying two-run blast in the sixth as the A's ended their two-game skid and snapped the Yankees' three-game winning streak. The Yankees lost for the 10th time in their past 11 games in Oakland.
A's relievers Fernando Abad and Evan Scribner combined to blank the Yankees over 2 1/3 innings. Abad was perfect for two-thirds of an inning and Scribner for 1 2/3 innings, earning the victory. Closer Tyler Clippard gave up a run in the ninth when center fielder Brett Gardner doubled home pinch hitter Garrett Jones, who had walked with two outs. But Clippard retired third baseman Chase Headley on a deep fly to center, recording his fifth save.
Catcher Brian McCann went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBIs for the Yankees. Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez had his 1,996th career RBI, moving into a tie with Barry Bonds for second place on baseball's all-time list.
Oakland right-hander Kendall Graveman had his second straight solid start since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Graveman allowed three runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings and received a no-decision. He struck out four and walked two. Graveman, who made the Opening Day roster but was sent down after his first four starts, threw six shutout innings in a 5-0 victory against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia (2-7), a native of nearby Vallejo, had another rough start against Oakland, taking the loss and falling to 8-11 for his career against the A's. Sabathia gave up five runs on eight hits, including two home runs, over six innings. In his previous start this season he gave up six runs on seven hits and lasted a season low 2 1/3 innings in a 15-4 loss to Texas.
The Yankees led 3-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but Oakland pulled even on Lawrie's two-run blast off Sabathia into the left field seats. Second baseman Ben Zobrist led off the inning with a double to left, and Lawrie homered with two outs.
The A's scored two more runs in the seventh, taking a 5-3 lead. Catcher Josh Phegley hit a leadoff single, and left fielder Mark Canha walked, ending Sabathia's night. With one out, shortstop Marcus Semien grounded a single to left off right-hander David Carpenter, loading the bases. Carpenter walked Zobrist, forcing in a run. Then designated hitter Billy Butler hit a sacrifice fly to center.
McCann gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, launching a solo home run with one out into the right field seats off Graveman. McCann extended his home run streak to three games, and he has had at least one RBI in each of his past six games.
The Yankees extended their lead to 2-0 in the fourth. Rodriguez grounded a leadoff single to left and moved to second when first baseman Mark Teixeira walked. McCann singled to center, driving in Rodriguez, who was initially ruled out before the call was overturned after a Yankees challenge.
A's center fielder Billy Burns' throw home to catcher Josh Phegley was up the third base line, and Rodriguez sidestepped the tag, then dived and reached toward the plate, barely touching it with his fingertips. Plate umpire Ed Hickox thought Rodriguez missed the plate and called him out when Phegley tagged him, but replays proved otherwise.
The Yankees made it 3-0 in the fifth when left fielder Brett Gardner hit a one-out single, moved to third on third baseman Chase Headley's single and scored on Rodriguez's sacrifice fly.
Burns cut the Yankees' lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth, lining a home room to left off Sabathia with two outs.
NOTES: Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka (right wrist tendinitis, mild right forearm strain) was expected to fly to the Bay Area on Thursday night, and he likely will rejoin the rotation Tuesday or Wednesday at Seattle. "We'll evaluate him tomorrow," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "Today he felt fine." ... Yankees CF Slade Heathcott was a late scratch from the starting lineup due to a tight right quadriceps. Chris Young replaced Heathcott. ... A's LHP Scott Kazmir (tight left shoulder) underwent an MRI exam Wednesday that showed no structural damage. However, manager Bob Melvin said Kazmir was scheduled to be examined by doctors Thursday, and he wasn't sure if the veteran would avoid the disabled list. ... A's CF Coco Crisp (neck strain) is expected to get an epidural injection Friday, which probably would keep him from baseball activities for at least another month, Melvin said.