Pirates win in Oakland for first time
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jordy Mercer, Josh Harrison and Matt Joyce each had two hits, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to defeat the Oakland A's 7-3 at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night.
The Pirates beat the A's in Oakland for the first time in seven tries and improved to 2-11 overall in the interleague series.
Left-hander Jeff Locke (8-5) allowed three runs on three hits over five innings and extended his winning streak to three games. He struck out three, walked three and threw 95 pitches.
In his previous two starts, Locke went 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, six strikeouts and zero walks. He wasn't nearly that sharp against Oakland, but he didn't need to be with the way the Pirates were hitting, especially at the bottom of the order.
Mercer, the No. 8 hitter, went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBIs. Harrison, who hit seventh, went 2-for-4 with a two-run double. Hitting sixth, Joyce had two hits in four at-bats, scored twice and drove in a run.
A's right-hander Sonny Gray (3-7) lost his career-high sixth consecutive game, and he hasn't won since April 22 at Toronto. Gray gave up a season-high-tying seven runs on seven hits over six innings. He struck out four, walked one, hit a batter and threw two wild pitches, giving him a major-league-high 13.
Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer, and Jed Lowrie had an RBI double and scored a run for the A's.
After spotting Oakland a 3-0 lead through the first two innings, Pittsburgh scored seven unanswered runs. The Pirates scored one run in the third inning, one in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth after Gray retired the first two batters. Joyce had an RBI single and Harrison a two-run double in the fifth.
A.J. Schugel threw a scoreless sixth inning for the Pirates, and Arquimedes Caminero pitched two perfect innings, striking out the last four A's he faced. Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth, extending the bullpen's streak of scoreless innings to 24 2/3.
Semien gave Oakland a 2-0 lead in the first inning, hammering a home run after Lowrie worked a leadoff walk. Semien's home run was his 17th of the season -- an ongoing career high -- and second in two days. Semien crushed Locke's 3-2 pitch over the left-center-field fence.
The A's extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning. With two outs, Yonder Alonso beat the shift with a bunt single down the third base, and Lowrie brought him home with a double off the left field wall.
Mercer cut Oakland's lead to 3-1 in the third, hitting a home run with one out. He lined Gray's 2-1 fastball over the left field fence for his fifth homer of the season. The home run was Pittsburgh's first hit of the game and came after Gray retired the first seven batters he faced.
The Pirates made it 3-2 in the fourth when Andrew McCutchen lined a double with one out, moved to third on a ground out and scored on Gray's 12th wild pitch of the season.
Pittsburgh scored two more times in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. Joyce and Harrison opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Mercer singled Joyce home. Harrison stole third and scored when Chris Stewart grounded into a force out.
NOTES: The Athletics optioned LHP Dillon Overton to Triple-A Nashville and recalled INF/OF Tyler Ladendorf on Friday. ... Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (right triceps strain) pitched a simulated game Friday in Oakland. Cole was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 14, retroactive to June 11. Cole said he went through his normal pregame routine then threw 45-to-50 pitches over two innings. ... Pirates RHP Ryan Vogelsong (facial fractures) pitched a simulated game. He has been on the 60-day disabled list since May 24. ... A's OF Jake Smolinski made his first career major league start and appearance in center field. ... A's LF Khris Davis returned to the starting lineup after missing two games with a bruised left shoulder. ... Pirates RF Gregory Polanco (sore left leg) made his first start in the outfield since June 23. Polanco was the Pirates' designated hitter the previous two games. ... The A's, according to multiple reports, are expected to sign 17-year-old Cuban OF Lazaro Armenteros on Saturday when the international signing period begins.