Isiah Kiner-Falefa records 5 RBIs as Blue Jays beat A’s 6-4 in 10 innings

By The Associated Press on June 9, 2024.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a bases-loaded double in the 10th inning and finished with five RBIs as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 6-4 on Sunday.

Kiner-Falefa hit a 2-1 pitch into the gap in left-centre with one out in the 10th, scoring Bo Bichette, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement to give Toronto a 6-3 lead.

Kiner-Falefa also had a two-run single as Toronto took the rubber match of the three-game series and won for the fourth time in five games.

Brent Rooker homered for Oakland, which scored more than three runs for the first time in seven games.

Yimi García (3-0) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second win of the week. Génesis Cabrera pitched the bottom of the 10th, allowing just the automatic runner to score, and picked up his first save since 2022.

Austin Adams (0-2) allowed three runs (two earned) in one inning and took the loss.

Kiner-Falefa gave Toronto an early lead with a two-run single in the second inning.

Rooker got Oakland on the board in the sixth with his 13th home run of the season, a solo shot to left.

The A’s took their first lead in the seventh when Abraham Toro singled home two runs on a flare to shallow left-centre.

Varsho singled to lead off the eighth, reached second on a sacrifice bunt and stole third. Davis Schneider drove him in with a sacrifice fly, tying the game 3-3.

A’s starter Mitch Spence pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs and five hits. The rookie right-hander had three strikeouts and no walks.

Bowden Davis pitched four scoreless innings for the Blue Jays in his first start since April 7.

COLLISION IN FOUL TERRITORY

The 10th inning featured an odd play near the Blue Jays’ dugout, when A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom collided with Toronto pitcher Yusei Kikuchi while chasing a pop fly off the bat of Schneider. Kikuchi, standing outside his own dugout, tried to get out of the way but made contact with Soderstrom, who was chasing the foul. Schneider was called out due to interference.

UP NEXT

Blue Jays: José Berríos (5-4, 2.80 ERA) opens a three-game series at Milwaukee on Monday night opposite Brewers RHP Colin Rea (4-2, 3.53).

Athletics: RHP Joey Estes (2-1, 4.67) makes his eighth career start Monday night as Oakland begins a three-game series at San Diego. The Padres counter with RHP Dylan Cease (5-5, 3.51).

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

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