Bassitt (1-4) gave up five hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked two as he earned his first victory as an Athletic. Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
OAKLAND, Calif. — Rookie right-hander Chris Bassitt pitched seven shutout innings, and shortstop Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer, leading the Oakland A’s to a 5-0 victory against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night at the O.co Coliseum.
Bassitt (1-4) gave up five hits, struck out a career-high seven and walked two as he earned his first victory as an Athletic.
In each of his first five starts this season, Bassitt allowed three or fewer runs but went 0-4. The A’s scored one run in each of those four losses, and Bassitt had a combined five runs of support in his first five starts.
This time, the A’s gave him five runs of support in the first six innings.
The A’s scored a run in the fifth then extended their lead to 5-0 with four runs in the sixth.
Designated hitter Billy Butler led off the sixth with a ground-rule double to right. Then with one out, third baseman Brett Lawrie drilled a triple to the left-center field alley, driving in Butler and ending right-hander Miguel Gonzalez’s night.
After Reliever Chaz Roe struck out right fielder Mark Canha, Orioles manager Buck Showalter decided to issue second baseman Eric Sogard his third career intentional walk.
Bad decision. Semien, the A’s No. 9 hitter, crushed Roe’s 0-1 pitch over the left-center field wall for a three-run homer, his 10th blast of the season.
Gonzalez (9-8) gave up three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five, walked three and hit a batter.
Second baseman Jonathan Schoop went 2-for-4 with a double for Baltimore.
Right-hander Fernando Rodriguez pitched a perfect eighth inning and lefty Fernando Abad a scoreless ninth for the A’s.
Sogard went 1-for-3 with a double and scored two runs.
The A’s snapped a scoreless duel between Bassitt and Gonzalez with a run in the fifth inning.
With one out, Sogard lined a double into the right-field corner. Gonzalez struck out Semien for the second out, but center fielder Billy Burns lined an RBI single to center, driving in Sogard.
Orioles center fielder Adam Jones’ throw home hit the pitcher’s mound and bounced high as Sogard scored easily.
In his previous start, Bassitt gave up three runs in the first inning of a 3-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Bassitt said he warmed up too quickly, then got cold while waiting on the bench to take the mound in the top of the first inning. He had no such problems this time.
Bassitt pitched a scoreless first inning and gave up just four hits over the first five innings.
NOTES: LHP T.J. McFarland was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, giving Baltimore a seventh reliever. … Orioles RHP Tyler Wilson, who made a spot start Monday and earned the win in a 9-2 victory against Oakland, was optioned to Norfolk. … Oakland RF Josh Reddick (stiff lower back) was a late scratch from the lineup and missed his second straight game. He was injured Sunday while making a running catch in foul territory against Cleveland. Mark Canha replaced Reddick in the lineup. … A’s INF/OF Danny Valencia was added to the 25-man active roster, one day after
being traded by Toronto to the A’s. 3B/1B Max Muncy was optioned to Triple-A Nashville, opening a roster spot for Valencia.
