ST. LOUIS (Sept. 1) \u2014 JJ Bleday<\/a><\/strong> went 2-for-5 with two homers, three RBI, and three runs scored to lead the visiting Athletics<\/a> to an 11\u20133 rout over the St. Louis Cardinals<\/a> Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n The Athletics teed off on Cardinals starter Sonny Gray<\/a><\/strong>, tagging him with seven earned runs on ten hits in six innings. They snapped a three-game losing streak with the win. \u201cIt felt good,\u201d Bleday said of the win. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy. You sweep the best team in baseball, the Tigers<\/a>, and then get swept. That’s just baseball at times, and we\u2019ve got to keep cracking away and do our best to find a way to put runs on the board.\u201d<\/p>\n The Athletics took a 3\u20130 lead in the top of the fourth on back-to-back two-out homers off Gray. Both went to the right side, a two-run liner to straightaway right by Bleday and a solo shot to the home bullpen in right-center by Zack Gelof<\/a><\/strong>. Ivan Herrera<\/a><\/strong> responded in the bottom half with a first-pitch leadoff bomb to \u201cBig Mac Land\u201d in left.<\/p>\n The Athletics made it a 5\u20131 game in the top of the sixth after an RBI single by Colby Thomas<\/a><\/strong> and a solo homer to right by Bleday, a 428-foot missile. It became a 5\u20132 game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to center by Masyn Wynn<\/a><\/strong>. The Athletics took a 7\u20132 lead in the top of the seventh after a Brent Rooker<\/a><\/strong> ground-rule double and a Tyler Soderstrom<\/a><\/strong> single. They extended the lead to 9\u20132 in the top of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Willie MacIver<\/a><\/strong> and an RBI single by Lawrence Butler<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n RBI doubles by Jacob Wilson<\/a><\/strong> and Soderstrom later in the inning turned the game into an 11\u20132 rout. The Cardinals nabbed a consolation run in the ninth to bring the score to an 11\u20133 final.<\/p>\n The Athletics batted 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position. \u201cWe had a meeting earlier today \u2014 show up and be ready to score runs by any means possible,\u201d Bleday said. \u201cFind a way to get on base, find a way to grind at-bats out with two strikes. We’ve been doing a really good job of that and today showed it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve harped on it all year, and I think we’ve done a great job,\u201d manager Mark Kotsay<\/a><\/strong> said. \u201cI saw a stat during either the Detroit series or the last series that talked about our opposite field hitting. I think we’re top five in the league in driving the baseball the other way, and doing it with some power, too. So it says a lot about the guys staying up the middle, going the other way, and utilizing what works with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n Morales allowed two earned runs on five hits across 5 2\/3 innings. Additionally, he walked one and struck out a career-high eight. He said afterwards through interpreter Ramon Hernandez<\/a><\/strong> that all his pitches were working and that he was focusing on his location. \u201cAnd I was doing it pretty well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cMorales continued to throw the baseball the way he has the last few starts,\u201d Kotsay said. \u201cHe’s really gaining a lot of confidence and attacking hitters. Overall, the performance was great.\u201d<\/p>\n With the Athletics clinging to a 5\u20132 lead in the bottom of the sixth, Justin Sterner<\/a><\/strong> relieved Morales with two outs and runners on first and second. He got Thomas Saggese<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 the potential tying run \u2014 to pop up to the second baseman for the third out. \u201cReally big momentum shifter in the game,\u201d Kotsay said. \u201cThat’s a big, big, big out for us to keep the score there at 5\u20132. And for Sterner, he’s done a great job all season. Early on, he was lights out. I think he got a little bit tired \u2014 shoulder, elbow. Had to get him a reset. Since he\u2019s been back, he’s been great.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, Sterner and Monday call-up Scott McGough<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 a 2023 pennant winner whom the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> let go earlier this season \u2014 combined to limit the Cardinals to one run on three hits, striking out four and walking none across 3 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n Not that it mattered as far as the final outcome, but in the sixth, the Athletics made two outs at second on \u201cbaserunning\u201d plays. The first came when Colby Thomas drove Darell Hernaiz<\/a><\/strong> in with a single up the middle. On the throw home, Thomas tried to take second. He was successful initially but overslid the bag, where shortstop Masyn Winn<\/a><\/strong> tagged him for the first out of the inning. Later in the inning, Zack Gelof was thrown out at second on a failed stolen base attempt.<\/p>\n Hernaiz charged hard at third on a slow bouncer off the bat of Thomas Saggese and tried to \u201col\u00e9\u201d it. He missed, and by the time the Athletics could gather the baseball and throw it in, Saggese had reached second on a gift double. He later scored to spoil an otherwise scoreless outing by McGough.<\/p>\n \u201cLuis is such a good talent and one of the most flexible kids I’ve ever met, too,\u201d Bleday said. \u201cThe electric stuff \u2014 the sky\u2019s the limit for him. If he keeps doing what he\u2019s doing and keeps asking questions, keeps showing up, he’s going to be really good for a long time.\u201d \u2014 JJ Bleday on Luis Morales<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In each of their last four wins, the Athletics have scored seven runs or more. \u2026 \u00a0Monday saw them hit their third pair of back-to-back home runs, their first since August 17 and second involving JJ Bleday. \u2026 This was their fifth straight series-opening win against a National League opponent. \u2026 Six of their twelve double-digit run totals this season have come against NL teams. \u2026 Their 15 hits Monday were their most in any game against the Cardinals in franchise history, including the postseason. The Athletics faced the Cardinals in the 1930 and 1931 World Series, both while still in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Morales (3\u20130) took the win as Gray (12\u20138) took the loss. There was no save.<\/p>\n The Athletics (64\u201375) and Cardinals (68\u201371) will play the second game of their three-game set Tuesday evening in St. Louis. It will be a battle of righties, Luis Severino<\/a><\/strong> (6\u201311, 4.82 ERA) for the Athletics and Miles Mikolas<\/a><\/strong> (6\u201310, 5.04 ERA) for the Cardinals. First pitch will be at 6:45 pm Central\/4:45 pm Pacific.<\/p>\nAthletics \u2013 Cardinals Game Summary<\/h3>\n
What Went Right for the Athletics<\/h3>\n
Converting Opportunities<\/h4>\n
Starting Pitching<\/h4>\n
Relief Pitching<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Athletics<\/h3>\n
Sixth-inning Baserunning<\/h4>\n
Careless Defense in Ninth<\/h4>\n
Quotes<\/h3>\n
Quick Hits<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n