Finally a regular in the major leagues, Abraham Toro hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth after Seth Brown tied the game at two runs the previous inning, and the Oakland Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 5–4. win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
“If the manager trusts you and puts you there every day, it only gives you confidence as a player and you play more relaxed,” Toro said. “I was grateful to have played well in the last few days, so I want to take this opportunity and continue for the rest of the year.”
Colorado’s Ezequiel Tovar hit a pair of solo home runs for his first career multi-homer game and Ryan McMahon added a two-run drive before the A’s rallied against Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley (2-1).
Lucas Erceg (2-2) pitched the eighth before flame-throwing closer Mason Miller retired the team in the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.
J.D. Davis also homered as Oakland avoided matching the longest losing streak in the majors this year. Miami lost nine in a row from March 28 to April 6. The A’s, who drew an announced crowd of 4,005, had been swept in consecutive series.
Oakland held a team meeting in Kansas City after Sunday’s 8-4 loss. Everyone hopes that Tuesday was the start of getting back into the good mood.
“It’s momentum,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “Saturday and Sunday in KC we had 11 hits every day and we weren’t on the winning side. Tonight, even though we were down, you could still feel the energy in the dugout that we still had a few outs left, We still had some at-bats, and that was a good sign.”
Kris Bryant returned from the injured list to go 0 for 4 with a strikeout for the Rockies as they continue a nearly weeklong stay in the Bay Area after playing a three-game series in San Francisco this weekend. It was the Rockies’ first visit to the Coliseum since July 28-29, 2020, during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.
Colorado starter Cal Quantrill struck out eight — his second most in a game this season — and walked one over six innings, allowing two runs on three hits but ultimately falling short of a decision.
McMahon connected in the first inning after A’s starter Aaron Brooks hit Charlie Blackmon with a pitch to start the game.
Brooks allowed three runs on six hits in six innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: Bryant had been sidelined since April 14 with a lower back strain. The Rockies had hoped OF Nolan Jones would also return, but he tweaked his right knee while sliding into second base while trying to convert a single into a double during a rehab game with Triple-A Albuquerque. He returned to Denver to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Thomas Noonan. The injury was not considered serious, but he will need rest. … Colorado selected OF Sean Bouchard to Triple-A and drafted INF Julio Carreras to Albuquerque and he was designated for assignment on Sunday.
Athletics: RHP Luis Medina (sprained right knee) will make another rehabilitation start at Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday, while RHP Joe Boyle (lower back problems) will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A in the coming days. … INF/OF Miguel Andujar still needs more at-bats in rehab games as he works back from meniscus surgery on his right knee.
NEXT ONE
LHP Austin Gomber (1-2, 3.02 ERA) will again throw the middle game for Colorado on Wednesday evening against RHP Mitch Spence (3-2, 3.90).
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