PHOENIX — Zack Gelof hit the 9,000th home run in Oakland history, a tying solo drive in the fifth inning Sunday that wound up being a mere historical footnote as the A’s dropped a 5-1 decision to the Diamondbacks.
Gelof’s drive grazed the extended glove of Arizona right fielder Jake McCarthy before clearing the fence for what accounted for Oakland’s only run of the game, and its first since breaking an 11-game road losing streak Friday night.
Brandon Pfaadt pitched six innings of one-run ball and Blaze Alexander hit a two-run bloop single during Arizona’s three-run seventh inning, as the Diamomdbacks held the A’s to one run over the final 18 innings of the series. Pfaadt, who surrendered Gelof’s homer, struck out eight and limited Oakland to no hits in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Oakland has lost 12 of its last 13 road games. The A’s went 7-20 in June for their 11th consecutive month with a losing record — longest in franchise history.
Oakland starter Luis Medina pitched six innings of four-hit ball, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth. A’s starters posted an 8.31 ERA over their previous seven games prior to Medina’s start.
Alexander, batting for ex-Giant Joc Pederson, drove in Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll with a bases-loaded grounder into left field off Austin Adams. Carroll was batting .196 with 23 strikeouts in 97 at-bats against left-handers before hitting a one-out double off T.J. McFarland (1-1).
“You find out a lot about guys when you’re in the trench,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “I hear what’s going on. I hear the evaluations. I hear the self-awareness. I hear the support. I hear the coaching between players, the advice, the sharing of knowledge. That’s what stands out most to me about today.
“These guys fought. It wasn’t an easy win. We’re not playing our absolute best baseball. We made some mistakes. But we overcame them, and we won a game that I felt was one of those midseason must-win type of categories.”
Christian Walker followed Alexander’s clutch swing with a single that drove in Ketel Marte for a 4-1 lead.
“Two groundballs,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “That’s the game. If (Alexander’s grounder) is hit directly at us, it’s a double play and still a 1-1 game.”
Joe Mantiply (3-1), Ryan Thompson and Paul Sewald held Oakland hitless over the final three innings.
NEXT UP
After Monday’s off-day, the A’s will return home and send right-hander Mitch Spence (4-4, 4.35 ERA) to the mound to face Los Angeles Angels RHP Jose Soriano (4-5, 3.48 ERA) on Tuesday in a series opener at the Coliseum.
