NEW YORK (AP) — Zack Gelof hit a two-run homer off Victor González in the ninth inning, and the A’s stopped an eight-game losing streak in the Bronx by beating the Yankees 2-0 Monday following the ejection of New York manager Aaron Boone just five pitches in.
After former Yankee JP Sears matched former Giant Carlos Rodón with shutout starts, Abraham Toro reached off González (1-1) leading off the ninth when the pitcher slipped while trying to pick up his dribbler between the mound and the third-base line.
Gelof hit an opposite-field drive into the right-field seats on a flat sinker for his third home run this season.
“To see him go oppo on a lefty, a really good lefty, is a good sign,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said.
Gelof had entered 3 for 19 against left-handers after hitting .167 (12 for 72) with one homer against them last year.
“It’s something that I focused on in the offseason,” Gelof said.
Kotsay dropped Gelof to sixth in the batting order for the second straight day after hitting him mostly second or third. Gelof has a .205 average this season, down from .267 as a rookie.
“Just trying to get him comfortable, get him relaxed,” Kotsay said.
Lucas Erceg (1-1) pitched two innings and Mason Miller struck out Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge to remain perfect in five save chances, finishing a three-hitter and the A’s third shutout of the season.
Miller threw eight fastballs averaging 101.8 mph and six sliders.
“He has a pretty good fastball,” Soto said.
Miller, a 25-year-old right-hander, was pitching at Yankee Stadium for the first time.
“Walking around before the game, it’s got a different air about it, for sure,” he said.
Oakland, which arrived after being swept in a three-game series at Cleveland, had not won at Yankee Stadium since 2021.
Get up!
Get out!
Gelof! pic.twitter.com/v95R3K3JeS
— MLB (@MLB) April 22, 2024
Judge was 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts and a double-play grounder, dropping his average to .174.
Shea Langeliers had his chance to create the game’s first run with the bases loaded in the eighth, but he swung under a high 96.1 mph fastball from Ian Hamilton on a full count to strike out.
Boone was ejected over a remark from a fan behind the dugout aimed at the plate umpire. Esteury Ruiz was hit on the back foot by a Rodón slider leading, Boone questioned whether Ruiz swung at the pitch and Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Boone after a fan behind the dugout yelled at the umpire.
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Rodón allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings, Nick Allen’s two-out single in the fifth, and lowered his ERA to 2.70. He has given up three runs or fewer in all five of his starts.
Former Yankees player JP Sears gave up three hits in six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.
“His slider for us lefties was tough, tough to see,” Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.
UP NEXT
Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (1-1, 2.42) starts Tuesday night against Oakland RHP Paul Blackburn (2-0, 1.08), who entered the series third in the major leagues in ERA.
