The Athletics had enough offense to make this one interesting for a while, but the pitching collapse came fast and hard in Cleveland, and the Guardians rolled to a 12-6 win in the middle game of the series.
Oakland jumped in front early and looked like it might have something cooking. After the first two batters went quietly, Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler strung together back-to-back singles. Zack Gelof followed with a third straight hit to get the A’s on the board, and Donovan Walton kept the two-out rally alive with an RBI knock to make it 2-0.
That cushion didn’t last long once Jacob Lopez took the mound.
The left-hander, who had been trending in a better direction recently, was tagged immediately by Cleveland. The Guardians opened with two straight hits, then turned a three-run homer into a quick lead change.
Another single and another home run followed, and just like that, the early advantage Oakland had built was gone. Lopez managed to get through the second inning without damage, but the third went sideways too, and he was lifted before the frame ended.
Jacob Lopez: 2 2/3 IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 63 pitches
It was a brutal line, and there’s no sugarcoating it. Lopez was hit around all afternoon and never looked settled. He’s got one more start left next week, and it lines up to come at home against the Houston Astros.
Oakland’s lineup did keep trying to answer. Walton picked up another RBI single in the third, then Henry Bolte added an RBI single in the fourth. Walton wasn’t done there, either, launching a two-run homer in the fifth to keep the A’s within reach for a moment.
But that was the end of the damage from the Oakland offense. The final innings went quietly, and the Guardians were able to close things out comfortably.
The A’s now head into the final road game of the season tomorrow morning trying to avoid a sweep. Jack Perkins will start for Oakland, while Gavin Williams gets the ball for Cleveland.
In Other News...
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Tommy White has been the tougher evaluation, because the bat has not given Oakland much to build around and the defensive results have not helped his case at either third base or first base. In a year when the As need young hitters to make a case for more meaningful roles, the pressure on White is starting to look less like a temporary slump and more like a real test of where he fits in the organizations plans. [Read more 🡒]
A's Face A Real Catching Decision With Langeliers Uncertainty Looming
The Athletics disappointing 2026 season has only sharpened the questions around the catching spot, especially with injuries to core pieces like All-Stars Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers. Even before the roster took those hits, the depth behind the plate had become an issue, with backup catchers Jonah Heim and Brian Serven struggling to provide much offense when called on.
Oakland now has a real decision to make as it looks ahead to the offseason and tries to sort out how much of its catching future is already in place. The As could be in the market for another backup option, and the uncertainty only grows because Heim is set to hit free agency while Langeliers remains a name worth watching as teams continue to circle. [Read more 🡒]
Athletics Let Another Early Opportunity Slip Away In Frustrating Skid
Zack Gelof gave the Athletics an early jolt with a three-run homer in the first inning, and for a moment it looked like they might turn the page after a rough stretch. Instead, the offense never found another breakthrough, even with a few more hits scattered through the game, and the skid kept growing after the Rays completed their sweep.
Mason Barnett provided three solid innings before the game tilted in the fourth, when Cleveland began to square him up and the lineup lost its margin for error. From there, Luis Medina and Elvis Alvarado helped the bullpen settle things down without allowing a hit, but Oakland still walked away with its fourth straight loss, another reminder of how fragile those early leads have become. [Read more 🡒]