JJ Bleday hit an RBI single and made a magnificent catch in center field, Shea Langeliers had a sacrifice fly, and the host Oakland Athletics went out in their final scheduled game at the Coliseum with a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday for a series victory.
Bleday and Zack Gelof delivered defensive gems to delight a sellout crowd of 46,889 under a cloudless blue September sky. Fans alternated chants of “Sell the team!” and “Let’s go Oakland!” amid the mixed emotions and nostalgia at the Coliseum, where the A’s have played since 1968 and enjoyed so many memorable moments.
The ninth inning featured two fans jumping the fences to run onto the grass, bottles being thrown into center field and smoke bombs set off and tossed into right. Toilet paper and other debris also came down before manager Mark Kotsay took the microphone after the game with a heartfelt thank you to the fans and one last round of “Let’s go Oakland!”
“To the staff who have dedicated their lives to the Oakland A’s, especially those who aren’t coming with us, I am forever grateful,” Kotsay said.
“I will never forget you.”
The A’s plan to play the next three years in Sacramento with hopes of opening a new ballpark in Las Vegas ahead of the 2028 season.
Green “SELL” banners hung from the outfield railings as fans were treated to a trip down memory lane. Barry Zito sang the national anthem to huge applause, while Rickey Henderson and Dave Stewart tossed out ceremonial first pitches.
The current A’s entertained, too. Bleday made a diving catch to his right to rob Carson Kelly of a hit on his line drive in the seventh. And the hometown fans got one more chance to see flamethrowing closer Mason Miller on the mound.
A’s starter J.T. Ginn (1-1) left to a loud standing ovation after allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings, and the pitcher then applauded right back by clapping his glove.
Oakland’s bullpen followed him with 3 2/3 scoreless innings, with Miller recording the final four outs for his 28th save that leads all major league rookies.
Miller pumped his fist after striking out Nathaniel Lowe for the first out of the ninth, then play was briefly interrupted as Leody Taveras batted when two fans ran separately onto the field and were removed by swarms of security.
Miller struck Taveras out, too, then retired Travis Jankowski on a grounder to third to end the 2-hour, 29-minute game.
YANKEES 10, ORIOLES 1 >> Host New York won the AL East title for a first-round bye in the playoffs, dispatching Baltimore with a victory Thursday behind Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole.
When Cedric Mullins hit a game-ending groundout to shortstop Anthony Volpe, the Yankees came out of the dugout and formed a brief huddle between the mound and second base.
New York improved to 93-66 and will open its 59th postseason at home Oct. 5 in a best-of-five Division Series against a winner of next week’s wild-card round.
Judge hit his major league-leading 58th homer — going deep for the fifth straight game — Stanton hit his 27th homer and had four RBIs, and Cole pitched 6 2/3 innings of two-hit ball.
ROYALS 7, NATIONALS 4 >> Visiting Kansas City completed a series sweep with a victory over Washington.
Pinch hitter Adam Frazier’s one-out, line drive base hit to left field in the top of the ninth drove in two runs, breaking a 4-4 tie and guiding the Royals to their third straight win following a sevengame losing streak.
Kansas City (85-74) remained tied with Detroit for the second and third AL wild-card spots with three games to play.
TIGERS 4, RAYS 3 >> Justyn-Henry Malloy’s eighthinning sacrifice fly helped host Detroit rally from a 3-0 deficit to move closer to the postseason with a win over Tampa Bay.
The Tigers, who have won five straight, entered the game tied with Kansas City for the second and third American League wild-card spots.
MARLINS 8, TWINS 6, 13 INNINGS >> Otto Lopez doubled home the go-ahead run in the 13th inning as visiting Miami beat reeling Minnesota.
Carlos Correa homered for the Twins, who were 2 for 19 with runners in scoring position and stranded 15 on the night.
The Twins (82-77) have lost six of their last eight and now trail the Tigers and Royals by three games in the race for the last two AL wild-card spots. They would be eliminated with one more loss or one victory by Detroit or Kansas City.
OHTANI’S NO. 50 GOES TO COURT >> A Florida man is seeking a temporary injunction to stop Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball from going to auction, saying it was stolen from him moments after he secured it.
An emergency hearing was scheduled for Thursday in Miami Dade County regarding a lawsuit filed on behalf of Max Matus, who his representatives say caught the Los Angeles Dodgers star’s historic 50th home run ball. The ball is set to be auctioned online on Friday.
Ohtani’s home run on Sept. 19 against the Miami Marlins gave him 50 homers and 50 stolen bases in the same season, making him the first member of the 50-50 club.
According to a statement from Matus’ representatives, the 18-year-old secured the ball before Chris Belanski, also from Florida, took it away, then held it up. Kelvin Ramirez also is named in the lawsuit after claiming ownership of the ball.
Ramirez attended the game with Belanski.
Goldin Auctions, a New Jersey-based auction house specializing in trading cards, collectibles and memorabilia, now has possession of the ball and plans to auction it off online. Both are named in the lawsuit filed by John Uustal, the attorney representing Matus.