Paul Blackburn earns first loss of season as Athletics fall to Yankees

Apr 23, 2024, 7:00 PM | Updated: 8:51 pm

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Paul Blackburn #58 of the Oakland Athletics reacts in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on April 23, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Sactown Sports

Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo had two-RBI hits in the first inning for the host New York Yankees, who edged the Oakland Athletics 4-3 Tuesday night in the second game of a four-game series.

The Yankees have won four of six.

Marcus Stroman (2-1) earned the win for the Yankees after giving up three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out a season-high nine over 5 1/3 innings. He had just one 1-2-3 inning but wriggled out of jams in the first, when he struck out Tyler Nevin to strand Seth Brown, and the second, when he induced Ryan Noda to ground out with two on.

Ron Marinaccio and Caleb Ferguson got three outs apiece before Dennis Santana retired both batters he faced in the eighth. Clay Holmes earned his ninth save with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Oakland starter Paul Blackburn (2-1) surrendered all four Yankees runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five over six innings.

Brown laced a run-scoring double before Shea Langeliers and Lawrence Butler homered for the Athletics, who have lost six of eight. Nevin had a pair of singles.

The Athletics took a brief lead in the top of the first, when Stroman retired the first two batters he faced before Brent Rooker worked a two-out walk and scored on Brown’s sinking double to right.

The Yankees responded immediately in the bottom half. Juan Soto singled with one out and went to third on Aaron Judge’s double. Both runners scored on Stanton’s double and Rizzo followed with his second home run of the season.

Langeliers homered with two outs in the second and Butler led off the fourth by going deep for the Athletics.

Marinaccio retired Butler and Langeliers to strand Nevin at second in the sixth, and Ferguson got Rooker to fly out to leave Abraham Toro at first in the seventh. Ferguson, Santana and Holmes combined to set Oakland down in order in the final two innings.