OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) β Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the Oakland Athletics to a stunning 5-4 comeback victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Donaldson’s drive over the wall in center off Zach Britton (3-2) sent the A’s streaming out of the dugout in front of an announced crowd of 27,232 at the Coliseum. It was Donaldson’s fifth career game-ending hit and third career game-ending homer.
The much-booed Manny Machado had lined a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh, and Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run homer in the fifth that appeared to be enough for the AL East-leading Orioles. But beating the best team in baseball β especially at home β has never been easy this season.
Eric O’Flaherty (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win, Oakland’s major league-leading 60th.
