Laureano stays hot, homers again as A's top Blue Jays 5-4

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ramon Laureano homered for the third consecutive day and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Monday night, spoiling Marcus Semien’s return to the Coliseum.

Stephen Piscotty also went deep for Oakland. Jed Lowrie doubled twice and had three hits.

Frankie Montas pitched six uneven innings to win the first meeting between the teams in more than two years.

Semien went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first game back in Oakland after signing with Toronto in the offseason. The Bay Area native, who played for the A’s from 2015-20, was greeted with an extended standing ovation before his first plate appearance.

Laureano connected on a 1-0 pitch from starter Steven Matz (4-2) to break a 3-all tie in the fifth. Tony Kemp walked and scored on the home run. Laureano also homered Saturday against the Orioles, then did it again Sunday with a two-run drive in the eighth moments after making a leaping catch at the fence to prevent the go-ahead run.

The A’s center fielder had previously homered in three straight games in 2019, but never on consecutive days.

Piscotty homered in the second after Lowrie’s RBI double.

Montas (3-2) allowed seven hits and three runs for his first win since April 16. The right-hander struck out four and walked one.

Sergio Romo and Lou Trivino retired three batters apiece. Jake Diekman worked the ninth for his third save.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits for Toronto.

The game was the first between the A’s and Blue Jays since April 28, 2019 – a span of 736 days. They did not play in 2020 due to the pandemic-shortened season.

Matz gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings. He has lost consecutive starts after beginning the season 4-0.

FAMILIAR BUT DIFFERENT

Semien...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Laureano-stays-hot-homers-again-as-A-s-top-Blue-16149151.php