To cap off a wild Monday afternoon in Mesa, Drew Lugbauer hit a walk-off homer for the Oakland Athletics as they beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-7.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Nick Allen had two RBI’s and starter Mitch Spence gave up one run on three hits for the Athletics (1-2). Lawrence Butler was 2-for-2 in Oakland’s first win in their 2024 Spring Training.
Kristian Robinson hit a three-run homer run for the D’Backs (2-2). Starting pitcher Blake Waltson pitched two innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one batter.
Wild Turn of Events
Chaparro began the scoring in the top of the second inning with a double to left field to drive Rivera across home plate for a 1-0 Diamondbacks lead. Both Chaparro and Rivera were 2-for-3 at the plate.
Allen would respond for the A’s as he hit a two-run single in the bottom of the second, making it 2-1. Oakland had 10 hits overall in the victory.
Jordan Lawlar hammered a solo homer to center field, and tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third.
Trying to convert a double play, Jace Peterson made a force out at second base off of a grounder by Brent Rooker. But as he looked towards first, Peterson made a throwing error and Michael Andujar scored from third because of it.
Brett Johnson would come home as Aledmys Diaz made a fielding error to knot it up once more, 3-3 in the top of the fifth.
In the sixth, chaos broke out.
The Diamondbacks’ power exploded as Kristian Robinson launched a three-run homer and Johnson slapped a solo shot to create a 6-3 lead. A’s pitcher Adrián MartÃnez allowed four runs on three hits during his inning of work.
K-Rob crush. 💪 pic.twitter.com/yOK0b35V6y
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 26, 2024
Then, Arizona reliever Yu-Min Lin stepped foot onto the mound for just 0.1 of the inning and got rocked.
Lin gave up a run off of a wild pitch, an RBI single to Armando Alvarez and a three-run homer from Hoy Park. Only able to get one out today, Lin surrendered five runs on four hits and two walks as the A’s led 8-7.
With the game on the line, Kevin Newman came in clutch to tie it up once more 8-8 in the top of the ninth with an RBI double.
But to win the game, Lugbauer homered off Chris Rodriguez for the 9-8 victory.
Next Games
Diamondbacks:Â Home vs. Texas Rangers (2-1) on Feb. 27 at 1:10 p.m. MST
Athletics: Away vs. Cleveland Guardians (2-1) on Feb. 27 at 1:05 p.m. MST
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers Phoenix Sports News for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
