The Oakland Athletics secured their first series victory since late May as they defeated the Kansas City Royals 8-4 in the Thursday afternoon series finale. The A’s offense exploded for eight runs, led by Jemile Weeks who drove in three runs and Scott Sizmore who scored three runs. Gio Gonzalez finally got his sixth win of the season as he struck out ten Royals batters.
The A’s jumped on top quickly with four runs in the second inning. After Josh Willingham flew out to end the inning, Conor Jackson walked, Scott Sizemore singled and Kurt Suzuki singled to load the bases. Daric Barton grounded out to first but got a run in and avoided the double play to make it 1-0. Rookie Jemile Weeks followed with a bases clearing double to give the A’s a 3-0 lead. He then scored on a Coco Crisp single.
The A’s added two more runs in the third inning as Hideki Matsui homered and Barton grounded out to first again to score a run. Matsui has now hit three home runs in Bob Melvin’s seven games. He isn’t exactly lighting up the world, but if Godzilla is in fact quietly coming to life, it bodes well for the A’s chances this summer.
Gio Gonzalez threw a lot of pitches in getting his ten strikeouts, but he got through six innings, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks. He’s the first A’s pitcher from the season opening rotation to get a win since Brett Anderson beat the Angels on May 26.
The A’s wrap up the homestand with a three game series against the San Francisco Giants beginning Friday. Graham Godfrey will make his second start since being called up and will face Tim Lincecum at 7:05pm pacific.