The Oakland Athletics were hoping to keep their hot streak rolling heading into their interleague series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, they ran into a bullpen meltdown and got out-slugged in a 8-3 loss on Saturday night to drop the first two games of the three-game series.
Jason Kubel hit an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning to get the D-backs on the board. The A's were able to tie things up in the top of the second with an RBI double by Kurt Suzuki.
The bottom of the fifth inning was the true dagger for the A's. Justin Upton hit an RBI double to put the D-backs back on top. Two batters later, Miguel Montero launched a grand slam to make it 6-1 Arizona. Jonny Gomes was able to make it 6-2 with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth, but the Diamondbacks answered right back with RBI singles by Jason Kubel and Paul Goldschmidt.
Jemile Weeks managed an RBI double for Oakland in the top of the ninth, but the damage had already been done.
The A's will attempt to avoid the sweep on Sunday.
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