May 9, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker (25) hits a three run home run during the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: James A. Pittman-Imagn Images
Brent Rooker smashed a three-run homer, leading the Athletics to their third straight win with a 6-2 victory over the host Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
Aaron Civale (4-1) delivered his third consecutive strong performance, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing six hits and three walks, striking out six. Hogan Harris, Scott Barlow, and Joel Kuhnel each contributed a shutout inning, while Mark Leiter Jr. was charged with Baltimore’s two runs.
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz extended his on-base streak to 33 games—the longest active stretch in the majors—by doubling to lead off the game. Kurtz scored three times in the first five innings. Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Colby Thomas each recorded two hits as Oakland notched its second three-game winning streak of the season, totaling 11 hits and four walks.
Samuel Basallo and Gunnar Henderson each had two hits for the Orioles, and pinch hitter Colton Cowser delivered a two-run single. Baltimore stranded 10 runners, losing their third straight game and eighth in the last 10.
Orioles starter Shane Baz (1-4) was pulled after 4 2/3 innings, charged with five runs on five hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.
Langeliers’ first-inning single drove in Kurtz to open the scoring. Rooker’s fifth homer of the season came in the third inning, marking his second home run in a three-game span and third this month. Langeliers added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 5-0.
Baltimore loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth but failed to score as Adley Rutschman struck out, and Pete Alonso and Basallo flied out.
After Cowser’s eighth-inning hit cut the deficit to three runs, Thomas answered with an RBI single in the ninth.
