Shea Langeliers had four hits and four RBIs on Tuesday night for the visiting Oakland Athletics, who cruised to a 9-4 win over the New York Mets in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
The Athletics improved to 15-9 since July 12 — the best record in the American League in that span. The Mets, who entered Tuesday a game back of the Atlanta Braves in the race for the third National League wild-card berth, have dropped four in a row.
Seth Brown laced a three-run double in the first inning against former Athletics pitcher Paul Blackburn (5-3), who made his third start with the Mets since being traded to New York for minor league pitcher Kade Morris on July 30.
Blackburn threw a 1-2-3 second but the first four batters reached against him in the third. Brent Rooker scored on an error by third baseman Jose Iglesias and Langeliers hit a three-run blast.
Andujar (single) and Langeliers (double) had back-to-back RBI hits in the sixth. Langeliers, who singled in the fifth, doubled again with a chance to complete the cycle in the ninth. Langeliers also had four hits Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rooker had two hits and JJ Bleday scored three times.
Austin Adams (1-2), the first of five Athletics relievers, retired all three batters he faced in the fifth. Scott Alexander, Michel Otanez, T.J. McFarland and Tyler Ferguson tossed a scoreless inning apiece.
Oakland starter Joe Boyle gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out six over four-plus innings.
Iglesias had an RBI single in the second for the Mets. Jesse Winker had a run-scoring double in the fifth and Pete Alonso followed with a two-run single.
Francisco Lindor had two hits and reached base three times while Winker and Iglesias each finished with two hits for New York.
Blackburn gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings.
–Field Level Media