Athletics end long series drought with 5-1 win over Orioles

On June 8, 2025, the Oakland Athletics defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-1 in Sacramento, marking their first series win in over a month. The Athletics' victory came after struggling for success, having last won a series against the Miami Marlins from May 2-4. It was also their first home series win since late April when they triumphed against the Chicago White Sox. In the game, the Athletics took an early lead with a run in the first inning thanks to a single by Lawrence Butler, who later scored on Tyler Soderstrom's hit. The Orioles managed to tie the game briefly with a run in the second inning after a throwing error by the Athletics' catcher Jhonny Pereda allowed a run to score. Pereda redeemed himself by hitting a go-ahead double in the second inning, followed by Butler driving in another run to extend the lead. The Athletics' pitching effectively controlled the game, with start Jacob Lopez allowing four hits and striking out five over four innings of play. Sean Newcomb, who came in as relief, continued the strong performance on the mound by striking out three batters in three scoreless innings, while Grant Holman and Mason Miller closed out the game, ensuring that no further runs would be scored by the Orioles. The Baltimore Orioles struggled offensively throughout the game, especially with runners in scoring position, ending the game hitless in that regard. They left eight runners on base during the contest, illustrating their difficulties in capitalizing during critical moments. Despite Adley Rutschman reaching base multiple times for Baltimore, their overall lack of timely hitting was a significant factor in their loss. As a result, the Orioles dropped two of three games in this series against the Athletics. Following this encounter, the Athletics prepared to face the Los Angeles Angels, while the Orioles would head back home to play against the Detroit Tigers in their upcoming series.