A's ride massive six-run 1st, Gelof's big day to series win

TORONTO -- For the first time all year, the Athletics’ offense unleashed a first-inning frenzy.

The first batter of the game, Lawrence Butler, kicked things off with a searing double down the right-field line. It was a pedestrian enough start to the contest, and Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt seemed unbothered. After all, Oakland entered Sunday’s 8-4 win ranked second-last in MLB with a .616 OPS in the first inning.

But then the Rogers Centre crowd winced as the hit parade continued. Brent Rooker reached on a single, while a bizarre error by first baseman Spencer Horwitz allowed Butler to score from second. Three-hole hitter JJ Bleday wasted little time, planting his back foot and smashing a two-run blast to right field for his 14th homer of the year. Six pitches in, Oakland led by three runs, a lead it would not relinquish.

Bassitt craned his neck and tried to flush his frustrations, but the A’s showed no mercy. With another man on base, Zack Gelof, desperate to find his groove of late, smacked a two-run shot to left field, his 15th of the season.

The A’s plated six runs and batted around by the time the first inning came to an end. As the Blue Jays defense was booed off the field, Oakland reveled in its breakout performance. The A’s hadn’t scored more than four runs in any previous first inning this season, so there was a lot to be proud of.

“We came out aggressive,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “We got some balls up in the zone that [Bassitt] left in the middle, and that's not typical of him. But [we had] some good at-bats, and to score six out of the gate and get some momentum carried forward was how we won the game today.”

Gelof’s first-inning homer was huge. The 24-year-old was a surprise stud in his rookie campaign a year ago, smacking 14 homers in 69 games alongside an .840 OPS. While injuries and inconsistency have bogged down Gelof’s performance in 2024, his picturesque homer in the first inning planted a solid building block for future success.

“Zack's been working on making adjustments,” Kotsay said. “He had a good June. July didn't go well. We're hopeful that things in August kind of turn around, and we can get some momentum for him offensively.”

For Gelof, those changes happen in the batting cage before the game. He aims for a clean, quiet cut and lets his natural pop do the rest.

“I feel like I always kind of have the power,” said Gelof. “I think just being direct to the ball and swinging at the right pitches is pretty big for me, so today was a great result.”

As Gelof noted, the adjustments have paid off. The hard-hitting infielder finished 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, and two RBIs, and any improvements by him will be significant as the A’s shoot for a .500 record in the final two months of the season. More importantly, Oakland’s coaching staff and front office can use this time to take inventory of its core assets for 2025 and beyond.

The club’s crown jewel is Rooker, whose .952 OPS puts him on track for down-ballot AL MVP votes, but Butler also racked up three hits in this contest and will make a mighty fine co-contributor going forward. The 24-year-old made a bit of club history, too, becoming the first A’s player with multiple hits in the first inning since Matt Chapman in 2019.

“I think the biggest adjustment for Lawrence has been he realizes he just has to put the barrel on it because he has the strength to hit it out anywhere,” Kotsay said.

While the A’s offense front-loaded all the action in the series finale, starter JP Sears quietly went to work. Backed by a massive lead before ever throwing a pitch, the left-hander chiseled through the Blue Jays’ lineup for seven innings, allowing just three runs on three hits. Fireballing closer Mason Miller then shut Toronto down in the ninth to seal the series win.

While there are still some gaps in the A’s roster, Sunday’s win marked an impressive series victory and the club’s 50th win of the year. That’s a significant milestone for a club that finished with only 50 wins last season and has shown great improvement since then. Oakland might not have it all, but the pieces are there for a bright future.

“I feel like we're all just on the same page, pulling the same rope,” said Gelof. “So it's just great to be a part of, and I feel like everyone's doing their job, and we're having fun doing it.”