By IAN HARRISON
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TORONTO – JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof each hit six home runs in the first inning, and former Wilson Hall star JP Sears pitched seven innings to win his third straight start. The Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on Sunday for their 50th win, matching their win total from last season.
Lawrence Butler had three hits, including two in the first inning, and scored a run, helping Oakland improve its record to 20-13 since July 2, the third-best record in baseball during that span.
The Athletics are 13-8 since the All-Star break.
“It all comes down to confidence, and confidence is contagious,” Sears said.
Oakland (50-69) lost 112 games last season and 102 the year before.
In 2023, the Athletics won their 50th victory on September 30, the penultimate day of the regular season.
“Last year was brutal at times,” Gelof said. “This year it’s the same group. We have a few new people. I feel like we’re all on the same wavelength and pulling in the same direction. It’s just great to be a part of it. I feel like everyone is doing their job and we’re having fun doing it.”
Bleday reached base four times, Gelof had three hits and Brent Rooker added two hits and an RBI. The Athletics have won six of their last eight series.
“They have confidence in this room,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “This group realizes they can win baseball games and be competitive and even win series. It’s really nice to watch their success.”
Toronto hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 22 games. Guerrero’s streak reached a career high, which he first reached in 2022.
Guerrero hit a 110 mph grounder to shortstop in the first inning, but was thrown out in the bottom of the inning. He flew out to right in the fourth, and grounded into double plays in the seventh and eighth innings.
“I thought his swing was a little too big today,” manager John Schneider said. “It just wasn’t his day.”
Sears (10-8) allowed three runs and three hits, reaching double-digit wins for the first time. He also walked three and struck out four times.
“It’s great to play behind him,” Gelof said. “He always fills the zone.”
The left-hander struck out the first ten batters in a row before Daulton Varsho hit a home run in the fourth inning.
Varsho’s home run was his 14th. It was Toronto’s first hit since the second inning of Saturday’s 1-0 loss and its first run since the eighth inning of Friday’s 3-1 victory.
Sears was replaced after walking the first two batters on base in the eighth inning. Michel Otañez came on and allowed an RBI double by Luis De Los Santos and a two-run single by George Springer. Otañez hit Varsho with a pitch but escaped further damage when Guerrero hit a ground ball into a double play on the first pitch.
Oakland’s Mason Miller finished 1-2-3 and tied for ninth place.
The first four batters of the game reached third safely against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-11). Butler doubled and scored on a fielding error before Bleday hit a two-run homer, his 14th. Three batters later, Gelof hit a two-run shot, his 15th. Daz Cameron doubled before Butler capped the inning with an RBI single.
In his sixth start against his former team, Bassitt reached his season low by allowing seven runs in four innings.
Squad changes
Toronto has activated LHP Génesis Cabrera from the paternity list and sent RHP Yerry Rodríguez to Triple-A Buffalo.
