September 22nd 2024.
The final seasons of the Oakland Coliseum have been filled with bittersweet moments, as teams from across Major League Baseball have paid their respects to the historic venue before the A's relocate to Sacramento in 2025. And on Saturday night, the New York Yankees made their mark with an impressive display of power against the home team.
It was a fitting tribute from the Bronx Bombers, known for their high-profile players and even higher salaries, as they treated the A's faithful to a vintage performance. Aaron Judge, a former A's draft pick, led the charge with his 54th home run of the season, sending the ball soaring over the center field wall. This only added to the lead that New York had already built against the A's owner John Fisher's club.
But Judge wasn't the only star on the Yankees' roster to shine that night. Giancarlo Stanton also contributed with a three-run homer, while pitcher Juan Soto held the A's to just two hits in New York's dominant 10-0 victory in front of a crowd of 33,198 fans.
Meanwhile, the home team's power seemed to have disappeared as they struggled to get hits against the Yankees' formidable lineup. In fact, the A's entered the game with the seventh-highest number of home runs in the league, but they were unable to match the Yankees' offensive firepower. Out of their five hits, only Shea Langeliers managed to get two.
Unfortunately for the A's, their record against the Yankees now stands at 135-147 in Alameda County. And in the fifth-to-last MLB game ever to be played at the Coliseum, it was a former Yankee prospect who bore the brunt of New York's onslaught.
28-year-old left-hander JP Sears, once considered the crown jewel of Oakland's prospect haul from the Yankees, struggled against his former team. He allowed six earned runs and hits in five innings, dropping his record to 0-4 against the Yankees and 11-12 for the season. His pitching style, which relies on contact rather than strikeouts, proved to be no match for the Yankees' future Hall of Famers.
"It was a big game, and obviously I get a little emotional at times," Sears said. "You've got to do a better job of controlling that, for sure."
After a 4-2 victory in the series opener, the Yankees arrived at Saturday's game with the best record in the American League. And their fearsome lineup wasted no time in making their presence felt. In the first inning alone, Gleyber Torres, Soto, and Judge all got on base, with the first two scoring runs thanks to Stanton and Jasson Dominguez. The lead only grew in the second and third innings, with Anthony Volpe and Stanton each hitting home runs.
"We decided to throw him a changeup there, which isn't a great pitch to him," said A's manager Mark Kotsay, reflecting on Stanton's impressive performance.
Meanwhile, the A's struggled to find an answer for Carlos Rodón, a former Giants pitcher now pitching for the Yankees. Rodón earned his 16th victory of the season, striking out five in six innings and allowing just four hits. Judge's home run in the seventh inning only added to the Yankees' lead, making it a four-run frame.
The A's will have their chance at redemption in the series finale, with Joey Estes taking the mound against Luis Gil on Sunday.
As the game continued, the Yankees' dominance was evident not just on the field, but also in the stands. Judge's solo home run in the seventh inning was met with cheers and congratulations from his teammates, while A's fans sang during the seventh-inning stretch in a show of unwavering support. Even a group of New York fans were spotted helping to put up a "SELL" banner in right field before the game.
But despite the loss, the A's showed their appreciation for their fans by signing autographs before the game and standing for the national anthem. And although they were not able to match the Yankees' performance that night, they will continue to fight until the very last game at the Coliseum.
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