Oakland Athletics Sweep Pittsburgh Pirates with Strong Pitching and Power Hitting

In a dominant display of pitching and power hitting, the Oakland Athletics completed their first series sweep of the season by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Wednesday. Ross Stripling, who had not won a game in nearly two years, threw six scoreless innings to earn his first victory since October 1, 2022.

The A’s offense was led by Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin, who both hit home runs to provide the necessary run support for Stripling. Nevin extended his hitting streak to nine games with his fourth homer of the season, while Kyle McCann added two hits and an RBI to contribute to the win.

Stripling, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants in the offseason, had struggled in recent outings but found his form against the Pirates. He allowed only three hits, struck out two batters, and retired the final seven batters he faced to secure the win.

The Oakland bullpen also played a crucial role in the victory, as five relievers combined for three scoreless innings to complete the shutout. Manager Mark Kotsay praised the pitching staff for their performance, emphasizing the importance of strong pitching and defense in the team’s recent success.

The Pirates had their chances to score, but the A’s defense made key plays to prevent any runs from crossing the plate. Pittsburgh missed an opportunity in the fourth inning when the A’s made a pair of errors but failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position.

With the win, the Athletics extended their winning streak to four games and will look to continue their momentum in the upcoming series. The team will send left-hander JP Sears to the mound to face the Miami Marlins on Friday, while the Pirates will have left-hander Martín Pérez start against the Colorado Rockies.