Esteury Ruiz homers and the A’s beat the Cardinals 6-3 to avoid a sweep

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Esteury Ruiz homered for the second time in three games since being recalled from Triple-A, and the Oakland Athletics beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Ruiz drove in two runs, scored twice and stole a base. He has homered twice in seven at-bats since his return Monday from Triple-A Las Vegas.

“It feels amazing,” Ruiz said through a translator. “Coming here, keep hitting the baseball like I was down there (in Triple-A). And I feel like this. I feel amazing. Who doesn’t want to feel like that? It feels great.”

A crowd of 9,551 attended the game, with the three-game series totaling 18,355 fans. The A’s, who have announced plans to play in Sacramento from 2025-27 while a new ballpark is built in Las Vegas, have had an average attendance of 6,244 through their first 13 home games.

Tyler Nevin added three hits and an RBI as Oakland improved to 4-9 at home.

Iván Herrera drove in two runs for the Cardinals, who fell to 0-6 in series finales this season.

“It’s a frustrating one,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “You want to win that one and sweep and go home and feel good about it and enjoy an off-day. (We) hit some balls hard. They got caught. Overall, just didn’t produce enough offense to give ourselves a shot today.”

Willson Contreras had two hits and an RBI, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. He has reached base safely in 23 straight games dating to last season.

A’s starter Paul Blackburn allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings, ending a scoreless streak of 22 1/3 innings. The right-hander came within two outs of the Oakland record for most consecutive scoreless innings to start a season.

Blackburn (2-0) earned his second win despite giving up six hits and five walks. He recorded a season-high seven strikeouts.

“It was kind of one of those days where I didn’t really have anything, I felt like, including command,” Blackburn said. “But I kept the boys in it and the offense came through, and we were able to get a win. Anytime you get a win, it’s a good outing.”

Ruiz’s two-run homer gave Oakland a 2-0 lead in the third.

St. Louis answered with three runs in the fourth. Contreras doubled home a run, followed by Herrera’s two-run single to put the Cardinals ahead.

Langeliers tied it in the fifth with an RBI double, and Toro put the A’s back in front with an RBI groundout to second.

Darell Hernaiz tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly, and Nevin added an RBI single in the sixth.

“To show the character that we did today, after losing two to these guys, to come out, and being down 3-2 and end up coming back and winning the game, (it) says a lot about the club and the confidence that they have right now,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said.

Cardinals starter Steven Matz (1-1) allowed five runs on seven hits in five innings. He struck out four and walked three.

Mason Miller pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Kyle Gibson (1-2, 6.16 ERA) opens a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Friday night opposite Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 2.55).

Athletics: RHP Joe Boyle (1-2, 5.68 ERA) starts Friday night in Cleveland to open a three-game series and a 10-game road trip. The Guardians counter with RHP Triston McKenzie (1-2, 6.23).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz, left, reacts as Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz, right rear, rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics shortstop Nick Allen (10) throws to first base after forcing out St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn (0) at second base on a double play hit into by Michael Siani during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado reacts after striking out during the fifth inning of the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol watches from the dugout railing during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, left, celebrates with pitcher Mason Miller after the Athletics defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt walks to the dugout after striking out against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz, right, steals second base as St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Nolan Gorman applies the late tag during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz hits a two-run home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

PHOENIX (AP) — Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages both hit two-run doubles in a big fifth inning, Will Smith added a solo homer and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-4 on Monday night.

Los Angeles finished the game without striking out once — the first time that has happened for the franchise since 2006.

“I just like the way that we're getting hits and not just going for slug,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I always use the golf analogy: Our guys are using different clubs. You have to in baseball.”

Pages finished with three RBIs, the second time he had that many in 12 career games. The 23-year-old rookie pushed his hitting streak to seven games and is batting .298 with an .846 OPS since his big league debut on April 16.

“I'm playing against the best players in the world, but they make mistakes, too,” Pages said through a translator. “You try to do the best you can.”

Shohei Ohtani had two singles, a walk and an RBI for the Dodgers, who have won seven of their past eight.

The D-backs have dropped four of five.

The Dodgers led 2-1 in the fifth when Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Smith all drew one-out walks Andrew Saalfrank. Hernández followed with a rocket into the right-center gap that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, scoring two runs.

Three batters later, Pages made it 6-1 with a hard-hit ball down the third base line off Scott McGough that scored Smith and Hernandez.

“Just trying to do the best I can,” Pages said. “Obviously, look for pitches I can handle, look for pitches in the zone."

It was the first time the D-backs and Dodgers played each other since Arizona swept a three-game National League Division Series against Los Angeles last season. The series win was part of the the D-backs’ surprising playoff run to the World Series.

Arizona cut the margin to 6-4 in the fifth. Eugenio Suárez had an RBI single, Randal Grichuk hit a sacrifice fly and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came home on a wild pitch.

But Smith put the Dodgers up 7-4 in the sixth after clobbering a home run to dead center, high off the batter's eye above the wall.

“We didn’t throw the ball that well today and that was the difference in the game,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

Dodgers lefty James Paxton (3-0) gave up four runs and six hits over five innings. He struggled with his control, walking five and striking out four.

Los Angeles pulled ahead 2-1 in the second on Kiké Hernández's RBI double and Pages' sacrifice fly. Ohtani had the chance to do more damage — coming to the plate with the bases loaded and one out — but grounded into a double play.

Arizona left-hander Tommy Henry (1-2) gave up two runs and five hits and two walks over four innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Ryan Brasier strained his right calf during pregame warmups Monday and will go on the injured list.

UP NEXT

The Diamondbacks send LHP Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 2.77 ERA) to the mound Tuesday night, while the Dodgers counter with RHP Landon Knack (1-1, 3.27 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) high fives teammates after scoring on a ground rule double hit by Teoscar Hernández during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks third base Eugenio Suárez connects for an RBI base hit during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani flips his bat during his at-bat during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk runs on his base hit against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) helps Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker up after Walker was forced out on a double play hit by Eugenio Suárez during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher James Paxton throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Max Muncy (13) scores on a sacrifice fly hit by Andy Pages during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts (50) forces out Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker as he turns a double play on Eugenio Suárez during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 29, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)