Gelof hits a 2-run homer in the 9th to lift A's over Yankees 2-0 after 1st-inning ejection of Boone

NEW YORK (AP) — Zack Gelof hit a two-run homer off Victor González in the ninth inning, and the Oakland Athletics stopped an eight-game losing streak in the Bronx by beating the Yankees 2-0 Monday following the ejection of New York manager Aaron Boone just five pitches in.

After New York’s Carlos Rodón and Oakland’s JP Sears matched each other with shutout ball, Abraham Toro reached off González (1-1) leading off the ninth when the pitcher slipped while trying to pick up his dribbler between the mound and the third-base line.

Gelof hit an opposite-field drive into the right-field seats on a flat sinker for his third home run this season.

“To see him go oppo on a lefty, a really good lefty, is a good sign," A's manager Mark Kotsay said.

Gelof had entered 3 for 19 against left-handers after hitting .167 (12 for 72) with one homer against them last year.

“It's something that I focused on in the offseason,” Gelof said.

Kotsay dropped Gelof to sixth in the batting order for the second straight day after hitting him mostly second or third. Gelof has a .205 average this season, down from .267 as a rookie.

"Just trying to get him comfortable, get him relaxed," Kotsay said.

Lucas Erceg (1-1) pitched two innings and Mason Miller struck out Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Aaron Judge to remain perfect in five save chances, finishing a three-hitter and the fourth shutout against the Yankees in 23 games this season.

Miller threw eight fastballs averaging 101.8 mph and six sliders.

“He has a pretty good fastball,” Soto said.

Miller, a 25-year-old right-hander, was pitching at Yankee Stadium for the first time.

“Walking around before the game, it’s got a different air about it, for sure,” he said.

Oakland, which arrived after getting swept in a three-game series at Cleveland, had not won at the Yankees since 2021.

Judge was 0 for 4 with a pair of strikeouts and a double-play grounder, dropping his average to .174.

Ian Hamilton had gotten Shea Langeliers to swing under a high 96.1 mph fastball on a full count to strand the bases loaded in the eighth.

Boone was ejected over a remark from a fan behind the dugout aimed at the plate umpire. Esteury Ruiz was hit on the back foot by a Rodón slider leading, Boone questioned whether Ruiz swung at the pitch and Hunter Wendelstedt ejected Boone after a fan behind the dugout yelled at the umpire.

Rodón allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings, Nick Allen’s two-out single in the fifth, and lowered his ERA to 2.70. He has given up three runs or fewer in all five of his starts.

Former Yankees player JP Sears gave up three hits in six shutout innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.

“His slider for us lefties was tough, tough to see,” Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Yankees: 3B DJ LeMahieu (broken right foot) is set to start a minor league rehab assignment Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Yankees RHP Marcus Stroman (1-1, 2.42) starts Tuesday night against Oakland RHP Paul Blackburn (2-0, 1.08), who entered the series third in the major leagues in ERA.

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

Umpire Hunter Wendelstedt yells at New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the first inning of the baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. Boone was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone, right, argues with umpire Hunter Wendelstedt during the first inning of the baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. Boone was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws during the first inning of the baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws during the first inning of the baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws during the first inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof, left, celebrates with Nick Allen after the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. The Athletics defeated the Yankees 2-0. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof hits a two-run home run during the ninth inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the ninth inning of the baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium Monday, April 22, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Taylor Pendrith shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over Matt NeSmith into the weekend in the 3M Open.

Playing in windier afternoon conditions, Pendrith made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th and tapped in for another birdie on the par-5 18th. He had a 12-under 130 total at the TPC Twin Cities, playing the first 36 holes without a bogey.

The 33-year-old Canadian won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May in Texas for his first PGA Tour title. He tied for fifth last week in the Barracuda Championship in California.

“Today was pretty tricky with the wind, it was blowing pretty hard at times, so my speed was great all day and stayed really patient," Pendrith said. “I didn’t really have many good looks through the first hour I would say of golf and was able to stay patient and make a couple, made a couple longer ones, which was nice.”

NeSmith had a 64 in the morning before wind gusts topping 20 mph hit the course in the afternoon and early evening.

Seeking his first PGA Tour victory, NeSmith lost in a playoff two weeks ago at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky, his lone top-10 finish in 20 prior starts this season. He has missed 11 cuts.

“Patience is key out here whether it be to win golf tournaments, to make cuts, to try and keep your card to try and get in the top 30,” NeSmith said. “I think it pertains to each and every person out here. You never know when you’re going to get hot, you never know when good golf’s coming. Just kind of try and be patient, try and keep calmer heads and you never know what will happen.”

First-round leader Jacob Bridgeman had a 70 to drop three strokes back at 9 under with Andrew Putnam (66). Doug Ghim (64), Lanto Griffin (66), Alex Smalley (65) and Jhonattan Vegas (66) were 8 under.

“I felt like anything under par today was pretty good, especially in the afternoon,” said Bridgeman, one of the last players to tee off Friday. “The wind was blowing really hard in the beginning of the round, caught a little bit of a lull at the end, which was nice. But greens were kind of bumpy from all the traffic. … I stayed patient all day, didn’t really have a whole lot of great chances.”

The event is the second-to-last tournament before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, with some players near the 70-player cutoff failing to advance to the weekend. Nick Dunlap (64th in the standings), Luke List (71st) and defending champion Lee Hodges (73rd) missed the cut.

Jacob Bridgeman walks on the 10th tee during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Stewart Cink watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Kurt Kitayama watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Lanto Griffin watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith walks off the 18th green after his putt during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Matt NeSmith watches his tee shot on the second hole during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith lines up his putt on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Taylor Pendrith putts on the 18th green during the second round of the 3M Open golf tournament at the Tournament Players Club, Friday, July 26, 2024, in Blaine, Minn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)