Brent Rooker's 2-run homer leads A's to fifth straight win, 3-1 over Marlins

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory.

“I've been really pleased with my process, been pleased with how my at-bats have gone, the way I've felt, the way I've seen the ball, the swings I've taken,” Rooker said. “I just kind of figured if I continue along on that road the results will start coming and hopefully that's a sign of that.”

Esteury Ruiz added an RBI single in the fifth as the A's backed lefty JP Sears (2-2), who won for the first time in four starts.

“We just want to keep it rolling, we're playing good ball,” Sears said.

Oakland, which is 16-17, lost 112 games last season and didn't pick up its 16th victory until a win at Milwaukee on June 10 in its 66th game. Now, the A's are on a roll. They drew 8,533 fans for the interleague opener.

Before the game, the Marlins agreed to trade second baseman Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres, but the team said the deal still needed a review of medical information for the swap to be finalized.

Miami changed its lineup minutes before the game started, pulling the 27-year-old Arraez out of the leadoff spot and second base. Arraez was hitting .299 with five RBIs and had scored 22 runs with a .347 on-base percentage over 16 games.

“When a guy like that is taken out of the lineup or potentially traded, you feel it, because he’s such a good kid and one of the leaders in that clubhouse,” manager Skip Schumaker said, “so there’s definitely a shock value.”

Marlins left-hander Ryan Weathers (2-3) was tagged for three runs on five hits and struck out five with no walks over six innings.

Miami had won three straight coming into their final visit to the Coliseum before the A's play the next three seasons in Sacramento as their new Las Vegas ballpark is being built.

Sears gave up a one-out triple to Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the second but escaped unscathed after striking out Emmanuel Rivera and retiring Otto Lopez on a grounder after a 10-pitch battle.

He was tagged for seven runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Orioles in his previous start.

Lucas Erceg, the fourth A's pitcher, gave up a two-out RBI single to Nick Gordon before finishing for his second save — recording the final four outs.

“It's contagious throwing the ball well,” Sears said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Marlins: RHP Bryan Hoeing was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday with a strained left hamstring. ... LHP Jesús Luzardo, sidelined with tightness in his pitching elbow, threw a 22-pitch bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled to pitch with Single-A Jupiter on Sunday and throw four innings and 60 pitches. ... RHP Sandy Alcantara will play catch Saturday in Oakland as he works back from Tommy John surgery. ... 3B Jake Burger will play the field again for Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday as he continues his rehab assignment.

Athletics: Injured 2B Zack Gelof (left oblique strain) threw across infield practice before the game.

UP NEXT

LHP Trevor Rogers (0-4, 4.31 ERA) is still seeking his first win since April 14, 2023, when he pitches for the Marlins on Saturday opposite the A's RHP Paul Blackburn (2-1, 3.34). Rogers faces the A's for the first time and has a 3.04 ERA over 10 career interleague starts.

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

Miami Marlins shortstop Tim Anderson throws to first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. Max Schuemann scored and Esteury Ruiz reached first on Anderson's throwing error. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr., right, reacts after striking out against Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. strikes out against the Oakland Athletics during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker, right, runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers, foreground, during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears throws to first base for the out on Miami Marlins' Josh Bell during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Harris throws to first for the out on Miami Marlins' Tim Anderson during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Miami Marlins' Jazz Chisholm Jr. walks to the dugout after hitting a flyout to Oakland Athletics center fielder Esteury Ruiz during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears (38) hands the ball over to manager Mark Kotsay, second from left, as he exits during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' JP Sears pitches to a Miami Marlins batter during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker, right, celebrates with Abraham Toro after hitting a two-run home run against Miami Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

DENVER (AP) — Matt Duchene scored at 11:42 of the second overtime after being involved in a play that led to a goal disallowed for goaltender interference in the first extra period, and the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference final with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 on Friday night.

Duchene, a former draft pick of the Avalanche, secured a loose puck in front of the net and sent it over a sprawled out Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene took off down the ice and slid on his knees in celebration.

Dallas advances to face either Edmonton or Vancouver next. It’s the second straight trip to the conference final for the Stars, who lost last season to eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas. The Stars won their only Stanley Cup title in 1999.

Jamie Benn tied the game at 1:56 of the third period. Mason Marchment thought he scored the winner with 7:29 left in the first overtime but it was waved off for goaltender interference. The play was reviewed and the call on the ice stood. Duchene was jostling with Cale Makar in front of Georgiev, leading to a call. The NHL’s situation room explained that Duchene impaired Georgiev’s ability to play his position in the crease.

Jake Oettinger was stellar all night in making 29 saves. One of his biggest was a close-range shot from Artturi Lehkonen down low midway through the second OT.

This was a series in which the road team won five of six games, including the Stars taking all three in Denver. The Avalanche were the top home team in the regular season, while the Stars had the best road record.

Dallas joins Florida and the New York Rangers as teams that closed out a second-round series in six games. It’s just the third postseason to have three Round 2 matchups decided in six games (1999 and 2004).

It was a tumultuous postseason for Colorado, with Valeri Nichushkin suspended before Game 4 for violating terms of the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program.

Colorado scored the opening goal of the game for the first time in the series when Mikko Rantanen sent a wrist shot over Oettinger early in the second period on a power play.

Cale Makar had an assist to give him 80 career playoff points in 72 games played. He’s the fifth defenseman in NHL history to amass 80 career postseason points in 80 or fewer games, joining Bobby Orr (66 games), Paul Coffey (67), Brian Leetch (70) and Al MacInnis (71).

Both team were missing forwards, with Roope Hintz out for Dallas and Yakov Trenin for Colorado.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Colorado Avalanche center Casey Mittelstadt, left, pushes Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, center, against Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, left, has his shot blocked by Colorado Avalanche goaltender Alexandar Georgiev during the first overtime of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Jonathan Drouin, left, and Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn reach for the puck during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars left wings Jamie Benn, left, and Jason Robertson warm up before Game 6 of the team's NHL hockey playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche on Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen, center, works for position in front of the net against Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell, right, as goaltender Jake Oettinger stops a shot during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen, left, congratulates right wing Mikko Rantanen for a goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars defenseman Thomas Harley, left, tries to knock the puck away from Colorado Avalanche right wing Brandon Duhaime during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Andrew Cogliano stumbles next to Dallas Stars center Craig Smith during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger makes a glove save against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen, right, is congratulated for a goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Dallas Stars center Matt Duchene, front, pursues the puck, in front of Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey playoff series Friday, May 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)