Toro hits solo homer in 8th and A's end 8-game skid with 5-4 win over Rockies

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Finally a regular player in the big leagues, Abraham Toro hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth after Seth Brown hit a tying two-run drive the previous inning, and the Oakland Athletics snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

“When the manager trusts you and puts you there every day it just gives you confidence as a player and you play more relaxed,” Toro said. “I was thankful I was able to play good the last couple days so I just want to take this opportunity and keep going for the rest of the year.”

Colorado's Ezequiel Tovar hit a pair of solo home runs for his first career multi-homer game and Ryan McMahon added a two-run drive before the A's rallied against Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley (2-1).

Lucas Erceg (2-2) pitched the eighth before flame-throwing closer Mason Miller struck out the side in order in the ninth for his ninth save in as many chances.

J.D. Davis also homered as Oakland avoided matching the longest losing streak in the majors this year. Miami lost nine in a row from March 28-April 6. The A’s, who drew an announced crowd of 4,005, had been swept in consecutive series.

Oakland held a team meeting in Kansas City after Sunday's 8-4 loss. Everybody hopes Tuesday was a start to getting back in a groove.

“It's momentum,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “Saturday, Sunday in K.C., we had 11 hits each day and we didn't come up on the winning side. Tonight, even though we were down you felt the energy still in the dugout that we still had some outs left, we still had some at-bats, and that was a good sign.”

Kris Bryant returned from the injured list to go 0 for 4 with a strikeout for the Rockies as they continued an almost weeklong stay in the Bay Area after playing a three-game series at San Francisco over the weekend. It was the Rockies’ first visit to the Coliseum since July 28-29, 2020, during the pandemic-shortened 60-game season.

Colorado starter Cal Quantrill struck out eight — his second-most in a game this season — and walked one over six innings, allowing two runs on three hits but didn’t end up with a decision.

McMahon connected in the first after A's starter Aaron Brooks hit Charlie Blackmon with a pitch to start the game.

Brooks allowed three runs on six hits over six innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rockies: Bryant had been sidelined since April 14 with a strained lower back. The Rockies had hoped OF Nolan Jones also would return but he jammed his right knee sliding into second base trying to stretch a single into a double playing a rehab game with Triple-A Albuquerque. He returned to Denver to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Thomas Noonan. The injury wasn't considered serious but he will need some rest. ... Colorado optioned OF Sean Bouchard to Triple-A and outrighted INF Julio Carreras to Albuquerque and he had been designated for assignment on Sunday.

Athletics: RHP Luis Medina (sprained right knee) will make another rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Las Vegas, while RHP Joe Boyle (low back strain) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A in the coming days. ... INF/OF Miguel Andujar still needs more at-bats in rehab games as he works back from meniscus surgery in his right knee.

UP NEXT

LHP Austin Gomber (1-2, 3.02 ERA) pitches the middle game for Colorado on Wednesday night againat RHP Mitch Spence (3-2, 3.90).

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

Oakland Athletics' J.D. Davis (5) reacts after hitting a home run next to Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Díaz during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon (24) throws out Oakland Athletics' Zack Gelof at first base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar (14) is congratulated by manager Bud Black, left, after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann throws out Colorado Rockies' Kris Bryant at first base during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Fans hold up signs calling for Oakland Athletics management to sell the team during the seventh inning of a baseball game between the Athletics and the Colorado Rockies in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar, middle, is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar (14) is congratulated by Ryan McMahon (24) after hitting a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck, right, cannot catch a triple hit by Oakland Athletics' JJ Bleday as shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (14) watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Colorado Rockies' Ezequiel Tovar hits a home run against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Oakland Athletics' Seth Brown (15) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run that also scored Zack Gelof (20) as Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, middle, reacts during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge on Friday rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to weigh a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Whitten said the wording the legislative council suggested is “packed with emotion and partisan meaning” and asked for what he called more “neutral” language. The measure aims to expand abortion access from 15 weeks to 24 weeks – the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb.

It would allow exemptions to save the woman’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. It would also prevent the state from adopting or enforcing laws that would forbid access to the procedure.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, who is a co-chair of the legislative council, said the group will appeal the court’s decision to the state Supreme Court.

“The ruling is just plain wrong and clearly partisan,” said Toma, a Republican.

Aaron Thacker, communications director for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, noted that the final decision on the ballot itself remains in the air.

“There’s still a lot of scenarios at play," he said. "Even after the secretary certifies the signatures, the courts have to decide if counties can put it on the ballot or not."

Arizona for Abortion Access, the organization leading the ballot measure campaign, sued the council earlier this month over the suggested language and advocated for the term “fetus,” which the council rejected.

Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a motion to submit an amicus brief that “fetus" and “pregnancy” are both neutral terms that the council could adopt.

“It’s incredibly important to us that Arizona voters get to learn more about and weigh our measure in objective and accurate terminology,” said Dawn Penich, communications director for the abortion access group.

Democrats have centered abortion rights in their campaigns in this year’s elections. Organizers in five other states have also proposed similar measures that would codify abortion access in their state constitutions: Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Nevada and South Dakota.

Arizona organizers submitted more than double the amount of signatures needed for the measure to appear on the ballot.

FILE - Arizona abortion-rights supporters deliver over 800,000 petition signatures to the capitol to get abortion rights on the November general election ballot July 3, 2024, in Phoenix. A judge on Friday, July 26, rejected an effort by GOP lawmakers to use the term “unborn human being” to refer to a fetus in the pamphlet that Arizona voters will use to decide on a ballot measure that would expand abortion access in the state. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)