TORONTO (AP) — JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof both homered in a six-run first inning, JP Sears pitched seven innings to win his third straight start and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on Sunday for their 50th win, matching their total from last season.
Lawrence Butler had three hits, including a pair in the first inning, and drove in a run as Oakland improved to 20-13 since July 2, the third-best record in baseball in that span.
Click to Gallery
TORONTO (AP) — JJ Bleday and Zack Gelof both homered in a six-run first inning, JP Sears pitched seven innings to win his third straight start and the Oakland Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 on Sunday for their 50th win, matching their total from last season.
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Mason Miller (19) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Michel Otanez throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Toronto on on Sunday, Aug 11, 2024/Jon Blacke. ( Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough throws to an Oakland Athletics batter in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (25) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) slides safely into second base ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Leo Jimenez (49) in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann (12) ducks away from an inside pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker (25), left, is tagged out in a run down by Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (28) in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker (25) hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Luis Del Los Santos (20) is forced out at second base by Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann (12) in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann (12) watches his fly ball, caught by Toronto Blue Jays George Springer, not pictured, in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) gestures to the dugout after hitting a double against the Toronto Blue Jays as second base umpire Mike Muchlinski, right, calls a time out during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' JJ Bleday (33) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
The Athletics are 13-8 since the All-Star break.
“It all comes with confidence and confidence is contagious,” Sears said.
Oakland (50-69) lost 112 games last season and 102 the year before that.
In 2023, the Athletics didn’t earn their 50th win until Sept. 30, the penultimate day of the regular season.
“Last year was brutal at times,” Gelof said. “This year, it’s the same group. We’ve got a few newer guys. I feel like we’re all just on the same page, pulling the same rope. It’s just great to be a part of. I feel like everyone is doing their job and we’re having fun doing it.”
Bleday reached base four times, Gelof had three hits and Brent Rooker added two hits and an RBI. The Athletics have won six of their past eight series.
“They’ve got confidence in that room,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “That group is realizing that they can win baseball games and go out and be competitive, win series for that matter. It’s really nice to watch their success.”
Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0 for 4, ending his hitting streak at 22 games. Guerrero’s streak matched his career high, first set in 2022.
Guerrero scorched a 112.7 mph grounder to shortstop in the first but was thrown out to end the inning. He flew out to right in the fourth and grounded into double plays in the seventh and eighth.
“I thought his swing was a little bit big today,” manager John Schneider said. “It just wasn’t his day.”
Sears (10-8) allowed three runs and three hits, reaching double figures in wins for the first time. He walked three and struck out four.
“It’s great to play behind him,” Gelof said. "He’s always filling up the zone.”
The left-hander retired the first 10 batters in order before Daulton Varsho homered in the fourth.
Varsho’s home run was his 14th. It was Toronto’s first hit since the second inning of Saturday’s 1-0 loss, and its first run since the eighth inning of Friday’s 3-1 win.
Sears was replaced after walking the first two batters in the eighth. Michel Otañez came on and gave up an RBI double to Luis De Los Santos and a two-run single to George Springer. Otañez hit Varsho with a pitch but escaped further damage when Guerrero grounded into a double play on the first pitch.
Oakland’s Mason Miller finished with a 1-2-3 ninth.
The first four batters of the game reached safely against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt (9-11). Butler doubled and scored on a fielding error before Bleday hit a two-run homer, his 14th. Three batters later, Gelof hit a two-run shot, his 15th. Daz Cameron doubled before Butler capped the inning with an RBI single.
Making his sixth career start against his former team, Bassitt matched a season worst by giving up seven runs in four innings.
ROSTER MOVES
Toronto reinstated LHP Génesis Cabrera from the paternity list and optioned RHP Yerry Rodríguez to Triple-A Buffalo.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Oakland had not named a starter for Tuesday’s interleague game in New York against the Mets. RHP Paul Blackburn (5-2, 3.86) is scheduled for New York.
Blue Jays: RHP Bowden Francis (4-3, 5.44 ERA) is scheduled to face Angels RHP Davis Daniel (1-3, 6.04) on Monday night as Toronto heads west to begin a three-game series at Los Angeles.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Daulton Varsho (25) is forced out at second base by Oakland Athletics second baseman Zack Gelofn the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Toronto on Sunday, Aug 11, 2024/Jon Blacke. ( Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Mason Miller (19) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Michel Otanez throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Toronto on on Sunday, Aug 11, 2024/Jon Blacke. ( Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Ryan Yarbrough throws to an Oakland Athletics batter in the fifth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Daulton Varsho (25) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) slides safely into second base ahead of a tag by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Leo Jimenez (49) in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann (12) ducks away from an inside pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker (25), left, is tagged out in a run down by Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (28) in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Brent Rooker (25) hits a double against the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Blue Jays' Luis Del Los Santos (20) is forced out at second base by Oakland Athletics shortstop Max Schuemann (12) in the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann (12) watches his fly ball, caught by Toronto Blue Jays George Springer, not pictured, in the fourth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' Lawrence Butler (4) gestures to the dugout after hitting a double against the Toronto Blue Jays as second base umpire Mike Muchlinski, right, calls a time out during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
Oakland Athletics' JJ Bleday (33) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)
A key employee who labeled an experimental submersible unsafe prior to its last, fatal voyage began his testimony Tuesday before U.S. Coast Guard investigators.
David Lochridge is one of the most anticipated witnesses to appear before a commission trying to determine what caused the Titan to implode en route to the wreckage of the Titanic last year, killing all five on board.
Lochridge is former operations director for OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan and brought it on several dives to the Titanic going back to 2021. He claimed several years ago that he was fired for raising safety concerns.
His testimony began a day after other witnesses painted a picture of a troubled company that was impatient to get its unconventionally designed craft into the water. The accident set off a worldwide debate about the future of private undersea exploration.
Among those killed was Stockton Rush, co-founder of OceanGate. The company, based in Washington state, suspended its operations after the implosion.
OceanGate's former engineering director, Tony Nissen, kicked off Monday's testimony, telling investigators that he felt pressured to get the vessel ready to dive and refused to pilot it for a journey several years before Titan's last trip.
“‘I’m not getting in it,’” Nissen said he told Rush.
When asked if there was pressure to get Titan into the water, Nissen responded, “100%.”
But asked if he felt that the pressure compromised safety decisions and testing, Nissen paused, then replied, “No. And that’s a difficult question to answer, because given infinite time and infinite budget, you could do infinite testing.”
OceanGate's former finance and human resources director, Bonnie Carl, testified Monday that Lochridge had characterized the Titan as “unsafe.” Lochridge is expected to provide more perspective on what caused the implosion.
Coast Guard officials noted at the start of the hearing that the submersible had not been independently reviewed, as is standard practice. That and Titan's unusual design subjected it to scrutiny in the undersea exploration community.
During the submersible's final dive on June 18, 2023, the crew lost contact after an exchange of texts about the Titan's depth and weight as it descended. The support ship Polar Prince then sent repeated messages asking if the Titan could still see the ship on its onboard display.
One of the last messages from Titan’s crew to Polar Prince before the submersible imploded stated, “all good here,” according to a visual re-creation presented earlier in the hearing.
When the submersible was reported overdue, rescuers rushed ships, planes and other equipment to an area about 435 miles (700 kilometers) south of St. John’s, Newfoundland. Wreckage of the Titan was subsequently found on the ocean floor about 330 yards (300 meters) off the bow of the Titanic, Coast Guard officials said.
Scheduled to appear later in the hearing are OceanGate co-founder Guillermo Sohnlein and former scientific director, Steven Ross, according to a list compiled by the Coast Guard. Numerous guard officials, scientists, and government and industry officials are also expected to testify. The U.S. Coast Guard subpoenaed witnesses who were not government employees, said Coast Guard spokesperson Melissa Leake.
Among those not on the hearing witness list is Rush’s widow, Wendy Rush, the company’s communications director. Asked about her absence, Leake said the Coast Guard does not comment on the reasons for not calling specific individuals to a particular hearing during ongoing investigations. She said it’s common for a Marine Board of Investigation to “hold multiple hearing sessions or conduct additional witness depositions for complex cases.”
OceanGate has no full-time employees at this time but will be represented by an attorney during the hearing, the company said in a statement. The company said it has been fully cooperating with the Coast Guard and NTSB investigations since they began.
The time frame for the investigation was initially a year, but the inquiry has taken longer. The ongoing Marine Board of Investigation is the highest level of marine casualty investigation conducted by the Coast Guard. When the hearing concludes, recommendations will be submitted to the Coast Guard’s commandant. The National Transportation Safety Board is also conducting an investigation.
Coast Guard's Thomas Whalen, left, speaks with Nicole Emmons, right, during a break for the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Coast Guard's Thomas Whalen speaks with another Coast Guard member during a break for the Titan marine board formal hearing inside the Charleston County Council Chambers, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Jason Neubauer, board chairman, of the investigative board for the Titan marine board formal hearing pauses for a moment of silence inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Coast Guard members of the investigative board for the Titan marine board formal hearing pause for a moment of silence inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Coast Guard members of the investigative board for the Titan marine board formal hearing take an oath inside the Charleston County Council Chambers Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)
A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard
FILE - This undated image provided by OceanGate Expeditions in June 2021 shows the company's Titan submersible. (OceanGate Expeditions via AP, File)
A key employee who called the Titan unsafe will testify before the Coast Guard