Rooker's 9th-inning sacrifice fly lifts Athletics over Yankees 3-2

NEW YORK (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly off David Bednar in the ninth inning, and the Athletics rallied to beat the New York Yankees 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Nick Kurtz singled leading off the ninth against Bednar (0-1), and Shea Langeliers doubled. Rooker lofted a flyball to center field and Kurtz scored without a play.

Elvis Alvarado (2-0) got two outs for an A's bullpen that pitched four hitless innings in relief of Luis Severino. Joel Kuhnel worked a perfect ninth for his second major league save, his first since 2022.

New York's Ryan McMahon made his first big league start at shortstop, where he had two prior appearances in late-inning switches totaling three innings for Colorado in 2020. He had five assists and was 0 for 3 with a walk at the plate, dropping to 2 for 26 this season.

Severino, who pitched in the Yankees organization from 2012-23, allowed two runs in the first. He gave up four hits and five walks in five innings.

New York went ahead seven pitches into the first on three straight singles, the last being Cody Bellinger's blooper. After a pair of strikeouts, Severino forced in a run with eight straight balls. The A's challenged the last, to J.C. Escarra, which ABS showed was 2.1 inches above the strike zone.

The A's tied it 2-all in the fourth on an RBI single by Jeff McNeil, celebrating his 34th birthday, and Will Warren's run-scoring wild pitch. McNeil is 8 for 16 on his birthday.

New York's Ben Rice had the first four-strikeout game of his big league career, and the Yankees went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 22 for 97 (.227) this year.

Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake was ejected by plate umpire Carlos Torres for arguing ball/strike calls from New York’s dugout in the third inning.

Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, recovering from left shoulder surgery on Oct. 14, could start a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week, manager Aaron Boone said.

New York's Ryan Weathers (0-0) and the A's Jeffrey Springs (1-0) start Thursday's series finale in a matchup of lefties.

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

New York Yankees coaches and players including outfielder Aaron Judge, center, and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., center right, receive their Silver Slugger awards before a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge strikes out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

The Athletics' including Max Muncy (3) and Jeff McNeil (22) celebrate a win after the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers, left, and pitcher Joel Kuhnel celebrate a win after the ninth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren throw during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Athletics pitcher Luis Severino throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Ryan McMahon throws to first for an out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Athletics' Lawrence Butler slides home to score during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

DETROIT (AP) — Pistons guard Cade Cunningham had a double-double in his return to the lineup on Wednesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Cunningham, who had been sidelined since March 19 after sustaining a collapsed lung in a win over the Washington Wizards, finished with 13 points and 10 assists in 26 minutes as the Pistons won 137-111.

“I felt really good out there,” he said. “I have to thank the medical staff and the trainers, because they got me into a great place where I felt comfortable for all my minutes.”

Cunningham was averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 61 games this season, but the Pistons were able to go 8-3 during his absence.

“You never want to see what happened to Cade, but we couldn't just focus on the negatives,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “No one thought they could replace Cade, but everyone decided they were going to be the best version of themselves. That's enough for us to be successful.”

Bickerstaff said Cunningham's playing time in Detroit's last two games will depend on how he feels Thursday.

During his absence, he became one of the faces of the controversy over the NBA's rule requiring players to play 65 games to be eligible for seasonal awards. He is considered a very strong candidate for All-NBA First Team honors, but he will only reach 64 games even if he plays in Detroit's two remaining games.

“I respect what they are trying to do with the rule — fans pay a lot of money to see superstars play, not rest,” Bickerstaff said. “It puts me in a tough spot, but I know people are talking about exceptions. I'm not sure how that works, so I'm just going to finish the season and see what happens.”

The Pistons (57-22) have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They have also won the Central Division for the first time in 18 years and are hoping to win their first playoff series since the 2007-08 season.

“A lot of our guys got some great reps to build confidence and learn new ways we can attack, both offensively and defensively,” Bickerstaff said. “That's important, because you see some many different things in the playoffs.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) takes a shot against Milwaukee Bucks guard Cormac Ryan (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) drives against Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr. (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) talks with guard Cade Cunningham (2), who did not play due to an injury, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)