Rooker's 3-run homer and Civale's 5th-inning escape help the A's to a 6-2 win over the Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a three-run homer in the third inning, and the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 on Saturday.

Aaron Civale (4-1) pitched five scoreless innings for the A's. Shane Baz (1-4) allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings for Baltimore, which lost for the eighth time in 10 games and received boos from the home crowd.

Nick Kurtz doubled twice for the A's and has now reached base in 33 straight games. He led off the first with a two-base hit and then scored on a single by Shea Langeliers.

Rooker's fifth homer of the season made it 4-0. Then the Orioles left Baz in to face the top of the order a third time in the fifth. Kurtz doubled, stole third without a throw and scored on a sacrifice fly by Langeliers. Baz's outing ended when he was hit with a pitch clock violation for ball four to Rooker.

Baz was Baltimore's big offseason addition to a pitching staff that needed help. The Orioles then signed him to a $68 million, five-year contract that went well beyond what this front office had previously been willing to commit to a pitcher. In eight starts this season, he has a 5.48 ERA.

Baltimore loaded the bases with nobody out in the fifth, but Civale worked out of the jam against some of the Orioles' most imposing hitters. Adley Rutschman struck out, and Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo hit shallow flyballs.

Pinch-hitter Colton Cowser broke up the shutout with a two-run single in the eighth. Colby Thomas drove in the final run for the A's with a ninth-inning single.

Jacob Wilson of the Athletics unsuccessfully challenged called third strikes in both the second and third innings, meaning the team couldn't call for any more ABS reviews after that.

The A's go for a three-game sweep Sunday with Luis Severino (2-3, 4.15 ERA) on the mound. Chris Bassitt (2-2, 5.91) starts for Baltimore against the franchise he played for from 2015-21.

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Athletics pitcher Aaron Civale throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman hits a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Athletics' Nick Kurtz rounds third base to score during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

Athletics' Brent Rooker hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

CHICAGO (AP) — Miguel Vargas homered twice and drove in three runs, and the Chicago White Sox beat Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners 6-1 on Saturday night.

Colson Montgomery also went deep for Chicago, which had lost three straight and four of five overall. Anthony Kay (2-1) pitched five innings of one-run ball.

The White Sox improved to 18-21 on the season. They were 11-28 after 39 games last year.

Julio Rodríguez had two of Seattle's four hits. The Mariners had won three of four, including a 12-8 victory in the series opener on Friday night.

Castillo (0-4) surrendered four runs and five hits in four innings in his third consecutive loss. The right-hander struck out six and walked none.

It was Castillo's first loss in five career starts against the White Sox. He was 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA against the South Siders coming into the night, allowing five earned runs in 26 1/3 innings.

Montgomery drove Castillo's 1-2 fastball deep to right for a two-run drive with two out in the first. Montgomery's 10th homer extended his on-base streak to a career-best 21 straight games.

Vargas hit a two-run shot off Castillo in the third and a solo drive off left-hander Josh Simpson in the fifth. He has nine homers this season after he set a career high with 16 last year.

It was Vargas' second career multihomer game. He also went deep twice against the Chicago Cubs last May 16.

Rob Refsnyder hit a sacrifice fly for Seattle in the fifth. The Mariners had a chance to rally in the eighth, but Randy Arozarena struck out swinging with runners on the corners for the final out of the inning.

Logan Gilbert (2-3, 4.30 ERA) starts for Seattle on Sunday, and fellow right-hander Davis Martin (5-1, 1.64) pitches for Chicago in the series finale.

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Seattle Mariners' Mitch Garver (18) jogs by Chicago White Sox catcher Edgar Quero, right, to score on a sacrifice fly hit by Rob Refsnyder during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Colson Montgomery (12) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Saturday, May 9, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)