Henry Bolte's homer in the 4th inning helps Athletics beat Blue Jays 2-0

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Henry Bolte hit a solo home run in the third inning and Tommy White scored on a wild pitch as the Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Wednesday.

Athletics left-handed pitcher Brady Basso allowed three hits and three walks with four strikeouts in four innings. Basso’s worked out of a jam in the fourth when the Blue Jays threatened with runners on the corners, but got out of the inning with a strikeout.

Scott Blewett (2-0) earned the win by working two innings and allowing two hits and a walk, with a strikeout.

Bolte hit his 10th home run of the season in the third inning off Michael Lorenzen (3-12), one of six pitchers used by Toronto in a bullpen game. Lorenzen worked 2 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, a walk and the only runs in the game.

A wild pitch that scored White in the fourth was enough for Toronto to pull Lorenzen.

The Athletics' bullpen held Toronto in check for the remaining five innings after Basso exited. The bullpen combined for four strikeouts and allowed just three hits. The A’s bullpen has allowed one earned run or fewer in 15 of its last 20 games.

Elvis Alvardo (4-3) entered in the ninth and struck out two before forcing a flyout to earn his sixth save.

Toronto’s rookie Kazuma Okamoto was held hitless in his three at-bats and struck out three times. He still sits behind Sal Stewart in the MLB’s rookie home run race by one with 30 on the season.

The Athletics won for the sixth time in eight games and took their first series from the Blue Jays since July 2025.

Toronto slipped 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the race for the final AL wild card.

Athletics’ LHP Jeffrey Springs (4-13, 6.02 ERA) will start the opener of a series against visiting Seattle on Friday. The Mariners have not announced a starter.

AP MLB: MLB ' Latest News, Stats, and Scores

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Michael Lorenzen, fields the ball after a wild pitch resulting in a run for the Athletics during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Louis Varland throws to an Athletics batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics pitcher Hogan Harris throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

Athletics' Henry Bolte jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall)

A day after revealing his disappointment over the lack of a new contract offer by Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister delivered the perfect response with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Mac Allister unleashed a ferocious strike from outside of the box as Liverpool came back from a goal down at Anfield.

The Argentina international, who joined Liverpool in 2023, raced away to celebrate in front of the home fans. It was in stark contrast to his sombre tone ahead of the game when discussing the uncertainty over his position at the club.

“I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract," he said during a pre-match news conference on Tuesday.

Mac Allister’s contract runs until 2028, so there is no urgency for Liverpool to renew yet. But his goal five minutes after after halftime was a reminder of his qualities, firing powerfully into the corner and beyond the reach of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

“Normally when I’m in those positions I like to shoot," Mac Allister said. "It doesn’t happen very often but I’m happy because I love to score goals. Today, it was a nice goal and was important for the team as well, which is what I want.”

Atletico had taken the lead through Marcos Llorente after 17 minutes, with the midfielder extending his remarkable goal-scoring run at Anfield.

It was his fifth goal in his last three visits to Merseyside, having famously scored twice as Atletico eliminated then-defending champion Liverpool from the tournament just before the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Dominik Szoboszlai leveled in the 40th before Mac Allister’s winner.

“I think we have an amazing team. We have quality, we have desire and we have everything to be successful,” Mac Allister said. “But we need to show it. We have to have everyone in the same page and we can do great things.”

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after he scored his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Atletico Madrid's Marcos Llorente looks disappointed after losing the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Atletico Madrid's goalkeeper Jan Oblak receives the second goal by Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister scores his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid in Liverpool, England, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)