Athletics Defeat Orioles 6-2 as Aaron Civale Leads Victory

The Athletics secured a 6-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on May 9, 2026, at Camden Yards, marking their third consecutive win and maintaining their position at the top of the American League West.

Right-hander Aaron Civale earned the win, improving his record to 4-1. Civale pitched five scoreless innings, contributing to a 2.61 ERA across eight starts.

The game’s most critical defensive sequence occurred in the fifth inning when Civale faced a bases-loaded situation with no outs. He managed to escape the jam without allowing a run by striking out Adley Rutschman and inducing soft flyouts from Pete Alonso and Samuel Basallo.

Reflecting on the high-pressure moment, Civale noted that it was my mess that I made, and I was happy to be able to clean it up. He explained his approach during the jam, stating that he was trying to minimize and trying not to do too much, adding that while escaping with one or two runs would have been acceptable, the scoreless outcome was obviously that’s awesome.

The Athletics’ offense provided significant support, led by Brent Rooker, who hit a three-run home run. Shea Langeliers added two runs batted in off pitcher Shane Baz to account for the majority of the team’s scoring.

Nick Kurtz continued a dominant start to the season, recording two doubles and scoring three runs. His performance on May 9, 2026, extended his current on-base streak to 33 games, which is currently the longest active streak in Major League Baseball. Kurtz also executed a steal of third base in the top of the fifth inning, which set up the sacrifice fly by Langeliers that extended the lead to 5-0.

Defense played a key role in the victory, highlighted by a play from Zack Gelof in the fourth inning. Playing only his fourth MLB game at third base, Gelof made a barehanded grab to prevent a potential bunt single by Leody Taveras, resulting in the second out of the inning.

Brent Rooker attributed the team’s current success to a collective effort and an ability to handle various game scenarios.

We’re playing really well right now. I’ve loved the way we’ve competed in every situation. I’ve loved the way we’ve been able to win close games. I’ve loved the way we’ve been able to get out to some leads early and hold on. Kind of ride those leads to more wins. I think everybody’s contributing in a big way.

Brent Rooker

The win over the Orioles reinforces the Athletics’ momentum as they lead the AL West, combining strong starting pitching from Civale with timely hitting from Rooker and Langeliers and consistent baserunning from Kurtz.