By Jeff WallnerThe Associated Press
CINCINNATI – Max Schuemann and Lawrence Butler each hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to help the Oakland Athletics to a 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.
Zack Gelof added a solo hit in the eighth inning and All-Star closer Mason Miller held on after allowing two runs and four hits in a shaky ninth inning, striking out pinch-hitter Amed Rosario with runners on second and third base for his 22nd save.
Oakland had one hit and was down 1-0 after six innings, but rallied to hand Cincinnati its ninth consecutive loss to an interleague opponent.
A’s starter Mitch Spence allowed one run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three walks and had three strikeouts.
Michel Otañez (1-0) made two outs in the sixth inning and thus earned his first win in the Major League.
The Reds, who have five starting pitchers on the injured list, were expected to make full use of their bullpen on Tuesday.
Jakob Junis made his fourth start of the season, his first since joining the Reds, and shut down all 12 batters he faced with three strikeouts. He had made eight relief appearances after being signed by the Brewers on July 30.
Oakland didn’t have a baserunner until Buck Farmer allowed a walk to Seth Brown with one out in the fifth inning. The first hit for the A’s came when Schuemann hit a double against Farmer in the sixth inning.
In his next at-bat, Schuemann hit a two-run homer off Tony Santillan (1-2) that gave the A’s a 2-1 lead with two outs in the seventh inning. Two batters later, Butler hit his 15th homer off Justin Wilson.
Gelof hit his 16th home run in the eighth inning against Casey Legumina.
Oakland led 5-2 in the ninth inning with just one out when Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl singled to put runners on first and third base. De La Cruz scored on a groundout. Spencer Steer’s bloop single brought in the fourth run before Miller struck out Rosario.
TRAINING ROOMC Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist bruise) has started hitting and could begin rehab this week.
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