A’s rally, but lose in extras to Diamondbacks

Phoenix — Ildemaro Vargas delivered a game‑winning single in the 10th inning, lifting the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 6‑5 victory over the Athletics after Arizona surrendered a two‑run lead in the ninth. Arizona entered the ninth ahead 4‑2, with reliever Paul Sewald appearing set to close the game after recording the first two outs. Donovan Walton then tripled, and Jacob Wilson followed with a two‑run home run — his seventh of the season — to tie the contest. In the 10th, Oakland reclaimed the lead when Jonah Heim’s sacrifice fly off Kevin Ginkel (4‑3) made it 5‑4. Luis Medina (2‑2) subsequently walked two batters to load the bases with nobody out. Nolan Arenado answered with a bloop single to knot the score, and Vargas sealed the win with a chopper through a gap on the left side, giving Arizona its seventh triumph in nine games. Earlier, Max Kepler launched a three‑run homer in the opening inning. Ketel Marte added a sacrifice fly in the seventh to push Arizona ahead 4‑1. Shea Langeliers answered with a solo home run in the eighth — his 23rd of the season — trimming the deficit to 4‑2. The Athletics have now dropped 12 of their last 14 contests. Arizona starter Kohl Drake yielded a run‑scoring single to Alika Williams in the third inning, escaped a bases‑loaded jam via a lineout and an inning‑ending double play, and finished five innings with four hits, one run allowed and five strikeouts. Athletics starter Jack Perkins, who entered the game owning the third‑highest ERA (6.87) among pitchers with at least 50 innings, surrendered Kepler’s three‑run shot early. He settled thereafter, permitting three runs and five hits over five frames. Looking ahead, Athletics left‑hander Gage Jump (3‑5, 3.78 ERA) is slated to face Diamondbacks right‑hander Merrill Kelly (7‑8, 5.20) in the series finale on Wednesday.