Leody Taveras drives in 3 runs as Orioles beat Athletics

By ANTONIO RAY HARVEY Associated Press August 29, 2026 - 10:31 pm WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Leody Taveras ended an 0-for-12 slump with two doubles and three RBIs as the Baltimore Orioles secured a 5-3 victory over the Athletics on Saturday night. Colton Cowser hit his 13th home run of the season in the fifth inning, while Coby Mayo recorded a base hit and scored twice for Baltimore. Shane Baz (5-14) worked five and two‑thirds innings, allowing five hits and two runs, striking out four and walking three. Baz had lost each of his five August decisions, bringing his loss total to eight since June 18; his most recent win came on June 12, a 7‑3 triumph over the San Diego Padres. The Orioles broke through in the third when Taveras lined a ground‑rule double off Athletics starter Jack Perkins (3‑10), driving in Mayo. Cowser cleared the halfway‑point fence with a home run in the fifth, and Taveras added a second double off reliever Luis Suárez in the sixth, plating two more runs to give Baltimore a 4‑0 cushion. Lawrence Butler drew a bases‑loaded walk and Donovan Walton was hit by a pitch later in the inning, trimming the deficit to 4‑2 for Oakland. Carlos Cortes delivered an RBI single in the eighth, cutting the gap to one run. In the ninth, Cowser scored from third on a passed ball by Athletics catcher Jonah Heim. Andrew Kittredge closed the game for his eighth save. The Athletics have announced plans to relocate to Las Vegas in 2028, when they will open play at a new ballpark on the Strip. Baltimore has hit at least one home run in 16 of its last 17 games. A’s rookie Henry Bolte notched a single in the third and a double in the seventh, raising his August hit total to 33, the most among major‑league rookies for the month. Looking ahead, Orioles right‑hander Chris Bassitt (5‑4, 4.74 ERA) is slated to start Sunday’s series finale; Oakland has not yet named a starting pitcher.