Joey Meneses capped a four-hit day with a three-run home run in the 10th inning to lift the Washington Nationals past the visiting Oakland Athletics 7-5 on Thursday.
Keibert Ruiz pulled the Nationals within 5-4 with an RBI single in the 10th. Lane Thomas walked and Meneses, a 30-year-old rookie off to a torrid start in the majors, hit a 2-2 pitch from Norge Ruiz (0-1) to right center to give Washington the series win.
The A’s scored twice in the top half. Vimael Machin worked a nine-pitch, two-out walk against Hunter Harvey (1-0) to put runners on first and second. Shea Langeliers, who had homered earlier, smacked a 2-1 pitch to the wall in right center, scoring Sheldon Neuse and Machin.
Oakland prospect Ken Waldichuk, 24, picked up a no-decision in his major league debut. Waldichuk was in trouble in each of the first three innings but allowed only one run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.
The A’s took a 3-1 lead in the seventh. Pinch hitter Cristian Pache led off with a walk. Nick Allen sacrificed and Tony Kemp grounded a single to left, scoring Pache. Murphy singled to right and Kemp went to third when Meneses overran the ball. Seth Brown then lined a single to center, scoring Kemp.
Singles by Meneses and Luke Voit put runners on first and third in the bottom of the inning, and Meneses scored when Nelson Cruz grounded into a force at second, pulling Washington within 3-2.
The Nationals tied 3-3 it in the eighth when Cesar Hernandez was hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Ildemaro Vargas.
Thomas hit Waldichuk’s first major league pitch for a double and scored on a single by Meneses to give the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead.
Langeliers homered leading off the fifth against Paolo Espino to tie it.
Espino, who got the start when Cade Cavalli was placed on the injured list, allowed a run on five hits over five innings. He struck out six without a walk.
–Field Level Media
