When the Oakland Athletics decided to sign infielder Aledmys Díaz to a two year, $14.5M deal, they were expecting the production that Diaz gave the Houston Astros for the last couple of years. Despite the rough start to the season for Díaz, he has been seeing the ball a lot better and led the Athletics to an extra innings win.
In the top of the 10th inning, Oakland had a man on second base with no outs in the inning, but the count at 2-2, Milwaukee Brewers reliever Joel Payamps threw an 85.5 MPH Slider to Diaz that he snuck right down the middle to drive in Tony Kemp and give the Athletics a 2-1 lead and eventually victory. Aside from the game winning hit, the Cuban had himself a very nice game going three for four with two base hits and a double in the afternoon affair.
Aledmys Díaz gives Oakland a ninth inning lead! pic.twitter.com/MYa7cdzi07
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 10, 2023
In the postgame presser, Díaz was expressing that it is still a long season and that this is a young team, so with how they are playing, they are just having fun and want to keep the momentum going. “We’re gonna play better,” said Diaz following the game. “It’s a long season.”
A big part of the Athletics success in the game was Paul Blackburns six inning, five strikeout performance. The bullpen on the other hand had a strong showing despite the one run that they gave up in the bottom of the eighth inning thanks to a William Contreras solo homer. That was Contreras eighth home run of the season and it left the bat at 109.3 MPH and went 440 feet into the air to tie the game up at one apiece. Aside from the eighth inning mess up, the Athletic’s bullpen held it down as they struck out a total of three Brewers, but were able to get a lot of help from their defense.
“We’ve played some really good teams the last four series,” said Paul Blackburn following the game. “Beating good teams at their place definitely helps.” When it comes to momentum, it is huge for an Oakland team that isn’t winning a lot lately. “Momentum is kinda huge, and anytime you can gain a little bit of momentum, nobody knows how far that’ll take you.”
Paul Blackburn had it all working in Milwaukee 👏 pic.twitter.com/3ycoFiPewR
— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) June 10, 2023
The Athletics currently stand at 16-50, riding a four game win streak, which is something that this team hasn’t done since 2021 and having taken the last two series. The first one against the Pirates and the second one against the Milwaukee Brewers. In the finale, JP Sears will take the mound against Freddy Peralta as the Athletics look for the sweep and the Brewers looks to salvage one game in the series.