Newcomers Come Up Big For A's In 4-2 Win Over Cardinals
OAKLAND (AP) -- Tanner Roark pitched five innings to get the win in his Oakland debut, and the Athletics beat Adam Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Sunday.
Jurickson Profar connected for his 15th homer as the A's won for the sixth time in seven games. Dustin Garneau had two hits and two RBIs after he was claimed off waivers Saturday.
St. Louis fell 1½ games back of NL Central-leading Chicago, which swept Milwaukee with a 7-2 victory.
Paul DeJong homered for the Cardinals, who lost each of their four games against the A's this season.
Roark (7-7) allowed one run and four hits, struck out six and walked two. The veteran right-hander pitched out of a pair of jams in his first start since he was acquired in a trade with Cincinnati at Wednesday's deadline.
The Cardinals twice had two on and two out against Roark but failed to score each time. Marcell Ozuna struck out to end the third, and Matt Carpenter struck out swinging in the fourth.
Liam Hendriks retired three batters for his 11th save.
Garneau also came up big in his second stint with the A's after being put on waivers by the Los Angeles Angels earlier this week. He singled leading off the third, hit a go-ahead two-run double off Wainwright in the fourth and walked and scored on a wild pitch in the eighth. Garneau played 19 games with the A's in 2017.
Wainwright (7-8) struggled with his command most of the afternoon. The right-hander hit two batters, walked three and allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Carpenter was 1 for 5 with two strikeouts in his first game back off the injured list. Carpenter missed 17 games with a bruised right foot.
Profar connected in the sixth, belting a towering drive that landed midway up the staircase beyond the wall in right field.
FREEBIES
St. Louis issued 15 walks in the two-game series.
BUT WE'RE FRIENDS
Stephen Piscotty was hit by a pitch from Wainwright in the fourth, right after Wainwright plunked Mark Canha. Piscotty, who spent his first three seasons in St. Louis, was hit by a pitch from Dakota Hudson on Saturday.
WORKING THE COUNT
Paul Goldschmidt drew a 14-pitch walk off Roark in the third inning. Goldschmidt worked a full count then fouled off eight consecutive pitches before getting the free pass.
CARDINALS MOVES
St. Louis recalled right-hander Ryan Helsley from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, optioned first baseman Rangel Ravelo to its top farm club and designated right-hander Mike Mayers for assignment.
TRAINERS ROOM
Cardinals: C Yadier Molina, who has not played for the Cardinals since July 6 because of a strained right thumb tendon, began a minor league rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Friday. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt expects the nine-time All-Star back by mid-August.
Athletics: Left-hander Sean Manaea has been shut down because of pain in his right side, although manager Bob Melvin indicated it wasn't serious. Manaea had a similar issue in late June and recovered quickly.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (6-4, 5.15 ERA) returns to the starting rotation against the Dodgers on Monday. Wacha pitched out of the bullpen in his three previous appearances.
Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (7-5, 3.84 ERA) starts against the Chicago Cubs on Monday for the first time in his career. Bassitt is 2-1 since the All-Star break.
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