Langeliers’s late homer lifts A’s over Jays 5-4

Shea Langeliers hit a go-ahead ninth-inning homer as the Athletics edged the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday to snap Oakland's eight-game losing skid.

TORONTO – Shea Langeliers hit a go-ahead ninth-inning homer as the Athletics edged the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Friday to snap Oakland’s eight-game losing skid.

JJ Bleday had a two-run homer in the first and a sacrifice fly in the fifth for Oakland (20-58). Langeliers also had an RBI single in the first.

James Kapriellan gave up four runs on six hits and a walk but had eight strikeouts over his six innings of work. Sam Moll, Lucas Erceg (2-0) and Trevor May pitched for the Athletics.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a three-run homer for Toronto (41-36) and Kevin Kiermaier had an RBI double.

Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt gave up four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Relievers Trevor Richards, Tim Mayza, and Erik Swanson kept the A’s off the scoreboard but closer Jordan Romano (3-3) of Markham, Ont., took the loss after giving up Langeliers’s solo shot.

The Athletics entered the game with a .247 winning percentage, the worst in baseball. The embattled franchise has also had fans protesting the potential move of the team from Oakland to Las Vegas.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider, eager to see his team climb out of fourth in the competitive American League East, said the three-game home series with the A’s could be a real opportunity for his team.