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The Athletics' most noteworthy news entering Friday's series opener against the New York Mets focused on Jeff McNeil's return to Citi Field.
A former Mets standout for eight MLB seasons, McNeil was traded to the A's last December. The 2022 NL batting champion posted a fourth-inning double and fifth-inning defensive gem, robbing Carson Benge.
Shea Langeliers' third-inning RBI single proved to be the game-winner as the visiting A's earned a 4-0 victory.
On Thursday, starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a Ben Rice single on his 84th pitch. The visiting A's blanked the New York Yankees, 1-0.
The Athletics may be without regional identity, but they became the first organization in league history to shut out two New York franchises in back-to-back outings, according to OptaSTATS.
The A's (6-7), Mets (7-7) and Yankees (8-5).
Are the A's meeting the two franchises at the right times?
Athletics pull off MLB first vs. N.Y. franchises
Following the Jeffrey Springs masterpiece Thursday, the Aaron Judge-led Yankees possess a team batting average of .199, the league's No. 29-ranked offense. Entering Friday's 5-3 loss to the host Tampa Bay Rays, the punchless Yankees collected zero runs and two hits over their previous 17 innings.
The Yankees' slumping lineup remained in first place in the AL East. They also paced the AL with a plus-23 run differential.
Talk about a nine-inning puzzle.
Springs (2-0) finished his one-hit effort with six strikeouts and two walks, lowering his ERA to 1.47 and boosting the A's to their first series win at Yankee Stadium since 2016. They play their home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif.
The third of five pitchers Friday, reliever Jack Perkins (1-0) yielded three hits over 2.2 innings, earning the win.
The offensively-challenged Mets dropped their third-straight game, scoring three runs during the skid. They also lost three in a row March 31-April 2.
Good timing for the A's.
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