Major League Baseball

A's win 1-0 to knock Orioles out of first place

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:55 p.m. ET

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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Ross Detwiler and John Axford combined on a four-hitter and the Oakland Athletics beat Baltimore 1-0 on Wednesday night to knock the Orioles out of first place in the AL East.

Called up from the minors earlier in the day, Detwiler (1-0) allowed six hits over a career-high eight innings and struck out two while leading the A's to their third consecutive one-run win over the Orioles.

Detwiler was nearly out of baseball after being designated for assignment by Cleveland in July.

Marcus Semien and Yonder Alonso hit consecutive doubles in the third inning for the game's only run.

Chris Davis had two hits for Baltimore.

The Orioles entered the day percentage points ahead of Toronto but fell a game behind the Blue Jays, who beat Tampa Bay 7-0 earlier Wednesday.

The A's had lost eight of nine and were swept in three games by the Chicago Cubs before stunning the Orioles.

Detwiler got some help from Oakland's defense in the first inning.

The left-hander gave up a single and a double to the first two hitters he faced and threw two wild pitches but escaped without allowing a run.

Adam Jones was thrown out sliding into home by Oakland second baseman Max Muncy in the inning. Jones tried to score on J.J. Hardy's double over the head of right fielder Danny Valencia and was initially ruled safe by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild. The A's challenged and the call was overturned on replay.

It was Detwiler's first win as a starting pitcher since he was with Washington and beat the Chicago Cubs on May 10, 2013.

Axford retired three batters for his second save.

Baltimore starter Yovani Gallardo (4-4 ) allowed one run in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: T.J. McFarland (left knee inflammation) pitched three scoreless innings for the Gulf Coast Orioles. McFarland is scheduled to pitch next for Single-A Frederick on Monday.

Athletics: Former closer Sean Doolittle (strained left shoulder) will throw off a mound this weekend and will need to face hitters at least twice before beginning a rehab assignment. ... Left-handed reliever Patrick Schuster was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Chris Tillman (14-4) faces the A's in a mid-day game at the Coliseum. Tillman will try to become the first Baltimore pitcher with at least 15 wins since Bud Norris and Wei-Yin Chen did it in 2014.

Athletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (0-0) will come out of the bullpen to make his second career start in the series finale.