Keibert Ruiz hit the primary pitch of the ninth inning into the right-field bullpen to provide the Washington Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night time.

Ruiz homered for the second consecutive night time to assist Washington win for the seventh time in its final 10 - and earn its eleventh victory in its final 13 house video games. It was the Nationals’ second walk-off homer of the season, following Alex Call’s blast in opposition to the Chicago Cubs on May 4.

“I can’t describe the moment,” Ruiz mentioned. “It’s something I’ve been dreaming of for a long time.”

JJ Bleday and Brent Rooker homered for Oakland, which fell to a majors-worst 33-84. The Athletics are 51 video games below .500 for the primary time since ending 54-108 in 1979. They are on tempo to go 46-116.

Lucas Erceg (2-3) had simply entered and threw a 97 mph fastball that Ruiz smacked for his first profession game-ending house run.

Ruiz is hitting .333 (31 for 93) with 5 homers and 13 RBIs in his final 26 video games.

“He’s been playing well, on both sides,” Washington supervisor Dave Martinez mentioned. “The defense has been really good, and he’s started swinging the bat like we know he can.”

Kyle Finnegan (6-3) pitched a scoreless ninth for Washington.

For the second consecutive night time, there have been chants of “Sell the team! Sell the team!” within the prime of the fifth inning, a message directed at Athletics proprietor John Fisher, who plans to maneuver the franchise to Las Vegas. The A’s have performed in Oakland since 1968.

Oakland starter Luis Medina was pulled after making 84 pitches in 4 innings. The rookie allowed a run within the second when leadoff hitter Ildemaro Vargas hit a pointy grounder again to the mound. As Medina jogged towards the bag and didn’t throw it to first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, Vargas scampered down the road for a single.

Washington sandwiched Stone Garrett’s stroll and Blake Rutherford’s single - his first massive league hit - round a strikeout, and Vargas scored on Call’s forceout.

Bleday homered within the third off Washington starter Jake Irvin. The rookie right-hander set down the following 10 Athletics earlier than Rooker ripped his nineteenth homer of the yr to proper. Irvin allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out six.

Washington tied it on Lane Thomas’ bases-loaded bloop single with none out within the eighth, however right-hander Angel Felipe induced a double-play grounder again to the mound and struck out Joey Meneses to forestall additional harm.

“Tonight we beat ourselves,” Oakland supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “There in the eighth inning, not being able to field a bunt and walking the leadoff hitter. A (wild pitch). Just all the things that add up to a little bit of inexperience, a little bit of not being in the moment and going through this with a young roster right now.”

Oakland outfielder Lawrence Butler doubled within the seventh for his first hit within the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: Oakland chosen LHP Francisco Pérez from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioned LHP Sam Long to Las Vegas. … C Carlos Pérez (thumb) was 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI in a rehabilitation project recreation Friday for Las Vegas.

Nationals: Martinez mentioned RHP Joan Adon was feeling higher after leaving Friday’s begin after three innings with leg cramps. Adon will bear exams earlier than he begins once more. … RHP Hunter Harvey (elbow) will throw a simulated recreation Sunday. … RHP Tanner Rainey (Tommy John surgical procedure) is scheduled to throw a simulated recreation Monday or Tuesday. “If that goes well, we’ll talk about sending him somewhere (for a rehabilitation assignment),” Martinez mentioned.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Ken Waldichuk (2-7, 6.30 ERA) faces Washington for the primary time since his main league debut final Sept. 1, when he allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings.

Nationals: RHP Trevor Williams (5-7, 5.00), who's 0-2 with a 7.25 ERA in 5 begins because the All-Star break, will get the ball because the three-game collection concludes.

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