CINCINNATI —Seth Brown hit two home runs, including a go-ahead, three-run shot in the eighth inning, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 9–6 on Wednesday night.
“To show the fight to answer back in that fashion just shows the character of the group, really,” A’s Manager Mark Kotsay said. “That’s how you win baseball games.”
The A’s hit four home runs in the game and have homered 166 times this season, the seventh-most in the major leagues. Oakland has scored 50.3 percent of its runs on homers, the highest percentage in the major leagues.
Oakland has homered seven times in the first two games of the three-game series at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
“We were hoping to not let it get into our heads,” Brown said of the ballpark’s reputation. “Just continue to take our approaches. Just hitting the ball hard where it’s pitched.”
The Reds had one hit and were trailing 5–0 after six innings but scored six runs in the seventh to take the lead on Will Benson’s three-run home run.
“It was a tough swing when we took the lead,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “The A’s did their job. Their offense was able to turn it around against us.”
Brown’s second home run—off Emilio Pagán (3–4)—put the A’s ahead to stay 8–6 in the eighth.
“We lost the lead. We come back in and, it’s ok, we have to punch back,” Brown said. “Baseball’s crazy. You’re going to have innings like that. You have to be able to punch back. That’s our mindset.”
Oakland’s Lawrence Butler hit the second career leadoff home run of his career. The first was on Aug. 23 against Milwaukee. Brown hit his first of the game to make the score 2–0 in the fourth.
Brent Rooker, who hit 30 homers last season, hit his career-best 31st in the sixth to make it 3–0.
“This guy has become the heart of the team,” Kotsay said.
A’s starter Osvaldo Bido, who has a 1.17 earned-run average over his past four starts, retired the first 13 batters he faced before Spencer Steer singled in the fifth. Bido allowed two earned runs on three hits in six innings.
“All three pitches were working,” Bido said through a translator. “It’s always great when you pitch great, and you help your team win. I go out and prepare myself for every start. Everything is working well so far.”
Tyler Ferguson (2–1) pitched the eighth inning for the win.
The Reds had runners on first and second with one out in the ninth against A’s closer Mason Miller, who struck out Amed Rosario and Benson for his 23rd save.
