Oakland Athletics vs Philadelphia Phillies Box Score on Sep 17, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2017

PHILADELPHIA -- Joey Wendle's grand slam in the top of the sixth inning was the difference on Sunday afternoon as the Oakland A's topped the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3.

The 27-year old second baseman, in his second season in the majors, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning not too far from where he grew up in Wilmington, Del. Wendle cleared the bases, sending a shot deep into the seats in right field.

His second career home run was the counterpunch that the A's needed when they got to the Phillies bullpen.

After being stifled on Saturday evening by the Phillies' relievers, Wendle's long drive off of Edubray Ramos was a crack in the armor big enough to give the Athletics a series win in the final game of interleague play for both clubs.

Returning to the majors after an 849-day absence, Phillies starter Henderson Alvarez looked like a regular in the rotation.

The righty was an All-Star in 2014, but shoulder injuries sidelined him for a prolonged period. Alvarez stifled the Athletics lineup early in the game, scattering just four hits over five innings, but the wheels fell off for Alvarez the second time through the lineup.

Alvarez, after a clean three innings to start the game, ran into the A's power stroke that has been their key to success all season. Chad Pinder knocked the first pitch he saw from Alvarez in the top of the fourth out of the park, and first baseman Matt Olson followed with a solo shot of his own, his 21st of the season.

Pinder and Olson along with Matt Chapman are only the second trio of A's rookies to each have double digit home runs.

In a 2-2 game in the bottom of the fifth inning, Maikel Franco collected his third hit of the day in his return to the starting lineup, driving rookie J.P. Crawford home to give the Phillies a 3-2 lead.

The Phillies took an early lead thanks to a pair of unearned runs following an error by third baseman Chapman. Cesar Hernandez scored before Franco singled home Aaron Altherr later in the inning to put the Phillies on top 2-0.

Oakland starter Sean Manaea (11-10) settled in after surrendering the unearned runs, giving up just one earned run over five innings.

The A's now lead the all-time series against the Phillies 10-8 and the teams are 3-3 when playing at Citizens Bank Park.

NOTES: Athletics 1B Matt Olson has homered in each of Oakland's last seven series and is batting .297 (22-for-74) over that span. ... INF Jed Lowrie is tied for second in Oakland history with 45 doubles this season. ... The Phillies and Athletics concluded just their sixth ever series against each other. The A's lead the all-time series between two clubs 10-8.