Oakland Athletics take series from Brewers on Matt Chapman go-ahead home run

The Oakland A’s bats had fallen silent in these last two games agains the Milwaukee Brewers.

Then Matt Chapman’s swing on a first pitch Josh Hader fastball lifted the ice-cold bats back into the inferno, giving the A’s a 5-3 win over on Thursday afternoon. The A’s moved into a tie for the second wild card spot.

Homer Bailey delivered his third quality start as an Athletic, dealing six innings with five strikeouts. But the Brewers small-balled its way to two runs against him. In the first, Keston Hiura drew a walk and Mike Moustakas beat the shift with a bunt single. Ryan Braun’s bloop found grass to score the Brewers’ first run.

Chad Pinder tied things up with one swing, sending Chase Anderson’s two-strike fastball into the left field bleachers. But the Brewers eked out a sac fly, cushioning that lead against new reliever Jake Diekman on a bases-loaded wild pitch.