MLB: Oakland Athletics end New York Yankees’ 13-game winning streak

Thanks to seven shutout innings from pitcher Frankie Montas, Oakland Athletics held on to a 3-2 victory and ended the New York Yankees‘ 13-game winning streak in the MLB on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Matt Chapman also chipped with a home run to help stop the Yankees’ best run in nearly 60 years. The A’s had lost six straight and 10 of 12 before handing the charging Yankees their first loss since August 12 in Chicago against the White Sox.

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New York nearly kept it going, too.

When Anthony Rizzo reached on a bloop single with one out in the ninth inning, the Yankees were down 3-0, and Aaron Judge followed with his 29th home run, this time against Sergio Romo.

But Romo got Giancarlo Stanton to pop out and Joey Gallo to ground out for his first save since 2020.

The Yankees’ winning streak was their longest since a 13-game run in September 1961, when Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris led the team to victory. The last time they fared better was in 1960, when they went on a 15-game winning run; the team’s best performance was in 1947, when they went on a 19-game winning streak.

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Judge has six home runs in 15 games. His power outburst boosted the Yankees’ postseason chances and placed pressure on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

His power outburst boosted the Yankees’ postseason chances and placed pressure on the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays.

Montas (10-9) pitched a whole game, giving only two hits. For the first time since July 29, he struck out six batters while only walking one.

After Judge’s two-out double in the first, Montas retired 15 successive batters before fanning Stanton for the second time. After Judge singled in the sixth, Montas secured a crucial 3-5-3 double play and slapped his hands passionately.

Before Romo threw the ninth inning, Andrew Chafin retired three hitters.

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Meanwhile, the A’s scored two runs in the second inning against left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. (2-2), assisted by a baulk call on the Yankees starter on a pickoff attempt after Tony Kemp’s two-out RBI single.

Chapman blasted his 21st home run in the fourth inning.

Cortes (2-2) surrendered three runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings while pitching on seven days off. He struck out four batters while walking three.

With inputs from the Associated Press