The A’s needed a run in the worst way and Elvis Andrus delivered, taking Red Sox closer Matt Barnes deep to tie the game. It was Andrus’ first homer of the season.
It took 81 games, but Elvis Andrus finally has a home run in green and gold, and it couldn't have come at a better time for the Athletics.
With the A's trailing 2-1 to the Boston Red Sox at the Coliseum on Friday night, Andrus led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a game-tying homer off closer Matt Barnes.
Andrus' first homer of the season traveled 422 feet to dead center field, sending the 32,304 fans in attendance into a frenzy.
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The veteran shortstop provided the fireworks before the A's set off actual fireworks after the game.
Andrus' homer forced extra innings, but the Red Sox came out on top with a 3-2 win in 10 innings.
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Oakland Athletics
Andrus' numbers steadily have been ticking up each month this season, going from a .151 average in April to .256 in May to .278 in June. And he started July with a bang.
On the day former A's shortstop Marcus Semien hit his 21st homer of the season, Andrus hit his first of the year and it temporarily saved the A's from a tough home loss.
