Fifth inning haunts Boyle as Oakland A’s road trip starts with a dud
CLEVELAND — The Oakland A’s did not have much success slowing down the Cleveland Guardians offense late last month when the two teams met for a season-opening four-game series at the Coliseum. That proved to be the case again Friday, as the A’s allowed five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and never recovered in a 10-2 loss to the Guardians to open a 10-game road trip. Starter Joe Boyle allowed a two-run homer to Tyler Freeman in the second inning and Steven Kwan and Andrés Giménez both drove in a pair of runs in the fifth as the A’s dropped to 1-4 in games against the Guardians this season. In those games, Oakland has been outscored 39-13. Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie (2-2) slowed down the A’s as he allowed one run in five innings and struck out a season-high six. The right-hander had just five strikeouts in his first three starts after missing much of last season with a sprained elbow. Josh Naylor added a solo homer and Estevan Florial had a career-best three hits for the Guardians, who have won five