The Athletics finally got into the win column with a 5-2 victory over the Braves at Truist Park, ending their status as MLB’s only winless team. Mark Kotsay’s lineup changes paid off, with Jacob Wilson leading off for the first time this season and helping spark a much-needed breakthrough.
Wilson finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and his two-run double in the second inning proved to be the difference. The A’s also got a strong debut from Aaron Civale, who allowed two runs on four hits over his outing and settled in after giving up a first-inning homer to Drake Baldwin.
A lineup tweak that changed the game
Kotsay said the decision to move Wilson to the top of the order came down to matching a right-handed bat against Braves lefty José Suarez. The change gave Oakland a different look early, and it helped the club apply pressure before Atlanta could settle in.
“[It was about] getting another right-handed bat in the lineup and getting another right-handed batter at the top,” Kotsay said before the game. “Jacob led off for us a few games last season and had some success.”
Wilson said he was ready for the assignment and did not view batting first as a major change once the game started. He also noted that helping the team win mattered more than where he hit in the order.
Key moments that pushed Oakland ahead
The Athletics scored four runs off Suarez, who lasted 3 2/3 innings and allowed five hits. Wilson’s second-inning double came with the bases loaded and just stayed fair down the left-field line, giving Oakland a lead it never gave back.
- Wilson’s two-run double opened the scoring burst.
- Andy Ibáñez added two RBI singles against Suarez.
- Shea Langeliers hit a solo home run in the fifth.
- Civale limited Atlanta after the early home run.
Wilson later added a bunt single that stayed fair along the first-base line, showing how small margins helped Oakland control the night. “It’s a game of inches, for sure,” Wilson said, pointing to both his own slow start and the team’s difficult opening stretch.
Civale settles in after early damage
Civale, making his A’s debut, gave up a home run to Baldwin on the second pitch he faced, but he recovered well. He finished with three strikeouts and allowed only three hits after that first inning, giving Oakland a steady platform to build on.
Wilson praised Civale’s response, saying the right-hander “battles” and keeps throwing strikes even after setbacks. The performance mattered for a club that had opened the season with losses in its first four games and had not started a season 0-5 since the 2021 campaign.
Langeliers keeps producing early power
Langeliers added insurance with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fifth that moved him into a tie for the major league lead with Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter. His power surge has also put him in historic company, as his four homers through five games matched Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 mark for the most by an Athletics player in that span.
Kotsay said Langeliers has carried over a strong spring and continues to produce quality at-bats. That combination has given Oakland another important run-maker as the team tries to recover from a poor start and build some momentum.
What the win means next
The victory also gave Wilson a belated birthday present after he turned 24 on Monday. He said the timing made the result especially meaningful, even if the team had to wait an extra day to celebrate.
The Athletics now turn quickly to a tougher matchup, with Chris Sale scheduled to start the next game for Atlanta. Wilson called it “a battle,” and Oakland will try to carry the confidence from its first win into another test against one of the game’s top arms.
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