Athletics End Phillies Nine-Game Winning Streak with 5-4 Victory

The Philadelphia Phillies' nine-game winning streak came to an end with a 5-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics, who snapped their own 11-game losing streak in a dramatic game marked by six lead changes and multiple ejections. Willie MacIver, making his major league debut, played a pivotal role for the Athletics by delivering his first big league hit—a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning—and throwing out a runner attempting to steal for the final out, a call upheld after video review. Phillies shortstop Trea Turner contributed significantly with three RBIs, including a home run that temporarily gave Philadelphia the lead, while Phillies starter Jesús Luzardo struck out 10 batters over seven innings. The game featured intense moments, including Phillies reliever Matt Strahm allowing critical late runs and the ejection of Athletics manager Mark Kotsay and third baseman Miguel Andujar over a disputed strike call. Despite the loss, the Phillies displayed resilience in a previous contest by extending their winning streak to nine games with an 11-inning victory over the Athletics, featuring clutch plays such as Kyle Schwarber's game-winning double and Brandon Marsh's decisive outfield assist. The Athletics' victory ended a rare double-digit losing skid not seen since 1994, highlighting a hard-fought battle between the two teams.