Lance Lynn, Cards shut down A's, win low-scoring game

Lance Lynn combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker hit consecutive sacrifice flies in a go-ahead sixth inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals made it two in a row over the host Oakland Athletics with a 3-2 win Tuesday night.

Brendan Donovan drove in an earlier run on a groundball as the Cardinals did all their scoring on outs en route to a third win in five games on their Western trip.

After the teams had exchanged runs in the bottom of the second and top of the third, the A's got a go-ahead solo home run from backup catcher Kyle McCann, the first of his career, for a 2-1 lead in the fifth.

Oakland starter JP Sears held the Cardinals to one run and two hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out two in nearly duplicating the effort in his previous start, when he shut out the Texas Rangers on one hit for 6 1/3 innings last Thursday.

St. Louis immediately jumped on the Oakland bullpen, however, with Dany Jimenez (1-1) giving up consecutive walks to Ivan Herrera and Lars Nootbaar after an inning-opening single by Nolan Arenado in the sixth.

Winn's deep fly to center not only scored Arenado to tie the game, but also advanced both other baserunners. And when Walker followed with a flyball to right, Herrera scampered home with what turned into the difference-making run.

Lynn (1-0) worked seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits. He walked one and struck out one in winning for the first time this season after having pitched well in two of his previous three starts.

JoJo Romero threw a hitless eighth before Ryan Helsley picked up his second save in two nights, his seventh of the season, with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Arenado had two of St. Louis' four hits, a pair of singles. The Cardinals did not record an extra-base hit in the game.

McCann had two hits and drove in both Oakland runs, while Seth Brown chipped in with a double and a single.