The Oakland Athletics looked to be headed to a loss at the hands of a left-handed pitcher with an ERA north of 6.00, but down to their final strike in the ninth, they got a game-tying homer by Stephen Piscotty before Jed Lowrie’s two-run shot won it in the 10th.

Batting just .167 against left-handers on the year and facing a likely All-Star in Brad Hand, Piscotty sent a 2-2 pitch into the second deck in left field to tie the game. Lowrie’s two-out, two-run homer in the tenth off USF alum Adam Cimber gave the A’s a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres.

Eric Lauer, who entered the game with an ERA of 6.20, held Oakland (37-36) to just one run and three hits over six innings, striking out seven. The A’s had chances against relievers Craig Stammen and Kirby Yates in the seventh and eighth, but a pair of impressive catches at the wall by right fielder Travis Jankowski kept San Diego (34-41) in front.

Matt Olson singled to open the seventh against lefty Jose Castillo and Stammen walked Mark Canha, but he struck out Piscotty before Jankowski robbed Jonathan Lucroy. Pinch-hitter Dustin Fowler flew out to end the inning. With two outs in the eighth and Marcus Semien aboard with a single, Jankowski tracked down Khris Davis’ deep fly ball in the gap.

A’s starter Paul Blackburn allowed two runs over five innings, with one run scoring when Jose Pirela beat out a double play in the first, and Raffy Lopez — who entered the night batting .172 — doubling home a run in the second. A leadoff walk by Davis in the top of the second, a Freddy Galvis error and a Canha walk loaded the bases to start the second, but Piscotty would ground into a double play, leaving the A’s with just one run in the frame.

Lou Trivino got the win by pitching perfect eighth and ninth innings. Semien made a leaping catch on a Hunter Renfroe liner to start the bottom of the ninth. After Lowrie hit a ball that not even Jankowski could reach, Blake Treinen took care of the tenth, allowing a two-out single to Cory Spangenberg but finishing the game with a strikeout of Eric Hosmer, Treinen’s third strikeout of the inning. Emilio Pagan and Santiago Casilla each pitched scoreless innings to keep the game close.blake treinenJed LowrieLou TrivinoMLBOakland A'sOakland Athleticspaul blackburnSan Diego PadresStephen Piscotty