BALTIMORE – The A's had only five hits Friday night. Thanks to Brandon McCarthy's solid pitching, that was enough.
As a result, the A's are a game over .500 for the first time since last May 18.
McCarthy won for the first time in six starts this season, pitching seven strong innings, and Eric Sogard hit a two-run homer in a three-run second inning as Oakland beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2.
The A's have won three straight for the second time this season.
"We did maximize our offense today with the number of hits we got, and that's the type of team we need to be," manager Bob Melvin said.
In McCarthy's first five starts, the A's had scored only 10 runs.
"Anytime we can go out and get a few early and then hopefully the pitcher settles in and does his job, the game moves faster and kind of puts you in a positive mindset early," McCarthy said.
McCarthy (1-3) gave up two runs and five hits, walked three and struck out four.
"McCarthy pitched an unbelievable game," Sogard said. "(He had) a shaky start with the one run but shut them down after that."
Ryan Cook struck out four Orioles in the eighth inning, with Adam Jones reaching on a wild pitch.
"I didn't realize," Cook said. "It's not something that's ever your goal when you go out there."
Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.
Jake Arrieta (1-2) allowed four runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings for Baltimore, which had a four-game winning streak snapped and failed to go six games over .500 for the first time since July 20, 2005.
In the sixth, Josh Reddick homered to right for the A's – his third of the year. It was his sixth home run in 24 games against the Orioles. Reddick added an RBI single in the eighth.
Note – The Contra Costa Times reported that the A's are interested in signing third baseman Brandon Inge, who was released by Detroit on Thursday.
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