The Oakland Athletics jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, securing an 8-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. Zack Gelof, who has been a spark for the A's offense recently, set the tone with a double and then stole third base. Carlos Perez brought him in with a single to center, putting Oakland ahead 1-0. After Brent Rooker struck out, Aledmys Diaz singled to right, putting runners on the corners. Jordan Diaz followed with a double to right-center, scoring both runners to extend the lead to 3-0. Jonah Bride walked, and Shea Langeliers contributed a single to right, driving in Diaz to make it 4-0.

Paul Blackburn started on the mound and allowed a leadoff single to Lars Nootbaar, but was able to escape the first inning by getting a double play off Nolan Arenado’s bat. Blackburn faced more trouble in the second when Alec Burleson led off with a double and Jordan Walker singled him to third. After striking out Luken Baker, Blackburn walked Andrew Knizner to load the bases. However, he struck out Taylor Motter and got Tommy Edman to ground out to end the threat. Blackburn then retired the side in order in the third.

The A’s offense continued to build on their lead in the fourth. Nick Allen singled, but was thrown out at home plate on a double by Esteury Ruiz. Gelof again delivered, singling to left to score Ruiz and push the lead to 5-0. Blackburn remained in control with mid-nineties velocity, and the A’s added to their lead in the fifth. Rooker reached third on a three-base error by Walker, and after Diaz struck out, Jordan Diaz walked. A sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Seth Brown scored Rooker to make it 6-0.

Blackburn allowed a single to Motter in the fifth but struck out Nootbaar to strand the runner. In the sixth, the A's added more cushion when Ruiz walked, stole his 48th base of the season, and scored on Gelof's double to make it 7-0. Blackburn cruised through the sixth, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.

In the seventh, Blackburn allowed a single to Baker and a double to Knizner, but Ruiz threw out Baker at home plate after a successful challenge, and Blackburn struck out Motter to end the inning. Blackburn’s impressive outing included six hits allowed, eight strikeouts, and just one walk in seven scoreless innings, throwing a season-high 86 pitches.Zack Thompson Jersey

The A's added their final run in the ninth, with Tyler Soderstrom launching a 454-foot home run. Austin Pruitt relieved Blackburn in the eighth, and Oakland closed out the game. The A's collected 14 hits, with Gelof recording the second four-hit game of his career and driving in two runs. Oakland finished 5-for-11 with runners in scoring position. With the win, the A's improved to 35-87 on the season and wrapped up their road trip with a 1-5 record. They will enjoy an off day Thursday before returning home to face the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game series.