Athletics bullpen collapse hands Phillies 6-3 win

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Athletics bullpen collapse hands Phillies 6-3 win

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Mark Hebert | Last updated May 6, 2026 10:20 PM ET

Jeffrey Springs gave the Athletics another chance to win Wednesday night. However, the bullpen let it slip away late in a 6-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

The Athletics carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth inning before Philadelphia scored four times against Jack Perkins and Hogan Harris. The collapse dropped the A’s to 18-18 on the season.

Springs worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on eight hits. He struck out four and walked none in a steady outing that deserved a better result. Meanwhile, Justin Sterner retired both hitters he faced to bridge the sixth inning.

The Athletics struck first in the third. Lawrence Butler walked, then scored on Jacob Wilson’s two-out RBI single to right. Wilson later stole second, but Zack Wheeler escaped further damage.

Kurtz stays hot

Nick Kurtz continued his strong stretch at the plate with a 2-for-4 night and an RBI. The rookie first baseman pushed his on-base streak to 30 games with a fifth-inning RBI single that scored Zack Gelof for a 2-0 lead.

Soon after, Tyler Soderstrom added more breathing room. The Athletics left fielder opened the sixth inning with a solo homer to left off Wheeler, his fifth homer of the season.

Tyler SoderSTRONG pic.twitter.com/RYl7093LJr

— Athletics (@Athletics) May 7, 2026

Soderstrom finished 1 for 4 with the home run and an RBI. Wilson also drove in a run, while Gelof doubled and scored once despite striking out three times.

Wheeler lasted 6 1/3 innings for Philadelphia. He allowed three runs on five hits while striking out four.

Where it turned

The Phillies chipped away in the sixth when Adolis García launched a solo homer to center off Springs. Still, the Athletics entered the eighth inning ahead 3-2.

Then everything unraveled.

Kyle Schwarber opened the inning with a walk against Perkins. Bryce Harper followed with a fielder’s choice that turned into trouble after a throwing error by Jeff McNeil moved Schwarber into scoring position.

After García singled, Edmundo Sosa lined a two-run single into center to give Philadelphia its first lead of the night at 4-3.

The Phillies kept coming. Brandon Marsh added an RBI single, and Justin Crawford drove in another run with a groundout to cap the four-run inning.

Perkins was charged with four runs, though only two were earned because of McNeil’s error. He took the loss and fell to 2-1.