OAKLAND — A’s rookie Matt Chapman was denied his first big league hit in the second inning on what would have been a chopping infield single after the umpires determined Chapman was out at first after a challenge from Yankees manager Joe Girardi.
Instead, Chapman’s first major league hit came in a more memorable fashion.
Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the eighth, Ryon Healy crushed a ground rule double to set up runners on second and third with only one out for the rookie. This time, there was no doubt about it.
Chapman pulled a single down the left field line that brought home both Healy and Yonder Alonso and proved to be the game-winner in a 7-6 victory over the Yankees on Friday night.