ATLANTA -- A’s manager Mark Kotsay made some slight tweaks to his lineup prior to Tuesday’s game against the Braves at Truist Park.
Knowing that the A’s were facing Braves left-handed starting pitcher José Suarez, Kotsay tabbed right-handed batter Jacob Wilson as the team’s leadoff hitter for the first time this season.
Kotsay’s lineup adjustments paid dividends, as the A’s are no longer MLB’s lone winless team.
Wilson went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the night, with his second-inning two-run double off Suarez winding up being the difference as the A’s downed the Braves, 5-2, to earn their first win of 2026.
“[It was about] getting another right-handed bat in the lineup and getting another right-handed batter at the top,” Kotsay said ahead of Tuesday’s game. “Jacob led off for us a few games last season and had some success. It’s mostly a matchup thing with the lineup right now, and it gives us a chance to get to the starter.”
The A’s tagged Suarez with four runs on five hits as the Atlanta southpaw went 3 2/3 innings while the A’s avoided an 0-5 start. They haven’t dropped their first five games since 2021, when the squad went 0-6 to start the season.
“Obviously, with the start we had, coming into Atlanta and getting a win is a good feeling,” Kotsay said. “We have another game [on Wednesday]. You enjoy [the win] for a while and then you turn the page and you know you have to compete again tomorrow.”
Wilson has been off to an uncharacteristically slow start this season, as the shortstop has tallied five strikeouts over his first five games. Wilson only struck out 39 times in 486 at-bats last season.
“Whatever I need to do to go out there and help this team win is something that I’m going to do,” Wilson said. “You really only hit leadoff for your first at-bat and after that, it’s different. For me, there’s no difference in game plan.”
Wilson’s two-run knock in the second inning was a ground-rule double with the bases loaded that just stayed fair as it landed on the chalk down the left-field line. His second hit was a bunt single that just stayed fair down the first-base line.
“It’s a game of inches, for sure,” Wilson said. “It’s been a slow start to the season not only for the team but for myself. I think we’re just happy to go out there and compete, and I think we’re in a good spot after this first win to keep going.”
The A’s first win was a belated birthday gift for Wilson, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Monday.
“I wanted to win [on my birthday Monday], but if we couldn’t do it [Monday], to be able to do it on the first day of being 24 is pretty cool,” Wilson said.
Another right-handed hitter -- second baseman Andy Ibáñez -- tallied two RBI singles off Suarez.
Starting pitcher Aaron Civale put together a strong outing in his A’s debut as he allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts. He gave up a first-inning home run to Braves catcher Drake Baldwin -- the second batter he faced -- but allowed just three hits throughout the remainder of his outing.
“[Civale] battles,” Wilson said. “He goes up there and throws strikes. Obviously [after] the first-inning homer, it’s hard to go right back there on the mound and go back into it, but he went back in there and did great the rest of the game.”
Shea Langeliers added to the A’s lead with a solo home run in the top of the fifth, his fourth home run of the season, tying him with Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter for the Major League lead.
Langeliers’ four home runs tied Jimmie Foxx in 1932 for the most by an A’s player in the team’s first five games of a season.
“For Shea, he had a really great spring swinging the bat and he’s continuing that, just taking really good [at-bats],” Kotsay said. “He was the catalyst of the offense in Toronto and it’s just nice to see him pick us up.”
Winning two in a row will be no easy task for the A’s on Wednesday, as the team is facing 2024 NL Cy Young Award and Triple Crown winner Chris Sale.
“Obviously, he’s a good pitcher and a good name, but I have full faith in our guys to go out there and do our thing,” Wilson said. “It’s gonna be a battle, for sure.”