After nine pitches on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers had already notched the first home run of the game and led 2-0 — picking up right where the previous night's 15-14 slugfest left off. The A's offense had answers of their own, led by Jonah Heim.

After a game-tying pinch-hit home run for Heim on Monday, he followed that up with a 3-for-4 performance on Tuesday, along with another home run. Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof and Nick Kurtz added to their home run totals for the second day in a row as well. 

The biggest difference in this game was the performance of the A's bullpen. Elvis Alvarado came on with runners on second and third and the A's clinging to a 6-5 lead. The big righty blew a 100.9 mile per hour fastball past Jackson Chourio to end the threat, and Alvarado continued the next inning by striking out the side. 

Then A's manager Mark Kotsay made an interesting move, going with long reliever (and potential starter) Mason Barnett in the eighth inning. Alvarado and Barnett were the only two relievers that didn't pitch on Monday, and the new addition of Joey Estes to the mix is likely for more of a mop-up situation. 

After an impressive four scoreless innings in relief in a mop-up role of his own in Houston on Friday, Barnett pitched a clean final two frames on Tuesday night, striking out four in the process. In his time with the A's this year, the 25-year-old right-hander has amassed eight innings with a 0.00 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP and 12 strikeouts. 

"We went with the fresh arms tonight out of the bullpen and they stepped up and got it done."

With the demotion of Kade Morris ahead of the game, there may now be a spot for Barnett in the rotation when the opportunity arises — or the A's could roll with a hot hand in a struggling bullpen. He's looked completely different with the team this season after making his debut in 2025. 

Before the game, Kotsay spoke to reporters about the roster move the team made, optioning Morris back to Triple-A after just one tough outing and bringing up Estes in his place.

"Obviously we went through some pitching [last night]. We had a situation with a young starter in Kade Morris that we were trying to give him another opportunity, but unfortunately with the way our bullpen is right now and the amount of innings we've had to cover, we had to use his roster spot to option him and bring Joey here." 

He also mentioned that they'd have to see how they get to Friday now, with that being the day that Morris was supposed to be making his next start for the club. The options at this point are someone like Estes — who was supposed to start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday — or Barnett. 

They don't have a ready-to-go option in the minor leagues, and Morris won't be able to come back up so quickly unless there is an injury to the roster. Jacob Lopez hasn't made an appearance with Vegas yet and Luis Morales has been more of a long man out of the bullpen of late. 

A piggyback game may be the team's best option. 

Mason Barnett's dominant two innings also locked down his first career save, which is not a feat too many people would have had on their bingo cards at the beginning of the season. 

Rookie Henry Bolte also smacked his first career home run on Tuesday as part of a 1-for-4 evening at Las Vegas Ballpark. 

After the game, Kotsay was asked what it's like to see Bolte carve out a role on this team, and the A's skipper immediately jumped in and said, "it's not a role. This kid has just taken over and found a home here. It's always tough, challenging times when you're a rookie and trying to establish yourself. He fits in nicely with this team."

Bolte admitted that getting the first homer out of the way was a bit of a relief. 

"It's a moment I've dreamed of for sure. Joked about it as the series came closer that it was maybe bound to happen in this ballpark. Nonetheless, it was a great moment."