A’s can’t find big hit, drop 3rd straight to Yanks

OAKLAND — Masahiro Tanaka returned to form with seven strong innings and Starlin Castro notched three hits as the Yankees won their fourth straight contest on Saturday, posting a 5-1 victory over the Athletics at the Coliseum.

Tanaka scattered five hits with two walks, limiting the A’s to Danny Valencia’s fifth-inning sacrifice fly as he struck out four and picked up his second victory of the season. New York thumped rookie Sean Manaea for five runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings, including a four-run fourth.

Castro singled and scored as part of that big frame, which was highlighted by Rob Refsnyder’s two-run double. One of the Yankees’ more consistent performers this year, Castro added a single in the fifth, then doubled home a run in the seventh.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDRef calls for two: Appearing in the Yankees’ lineup for the first time this season, Refsnyder cracked the biggest blow in New York’s four-run fourth inning, working a 10-pitch at-bat before driving a two-run double to the warning track in right-center field. The Yanks’ No. 9 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, Refsnyder has rotated between second base, third base and right field in the Minors, and logged his first big league start in right field on Saturday.

Fourth inning falters: One day after the Yankees chased Sonny Gray after 3 1/3 innings, another A’s starter unraveled in the fourth. Like Gray, Manaea battled his control in the fourth inning, walking two batters as the Yankees scored four runs, highlighted by …

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