The Oakland Athletics defeated the New York Yankees on Sunday, winning by a final score of 5-4.

In a matchup of teams fighting for postseason position, the A's used a quick start to the game to help propel them to victory. Oakland scored a run in the first and followed that up with two more an inning later thanks to a homer by second baseman Cliff Pennington.

The Yankees struck back in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to take a 4-3 advantage. A's starting pitcher A.J. Griffin was pulled after relinquishing the lead.

The A's were able to tie things up in the fifth off an RBI single by outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Another RBI single by Pennington in the sixth was enough to hold off the Yankees for the remainder of the game. Grant Balfour picked up his 20th save of the season.

The win improves the A's to 86-66 on the season, while the Yankees fall to 88-64. The A's will next take on the Texas Rangers beginning on Monday.

Stick with this Storystream for more coverage from the Athletics vs. Yankees series. For more insight and analysis, check out A's blog Athletics Nation. For the perspective from New York, check out Yankees blog Pinstriped Bible.

This story was originally published on SB Nation Bay Area.