By Morris Phillips
After more than five hours on the field in the heat and humidity of Miami grinding out a truly hard-earned win—their 50th in 2014—the A’s more than earned a reprieve.
That reprieve from contemplating all the pressing personnel issues facing the nicked up AL West leaders won’t last long though. Catcher Derek Norris wasn’t available Saturday and won’t be able to play in Sunday’s series finale, Josh Reddick could be on his way back to the disabled list just days after he came off it, and all those concerned, discerning eyes focused on Sonny Gray go back on watch Thursday when the A’s welcome the first-place Blue Jays to the Coliseum.
Meanwhile, this 7-6 win for Oakland in 14 innings was a nail biter, a marathon, and an odd job all rolled up into one. The A’s blew a 4-0 lead for the second night in a row, rebounded to lead again in the eighth only to surrender a game-tying run in the ninth. In extra innings little drama played out until the 14th inning when the A’s broke through with a run, and then Jeff Francis had to come in and clean up Jim Johnson’s mess. But in the end 25 guys—some personally proud of their contribution, others just wishing they could have performed better—got it done.
“If someone has a bad day, there’s a lot of other guys that can step up and make a pitch, make a play or get a hit or something,” Gray said in defining the secret of the A’s success.
“It’s frustrating when you give up a run and that leads to something like that, guys having to get extended, but the way they picked me up—the way it was a team effort—just unbelievable,” closer Sean Doolittle said.
Gray returned to the mound after a nine-day break mandated by the Oakland brass in order to preserve the young pitcher who projects to pitch more than 100 innings in a season for the first time. The right hander was granted a 4-0 lead, then cruised through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second.
Included in a three-run Marlins’ rally were four hits and an uncharacteristic throwing error on Gray who one-hopped first basemen Brandon Moss after a come-backer. That gaffe preceded Russ Johnson’s two-run double and Gray’s return to the mound was officially a rocky one.
Gray would give up a pair of runs in the fourth and he was gone in the fifth after throwing 93 pitches. The Vanderbilt product’s ERA sits at 3.20 on the season which is plenty respectable, but well off where he was earlier before his ERA soared above five in his last six appearances. Afterwards, manager Bob Melvin didn’t seem to concerned, and felt his pitcher is experiencing a predictable falloff from his torrid, early pace.
Gray’s departure would set the stage for seven other A’s pitchers to get in the game not including starter Tommy Milone who pinch-hit for Dan Otero in the 12th. Melvin’s hand was stretched thin not only by the length of the game but the departure of Reddick when he reinjured his knee playing the outfield in the fourth inning. Norris also wasn’t available due to his balky back. But the A’s battled on short-handed in the heat, through extra innings brought upon when Doolittle allowed a run in the ninth that got the Marlins even at 6.
The A’s got the go-ahead run in extras when Josh Donaldson singled up the middle off Jacob Turner with a pair of runners aboard in the 14th.
The embattled Jim Johnson pitched the 12th and 13th flawlessly, but when given the opportunity to close out the game, he ran into trouble in the 14th. After Johnson loaded the bases, Melvin turned to long man Jeff Francis who struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia looking and got Donovan Solano to fly out to end it.
The A’s are 20 games over .500 for the first time this season and on pace to win 100 games. The Angels won in Kansas City Saturday to remain 4 ½ games behind Oakland in the AL West.
On Sunday, the A’s attempt to sweep the Marlins with Milone facing Miami’s Andrew Heaney at 10:10am PST.
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