by Jerry Feitelberg

It was a pitcher’s duel Tuesday night at the Coliseum Tuesday night by a score of 2-1. The A’s starter, Chris Bassitt was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to fill in for A’s ace, Sony Gray. Gray was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms  Monday night and was not able to take his turn in the rotation. Bassitt pitched extremely well. He went five innings and gave up just five hits and just one run. He threw 84 pitches as he was working on three days rest. The Rockies’ starter, Jorge De La Rosa, was magnificent as he had was in the zone all night and kept the A’s hitters off-balance as he varied the speeds on his pitches. De La Rosa’s line was seven innings pitched, four hits and no runs. De La Rosa’s record is now 5-3 and Bassitt is 0-1 for the season.

The Rockies scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning. First baseman Ben Paulsen and catcher Michael McKenry singled to put men on at first and second with no out.  Bassitt retired the next two hitters but centerfielder Charlie Blackmon singled softly to center to drive in Paulsen. The inning ended when A’s catcher Josh Phegley threw out Blackmon as he attempted to steal second base. 1-0 in the middle of the fifth.

The A’s threatened to score in the bottom of the sixth. Billy Burns led off the inning with a single. Burns advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third when Stephen Vogt received a walk to put men on at first and third with no out. Ben Zobrist hit a rocket to third. Burns was running on the crack of the bat but that turned out to be a mistake as Rockies’ third baseman Nolan Arenado threw to home. Burns was caught in a rundown. The play went 5-2-5-1 with the Vogt being the man tagged out as the A’s had two men standing on third. De La Rosa struck out Phegley for the second out. Brett Lawrie hit into a 5-4 force out to end the threat. The Rockies still lead 1-0 after six.

The Rockies added a run in the top of the seventh. Wilin Rosario led off the frame with a single. Rodriguez retired the next two batters but left fielder Brandon Barnes singled to send him to third. Rodriguez uncorked a pitch that went to the backstop that allowed Rosario to score. Barnes took second on the play. D.J. Lemahieu struck out to end the inning. A’s trail 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The Rockies replaced De La Rosa with Tommy Kahnle in the bottom of the eighth. Kahnle retired the first two batter that he faced. Ben Zobrist, however, doubled to right centerfield to put a man in scoring position with two out. The designated hitter, Billy “Country Breakfast” Butler singled sharply to right to drive in Zobrist with the first run of the game for Oakland. Kahnle struck out Josh Phegley to end the inning. A’s trail 2-1.

The ageless wonder, LaTroy Hawkins, set the A’s down 1-2-3 to close out the game for Colorado. He earned his second save of the year. Rockies win 2-1.

Game Notes – The A’s are 4-14 when the opponents start a left-handed pitcher as compared to 31-31 when they start a righty. After the game, A’s manager Bob Melvin replied that the A’s are “having a tougher time with lefties.”  Melvin also commented on Bassitt’s performance,” 85 pitches was the limit for him” and that he “couldn’t ask for more” from Bassitt. His pitches had good movement” and he “pitched well.” Melvin said that De La Rosa pitches “had lots of deception”and he threw “lots of splits and few fastballs.”

The A’s are 1-4 on the ten-game homestand and are ten games under .500 with a record of 35-45. Wednesday’s game will be game 81 of the season, the exact halfway point of the year.  The Rockies’ win was their first in interleague play this year, and they are now 1-7 against the American League.

The rubber game of the three-game series will be played Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum. Game time will be at 12:35 pm PT.  Jesse Hahn will pitch for the A’s. Hahn will be trying to even his record at six. Chad Bettis will pitch for Colorado.

Time of game was 2 hours and fifty-six minutes and 19,206 fans were on hand to watch the game.