by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s were trying to sweep the two-game series from the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night in LA. The A’s came from behind to lead 6-3 in the top of the seventh but the bullpen imploded and the Dodgers scored 5 runs in the seventh and 2 more in the eighth and they won by a final score of 10-7. A’s manager Bob Melvin cannot be pleased with the performance of his bullpen as they just couldn’t get the job done.

Mike Bolsinger started for the Dodgers and the A’s had Jesse Chavez going for them. Each pitcher lasted just five innings and it became a bullpen game. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Howie Kendrick singled to start the frame. He advanced to second on a walk to Adrian Gonzalez. Kendrick stole third and then scored on a single by Andre Ethier.

The A’s tied the score in the top of the fourth. Brett Lawrie had the first of his four hits when he doubled to left. Lawrie went to third on an infield single by Marcus Semien. The A’s got on the board when Sam Fuld laid down a drag bunt that went for a hit.

The game didn’t stay tied for long. In the bottom of the fourth, Ethier led off with a double down the right field line. Yasiel Puig made it a 3-1 game when he drilled the first pitch he saw from Chavez over the left field wall. The A’s scored a run in the fifth. Ike Davis walked and went to second on a Josh Reddick single. It was the third hit of the night for Reddick and sixth in the series. Stephen Vogt grounded into a 4-6-3 double play but Brett Lawrie came through with his second double of the night to drive in Davis.

The A’s scored four times in the top of the seventh to take a 6-3 lead. Billy Burns walked to get the rally going. The Dodgers brought in J.P.Howell to pitch. Josh Phegley was sent up to pinch hit and he did his job hitting a single to put men on at first and second with no out. Reddick hit a grounder to Howie Kendrick at second. Kendrick bobbled the ball and all runners were safe and the bases were loaded. After Stephen Vogt struck out, Brett Lawrie singled to drive in Burns and Phegley. The A’s pulled off a double steal to put men on at second and third. With one out, they Dodgers drew the infield in so that they could get the runner at home if the ball was hit on the ground. Eric Sogard did just that but he hit it up the middle and two runs scored to give the A’s the lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Melvin brought in Fernando Rodriguez to pitch. Rodriguez walked two batters and retired two hitters but the dangerous Adrian Gonzalez was coming up next. Melvin brought in lefty Drew Pomeranz to face the left-handed hitting Gonzalez. Gonzalez hit a double to deep centerfield to drive in one run. Gonzalez is 3-for-6 lifetime against Pomeranz. Dodger catcher Yasmani Grandal hit a swinging bunt down the third baseline that refused to roll foul. Kendrick scored on the play as the Dodgers now trailed 6-5. Pinch-hitter Keke Hernandez doubled to left to drive in two. Melvin replaced Pomeranz with Dan Otero to pitch to Puig. Puig singled to drive in Hernandez with the fifth run of the inning. Puig was called safe at second as he tried to advance on the throw home but the call was overturned.

The Dodgers scored two more times in the bottom of the eighth. Howie Kendrick singled to drive in Alberto Callaspo and Jimmy Rollins. All the runs came with two out. 10-6 Dodgers.

The A’s scored a run in the ninth. Brett Lawrie had his fourth hit and fourth RBI of the night when he hit his ninth dinger of the year off Dodger closer Kenley Jansen. Final score 10-7 in favor of the Dodgers.

Game notes- The hitting stars for the A’s were Brett Lawrie and Josh Reddick. Lawrie had his first career four-hit game. He had a single, two doubles and a home run. Reddick had three hits.

The A’s return home to Oakland to face the Cleveland Indians for four games to start an eleven game homestand. Game time will be at 7:05pm Thursday night at the O.co Coliseum