by Charlie O. Mallonee

It was an ugly game. That is all you really need to know about the A’s 18-2 loss in Baltimore on Sunday. Things for the A’s were ugly at the plate, on the mound and in the field. Oakland was out of the game early and really never had a chance to get back into the game.

The 16 run margin of loss was the most for the A’s this season. In other words, the A’s have not played a game this ugly all season.

The Orioles scored 18 runs on 26 hits. The A’s were not charged with an error so all 18 runs were earned. The A’s scored two runs on nine hits.

Oakland has now tied their longest losing streak of the season at six games. The A’s were swept by Toronto and are in danger of being swept by Baltimore.

On the Bump

The A’s used six pitchers on Sunday. One of those pitchers was first baseman Ike Davis who pitched the bottom of the eighth inning giving up no runs on one hit to go with a walk and a strike out.

Kendall Graveman (6-9) started the game for the A’s, and he took the loss. Graveman gave up six runs on eight hits. Two of those hits were home runs.

Graveman had his sinking fastball working in the game but could not establish his slider. The breaking ball continued to hang over the plate and the Orioles’ hitters continued to pound the ball.

In general, the A’s pitching staff was not aggressive on Sunday. The Baltimore hitters were not challenged inside and were able to sit on pitches middle to away.

The Oakland pitchers were not able to close out innings. The Orioles scored 13 runs with two outs in the inning.

Baltimore broke the A’s back in the fifth inning when they sent 13 batters to the plate, collected 10 hits and scored 9 runs.

Wei-Yin Chen (7-6) started the game for Baltimore and posted the victory. Chen worked six innings and gave up two runs (both earned) on eight hits. Chen struck seven Athletics and walked none.

In the Batters Box

Coco Crisp and Brett Lawrie led the way on offense for the A’s. Crisp went 2-for-4 including a double. Crisp has gone 6-for-10 so far in the series.

Brett Lawrie went 2-for-4 Sunday. One of the hits was his 11th home run of the season. Lawrie is now 3-for-14 in the series.

Gerardo Parra was the man with the big bat for the O’s on Sunday. Parra went 5-for-6 with three runs scored and three RBI. Parra hit his 12th home run of the season off Graveman in the bottom of the first inning.

In the Field

The A’s did not commit a charged error in the game. There were however some less than spectacular plays in the outfield. It was obvious that the A’s had lost focus in the game early on.

Gray to the Rescue

The A’s are hoping that Sonny Gray will be able to keep them from being swept on the seven-game road trip when he takes the hill on Monday night. Gray missed his last start due to back spasms.

Fans were looking forward to a Clayton Kershaw versus Sonny Gray match up on Tuesday night when the Dodgers visit Oakland. That will not happen and the A’s starter for Tuesday is still to be determined.

Frankly, the A’s cannot afford to hold Gray out of the lineup until Tuesday. Oakland is in a death spiral and has to do something to stop it … now. The best chance the A’s have to get back into the win column is to have Sonny Gray and his 2.06 ERA on the mound on Monday night. Gray has not faced the Orioles this season.