Photo credit: mercurynews.com

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND — The A’s were red-hot and recorded a 10-game winning streak after an 8-5 win over the Angels on Monday. The A’s achieved 10 straight wins for the first time since 2006. Then, the A’s winning streak snapped following the Angels’ 6-4 win on Tuesday. But it wasn’t a genuine Angels win as most, if not all, folks said the umpires cost the A’s. That was one of the worst ways to lose a game.

The A’s are currently in second place in the AL West, trailing the first place Astros by 7 1/2 games. The A’s should be just fine, so let’s get to the umpires. In case you missed it, Joakim Soria thought he was out of the inning. The A’s relief pitcher delivered what appeared to be strike three to Angels DH Shohei Ohtani. However, Josh Phegley was unable to hold onto Soria’s curveball, which caused home plate umpire James Hoye to flinch like he was going to ring up Ohtani. Instead, Hoye called it ball two. Two pitches later, Ohtani singled home two go-ahead runs and the Angels won 6-4 to snap the A’s winning streak.

Soria wasn’t happy with Hoye and argued balls and strikes with Hoye. Apparently, Hoye had enough of the shenanigans and threw Soria out of the game.

“There’s a human factor in the game and that’s the beauty of the game. I understand he’s human,” Soria told the Associated Press. “He thought it was a ball, he called it. The only problem is because of the mistake I gave up two runs and we lost the game. … In that specific situation you cannot miss. I understand he’s human. He’s there for a reason, too.”

But the pitch remains in question and there’s not much you or I could do about it unless if the MLB confesses their wrongdoing and apologizes for their mistake in the game.

Anyways, I believe the A’s can go on a new 10-game winning streak. The A’s put themselves in a good spot with their recent surge and the bottom of their lineup has impressed and perhaps shocked the downers as Jurickson Profar, Ramon Laureano and Josh Phegley have heated things up during the red-hot streak. Phegley made a solid case to be considered as an All-Star. Phegley’s seven homers and 32 RBI could support his cause.

The A’s can punch their tickets to the postseason like they did last year, but can they survive the playoffs? That’s the question and we’ll see what happens down the stretch.

Meanwhile, A’s DH Khris Davis has been progressing and taking some swings, but it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to play against the Astros this weekend at the Coliseum. If he continues to progress, then he might get off the IL and head out onto the field.