Oakland A’s third base Al Pedrique coach (left) gives the elbow bump to Matt Olson (right) after hitting a two run triple  in the first inning Saturday at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It has been a challenging time for the Oakland A’s between all the racial unrest and topping it off with a positive corona test within the organization. Pitcher Daniel Mengden tested positive and is quarantined at home in Houston going on a ten-day injured list. He is asymptotic and feeling fine. Thankfully no one else has tested positive in their traveling party and for right now there is no clue as to how he contracted the virus.

Last night the A’s were slammed by the Padres to the tune of a 7-0 final. They had a very tough offensive night and it was very obvious that the long lay-off did them no favors. They were back on the field in Oakland for game two looking for a very different outcome. Sean Manea was the starter in today’s game and it will be Chris Paddack for San Diego.

Manea dismissed the Padres in the first inning setting the stage for a productive bottom of the first for Oakland. Tommy LaStella singled and Matt Olson tripled to deep right scoring LaStella and Mark Canha who had walked giving the A’s an early 2-0 lead. The A’s would add a couple more in the second inning now leading 4-0. Stephen Picottty and Heim both singled and LaStella doubled to deep right in the bottom of the frame extending that lead.

The top of the third inning was productive for the Padres, however, the A’s were able to contain the damage with a bases loaded situation allowing only one run. Former A Jurickson Profar was able to score when Eric Hosmer grounded into a fielders choice and the Padres were on the board 4-1. There was not much action for the A’s in the bottom of the third but there would in the fourth inning. Sean Manea had struck out five through three innings and was having what could probably be his best showing of the year.

It was a quick top of the fourth for Manea and the A’s would try to extend their lead in the bottom of the fourth. It was a speedy inning for Paddack as well taking care of Oakland and the score remained 4-1 in favor of Oakland.

In the top of the fifth inning Manea would go through the Padres in quick order. Having a bit of a drought, Matt Chapman would strike out for the third time in the fifth and Oakland couldn’t get very much going in that inning.

Yusmeiro Petit would successfully take over on the mound to start the sixth inning. The Oakland pitchers were keeping the Padres offense pretty quiet. The A’s would extend their lead when wonder kid Jonah Heim connected for his second hit of the game. Ramon Laureano would come to bat and hit his fifth homer of the season and the A’s led 7-1 after six innings.

The seventh inning would see Jake Diekman take over on the mound. It had been another good showing from the A’s bullpen. Oakland had a nice seventh inning as Matt Olson would have his third hit of the game, Piscotty had an infield hit and Canha who had walked scored and the game was now 8-1. It was a very good thing to see the great showing by the Oakland offense. Laureano, La Stella, Olson, Piscotty, Machin and Heim all had one or more hits. It was a great turnaround from yesterday’s game.

Joakim Soria would start the eighth inning. San Diego would have a great offensive eighth. Austin Nola would homer, Wil Myers would double to deep left and Jake Cronenworth had an infield single that scored Myers. The Padres still trailed by the score of 8-3 as the game went into the bottom of the eighth. The Padres Trevor Rosenthal handled things from the mound and the game had reached the ninth inning.

The A’s were three outs away from a win as the ninth inning got underway. Liam Hendriks would come in and try to finish this game and give the A’s their 23rd win of the season. He would strike out Profar to start the inning. Trent Grisham would single to right and Fernando Tatis Jr. came to the plate and doubled to right center. Manny Machado hit a sacrifice fly to center and Grisham scored. The Padres were not going down easy now trailing 8-4 but also looking at two outs. It would be up to Mitch Moreland to keep the Padres alive. Hendriks had other plans striking him out and the A’s would win by the score of 8-4.

The final game of the series will be tomorrow with first pitch at 1:10.