A’s Drop Fourth In A Row 3-2

By Barbara Mason

The Chicago White Sox Luis Robert hits a for an RBI single in the fourth inning against Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Wed Aug 18, 2021 (AP News photo)

Wednesday night the Oakland A’s took on the Chicago White Sox in Game Three of their series. The team was still reeling after the horrible accident that Chris Bassitt suffered last night in Game Two.

The good news today for Bassitt was that there was no further head injuries, no concussion and no damage to his vision. He did suffer some nasty lacerations that required stitches and will reguire surgery for a displaced tripod cheek fracture. More than likely a six week or beyond layoff. It was such a shame for the all-star pitcher who was having one heck of a season.

There was a sigh of relief for all involved with the news. This hit looked so very serious and it was a surprise that he did not suffer more damage. The loss of blood alone was hard to watch as team mates gathered around him. Just a terrible moment for Oakland. The 9-0 loss was not a surprise after what had happened in the second inning of that game.

The A’s were back for Game Three on Wednesday and hoping for a bounce back after losing the first two games of the series.

The A’s started hitting from the first inning. They actually had runners on first and third with no outs and came away empty. In the third inning they had the bases loaded with no outs and not a single run. They cannot do this especially against a team the caliber of the White Sox, Chicago took the lead in the first inning 1-0 and in the fourth inning Seth Brown homered to tie up the game 1-1.

The tie did not last very long and Chicago took back the lead 2-1 in the fourth inning off a Luis Robert single which drove in Yoan Moncada.

Going into the sixth inning the score remained 2-1. The White Sox would extend their lead in the sixth 3-1 when again Robert singled and Moncada scored.

Oakland continued to threaten the Chicago lead in the seventh inning. Marte hit a sacrifice bringing Elvis Andrus home: the White Sox still leading 3-2.

Again in the eighth inning the A’s had two runners on base with one out and came up empty. This was three innings that Oakland had some great scoring opportunities and failed to take advantage of them.

The A’s could not do anything in the ninth inning and fell to the White Sox 3-2. They have now lost four in a row and tomorrow they hope to salvage one game in the series and avoid the sweep.

The loss today was an offensive loss. You cannot have the bases loaded and come away empty. Oakland had runners on first and third with no outs in the first inning and again nothing. This is not winning baseball and the A’s have to figure out a way to get these runners home.

Oakland starting pitcher Paul Blackburn had a nice game on the mound for Oakland He went 6 innings and had a pretty good day. With some production on the offensive side Blackburn might have come away with a win in this series.

Tomorrow the A’s will play Game Four in the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM. Cole Irvin will be on the mound for Oakland and Dylan Cease will start for Chicago.