Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ty Blach works against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning at Coors Field in Denver on Sun Jul 30, 2023 (AP News photo)

Rockies Foil A’s Bid For the Sweep Oakland Falls Short 2-0

By Barbara Mason

Sunday afternoon the Oakland A’s (30-77) played the third and final game of their series with the Colorado Rockies (41-64). The A’s couldn’t seal the deal in picking up the sweep getting shut out by starter Ty Blach who pitched for five innings giving up three hits and striking out two. The A’s bats also fell silent against four relievers who followed Blach in the 2-0 loss at Coors Field.

This game did not go the way Oakland had envisioned. The game was scoreless through the first two innings. The Rockies tallied two runs scoring a run in each of the third and fifth innings. Ryan McMahon set up both runs. He singled in the third inning, driving in Austin Wynns and in the fifth he doubled in Ezequiel Tovar who crossed home plate giving Colorado a 2-0 lead.

The Rockies would take the 2-0 lead into the eighth inning. Colorado threatened to extend their lead in the ninth inning with runners on base but the A’s kept them off the scoreboard.

Oakland had the ninth inning to try to salvage this game. Seth Brown struck out, JJ Bleday struck out and Shea Langeliers flied out. That was the ball game and the Rockies had foiled the sweep for the A’s with five pitchers getting the shutout.

Oakland’s Luis Medina went 5.1 innings taking a bit of pressure off the A’s bullpen. He allowed the six hits that turned out to be the only Colorado strikes in the game. Medina also allowed the two runs with six strikeouts.

Oakland had a great opportunity in the seventh inning loading the bases. Nick Allen came to the plate and got a terrible call that ended the inning and any chance for the A’s to get on the scoreboard. Oakland only had five hits in the game.

A’s post game notes: Oakland won the first two games of the series, the second game was a bit of a blowout 11-3. The A’s have not seen many blowouts this season so this game was a beautiful thing. A win in Sunday’s game would have been a sweep for the A’s but they fell short. It also would have been their second sweep of the season.

Oakland will now head out west for a three game series with the NL West leader, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ken Waldichuk (2-6 ERA 6.38) will take the mound for the A’s. Lance Lynn (6-9 ERA 6.47)will start for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday at 7:10 PM PT.