Oakland A’s pitcher TJ McFarland throws to the Kansas City Royals in the bottom of sixth inning at Kaufman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat May 18, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (19-29) again came up short losing their seventh game in a row 5-3 in the second game of their series with the Kansas City Royals (28-19). They did get hits, 11 of them, they did have a solid 2nd and 7th inning but failed to score in either of them. They struggled on the mound and continue to search for ways to turn this season around. It is rapidly turning into a nightmare of epic proportion. The Royals are a very talented team 1.5 games out of first place in the American League Central and they are proving to be a very tough team.

Game recap: The Royals got on the scoreboard in the first inning taking a 2-0 lead. Salvador Perez got the Royals going early with a single driving two runners Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. home. Again, the A’s found themselves trailing going into the second inning something that has plagued them throughout this road trip; falling behind early.

Oakland did tie up this game in the second inning off a Seth Brown home run with Zach Gelof on base. The A’s wasted no time answering the Royals start and knotting this game 2-2.

Oakland would be looking to break the tie but it was Kansas City that answered scoring single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings taking a 5-3 lead going into the ninth inning. Vinnie Pasquantino, and Nelson Velazquez both singled runners home and they topped it off in the seventh inning with a solo Kyle Isbel home run. With only two innings left in the game the A’s had their work cut out for them.

The eighth inning was a three and done for Oakland. Tyler Nevin grounded out, Zach Gelof struck out swinging and J.D. Davis grounded out. The A’s were three outs away from a seventh loss in a row.

With one out, Oakland had runners at the corners; Max Schuemann on third and Brett Harris on first. Oakland just couldn’t get the offense they needed when they needed it. They ended up losing the game 5-3 and had now lost seven straight games in a row.

Both teams finished the game with 11 hits each and it all came down to timing. Oakland had some solid innings. They doubled, homered and singled in that order in the second inning. They also hit three singles in the seventh inning but that was about it for the game. They did have their opportunities in this game but were not able to capitalize on those opportunities.

The A’s Ross Stripling went five innings allowing nine hits and four runs with only two strikeouts. The Royals offense had a nice offensive effort scoring in four frames. Oakland’s relief pitcher Lucas Erceg did give up the Isbel home run in the seventh inning but limited the damage getting out of the inning and closer Michael Kelly gave up a Royals single dismissing the next three at bats. The A’s came a hit or two shy of a win Saturday.

Game notes: Friday the A’s suffered their 6th loss in a row in game one of their series with the Royals. Oakland fell behind early and was not able to score until the ninth inning in a losing 6-2 effort. The A’s struggles seem to be without end right now as they look for answers that they can’t seem to find. They went into game two of this series looking to somehow right the ship and got beat again now dropping the first two games of this series. Oakland pitcher Ross Stripling will take the mound giving up nine hits and four runs in five innings. The Royals will start Seth Lugo was on the hill and he added to Oakland’s woes pitching 5.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs.

Sunday Oakland will finish up this series with Kansas City with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 AM. JP Sears will take the mound for Oakland with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 3.96 ERA. Brady Singer will be up on the hill for the Royals also with a 3-2 win/loss record and a 2.84 ERA. The A’s will continue to try and break the losing streak that they are currently on.