The Chicago Cubs Dansby Swanson gets an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning at Wrigley Field against the Oakland A’s on Mon Sep 16, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (65-86) got off to a rough start in their three game series with the Chicago Cubs (77-73). Joey Estes who started the game had an awful outing giving up nine hits and six runs early. The Cubs went on to win the game 9-2. Oakland gave up 18 hits in the game. Relief pitcher Brandon Bielak had a good four innings to close out the game giving up four hits and no runs. Brent Rooker hit his 38th home run this season with Jacob Wilson on base for the two runs.

Monday evening the A’s took on the Cubs in the first of their three game series. Oakland lost a series over the weekend to the Chicago White Sox. They didn’t have to travel far for this game, a 21 minute freeway ride.

A’s Joey Estes made the start and lasted only one inning nine hits and six earned runs and for the Cubs starter Shota Imanaga had himself an evening striking out 11 hitters in six innings of work surrendering five hits and two runs. The A’s not to mention Estes getting lit up couldn’t get any offense moving either on Monday night.

Game recap: The Cubs got up on the scoreboard in the first inning taking the early lead 1-0. Isaac Parades singled Suzuki home and the Cubs were off and running. Wilson had tripled in the first frame and JJ Bleday walked. With only one out, the A’s had a great opportunity to do some damage but Shea Langeliers lined out and Zach Gelof grounded into a fielders choice and that was the inning.

The bottom of the second inning was a nightmare for Joey Estes. He gave up six hits and five runs and that would be it for Estes.

Hogan Harris would relieve him getting Oakland out of the inning. Miguel Amaya singled Nico Hoerner home, Ian Happ singled Pete Crow-Armstrong home and to top it off, Dansby Swanson hit a 2-run home run driving Amaya and Happ home and the hit parade had begun 6-0. It was not the way the A’s envisioned their start Monday.

Brent Rooker hit his 38th home run of the season in the top of the third inning with Jacob Wilson on base and Oakland was on the board with a lot of work to do trailing 6-2. The Cubs made an Oakland comeback even more daunting scoring two more runs in the bottom of the third inning.

Miguel Amaya singled Nico Hoerner home for a second time in this game and Dansby Swanson singled Pete Crow-Armstrong home extending their lead 8-2. The Cubs continued to hit in the fourth inning scoring one more run. Isaac Paredes had his second hit of the game driving in Cody Bellinger and the Cubs had a 9-2 lead.

The fifth inning was a three up three down for Brandon Bielak who relieved Hogan Harris and Oakland had stopped the flow of Chicago hits and it was on to the sixth inning. Bielak got out of the sixth inning only giving up a single.

Bielak gave up a couple of hits in the seventh and eighth innings but allowed no runs. He had a pretty good outing pitching through four innings allowing 4 hits and no runs.

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga was relieved in the seventh inning by Trey Wingenter. He had gone six innings allowing five hits, two runs, three walks with 11 strikeouts. The left-hander had a terrific outing; he more than got the job done.

The Oakland A’s had a rough start in this series. They allowed 18 hits early in the game. The start of this game for the Cubs was the end of this game for the A’s. Oakland had runners on base in every inning but just couldn’t bring them home.

The A’s wil give it another go tomorrow in game two of the series. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 4:40 PM. Mitch Spence will take the mound for Oakland with a 7-9 win/loss record and a 4.33 ERA. The Cubs will start Jordan Wicks who comes in with a 2-3 win/loss record and a 5.27 ERA.