Author: Matthew Harrington

Oakland Athletics’ Sean Manaea (55) delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Friday, May 26, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics waited out a sharp Masahiro Tanaka, then scored four runs in the final two innings to beat the New York Yankees 4-1 Friday night in the Bronx. Tanaka punched out 13 A’s, but wound up the loser in a pitcher’s duel against surprise starter Sean Manaea. Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis knocked in runs for the A’s (22-25) and Stephen Vogt cracked a two-run home run in the ninth to double Oakland’s lead. Didi Gregorious plated the only Yankees run.

Manaea (3-3, 4.35 ERA) took the hill in place of Kendall Graveman who is expected to be placed on the disabled list Saturday. There is no word on who will fill in the rest of the rotation, but Manaea proved capable against the Bronx Bombers (27-18). He pitched seven innings, allowing four hits while striking out 8. The Throwin’ Samoan managed to pick up the win after his offense rallied off a stingy Tanaka in the 8th.

Tanaka scattered four hits entering the 8th to go with his career-high baker’s dozen of punch outs, but gave up a one-out single to  Adam Rosales. With 106 pitches in the book, manager Joe Girardi pulled his starter in favor of Tyler Clippard. Clippard threw away a pickoff throw to allow Rosales to move to third, but Rosales was cut down on Rajai Davis’ fielder’s choice.

Davis moved to second on a steal, Matt Joyce then walked to bring the red-hot Jed Lowrie to the plate. Lowrie earlier in the game extended his hitting streak to 7 consecutive at-bats with a hit before being retired on a ground out, but against Clippard he delivered again. The second baseman singled to right field to plate Davis. Khris Davis then singled on a ground ball deep in the hole at short that plated Joyce for a 2-0 lead. Girardi challenged that Davis was out at first, but the call on the field stood.

Jonathan Holder replaced Clippard in the 9th, but Trevor Plouffe greeted him with a single. Vogt then took a belt-high offering to the short porch in right field for his 3rd homer of the year and a 4-0 lead. Santiago Casilla took the mound in the bottom of the inning, walking Aaron Hicks to open the inning. Hicks would score after advancing to third on a Starlin Castro single then scoring on Gregorious’ sacrifice fly. That’d be all the damage New York would muster, making Tanaka (5-4, 5.86 ERA) the tough-luck loser.

The A’s have called up Jharel Cotton to take Saturday’s start against Vallejo Native C.C. Sabathia. The 1 pm ET start will be the first of Cotton’s second stint with the team after making the club out of spring training after a brief debut last season.

Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha smiles as he does an interview after being hit in the face with shaving cream following his solo walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, May 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 3-2. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics survived becoming history at the hands of Chris Sale, then walked off to a 3-2 win against the Boston Red Sox Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Mark Canha opened the bottom of the tenth inning with a moonshot to left field to win the game after tripling in a run in the fifth inning. Khris Davis doubled home a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

Boston scored first in the fourth on a two run homer by Mitch Moreland, with the two runs looming large with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Sale pitched seven innings of 10 strikeout ball, his eighth straight game with ten-plus K’s, but wound up with the no-decision. Sale has now performed the feat twice, joining only Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.

Moreland hit his second homer in as many nights, taking starter Kendall Graveman deep to the stairs in right field, plating Xander Bogaerts in the process for a 2-0 Boston lead. Graveman would settle down against a deep Red Sox lineup though, throwing six innings and striking out five. He’d turn the game over to Ryan Madson, Liam Hendriks, Santiago Casilla and winning pitcher Ryan Dull (2-2, 6.32 ERA) who all threw scoreless innings.

The A’s rallied back on after Ryon Healy singled with one out. Canha hit a fly ball to right that Mookie Betts took a bad route to, allowing Healy to score and Canha to reach third. Sale would punch out Chad Pinder then get Josh Phegley to fly out to end the inning.

Oakland wasn’t done yet though, with Rajai Davis opening the sixth with a single. After Sale coaxed a pop out from Rosales, Jed Lowrie singled to move Davis over to second. Davis then unleashed a ringing double to score Davis and put Lowrie at third, tying the game in the process. Sale would strike out Plouffe and Healy to keep the game tied.

After Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless eighth, Sox manager John Farrell tabbed closer Craig Kimbrel with the ninth. The former All-Star got two quick outs, but nearly wound up the loser after Healy connected on a deep drive to center field. Boston center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. had other ideas though, tracking the ball all the way to the wall then leapt and stretch to his left, pulling the game-winning bid into his mitt to save the game, for an inning at least.

“I thought it was out. I thought it was a home run,” said Canha. “You never expect a guy to jump up and make an amazing play like that. But then when it happened, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s Jackie Bradley out there.’”

With Heath Hembree (0-2, 4.29) inserted into the game, Canha teed off on the first pitch he saw. Canha gave Oakland its fourth walk-off win of the year, blasting his second homer of the year in the process.

“I couldn’t even tell you what pitch it was unless I saw the replay,” said Canha. “It just kind of popped out of his hand, and I saw it really well and put a good swing on it.”

The Sox look for revenge Saturday with Drew Pomeranz, a former A’s starter and reliever, on the bump. Lefty Sean Manaea looks to give Oakland the series win.

Texas Rangers’ Keone Kela, out of photo at left, sprays a bottle of water over Joey Gallo as he rounds first following his three-run walk off home run against the Oakland Athletics during a baseball game, Friday, May 12, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won 5-2. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics had a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning, but the Texas Rangers rallied for four runs, capping a walk-off win with a three-run Joey Gallo homer Friday night at Globe Life Park. Santiago Casilla blew his second save of the season, spoiling a seven-inning, one-run performance from starter Jess Hahn. Matt Joyce ripped his third homer of the season and Mark Canha doubled in a run for the A’s (16-19) who now fall just one game ahead of Texas (17-20) for the last spot in the American League West.

Casilla (1-2, 5.02 ERA) opened the ninth up 2-1 by surrendering a single to Jonathan Lucroy. Pinch-runner Pete Kozma then went first to third on Rougned Odor’s single to put the tying run 90 feet away. Mike Napoli, author of a walk-off homer for the Rangers Thursday night, hit a deep drive that plated Kozma on a sacrifice fly, but Odor remained at first. It would momentarily save the A’s after Carlos Gomez doubled to put the winning run on third.

With light-hitting Delino DeShields Jr. on deck, A’s manager Bob Melvin decided to pitch to the strike-out prone Joey Gallo as opposed to loading the bases for the potential inning-ending double play. Casilla got Gallo to a 3-2 count, but the Rangers rookie with a reputation for big homers and big whiffs punished the Oakland closer with one of the latter, sending the ball halfway up the foul pole in right for his 12^th bomb of the year. Keone Kela (1-1, 4.50) picked up the win thanks to Gallo’s heroics.

The A’s looked well on their way to win thanks to a masterful performance from newly inserted rotation member Jesse Hahn. Hahn took Jharel Cotton’s place in the rotation after the rookie’s surprising demotion to Triple-A Nashville. Hahn outdueled Texas starter and Lone Star Native Andrew Cashner.

Hahn scattered four hits, allowing the lone run on an intended sacrifice bunt with runners on the corners in the fifth inning by Deshields to tie the game 1-1. Joyce had touched up Cashner for the first of two A’s runs in the top of the inning, launching his 3^rd homer of the season to centerfield. Canha would double off reliever Jeremy Jeffress to take a 2-1 lead with one out in the 7^th.

The A’s look to get Sonny Gray back into form Saturday as he takes the hill against the Rangers. Texas counters with Nick Martinez and his 0-2 record and 5.12 ERA.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Andrew Triggs (60) hands the ball to manager Bob Melvin as he leaves in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers Friday, May 5, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland A’s debuted a tribute to Ford C. Frick Award winner and former announcer Bill King, unveiling a light-up sign in center field that reads King’s trademark “Holy Toledo!” after major plays. Unfortunately for the A’s, there was not much to get worked up about in Friday night’s 7-2 loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers. The A’s have now lost eight out of their last ten games.

“It’s a tough stretch,” said A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso. “But we have a group of guys who have been here before, a bunch of veterans. It’s a tough stretch, but as professionals we have to grind it out and play better. We know that.”

Reigning American League Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer held the A’s to just two runs on eight hits, striking out nine over eight innings. Victor Martinez knocked in two runs and Jim Adduci plated three for the Tigers off A’s starter Andrew Triggs. Yonder Alonso knocked in two runs for Oakland. Rajai Davis collected career hit 1,000 for Oakland. Detroit scored three unearned runs in the contest.

“We didn’t play our best baseball,” said Alonso. “They obviously did. They outplayed us in every aspect of the game.”

Triggs entered the game coming off his best start of his career. The 28-year-old side-slinger went seven innings against the Houston Astros Saturday, allowing no runs on five hits and striking out nine. Friday night he looked off his game from first pitch, loading the bases in the first before inducing a timely double play.

The Tigers went in order in the second, but capitalized on Adam Rosales error to open the third. After Jose Iglesias reached on the misplay, leadoff man Andrew Romine singled. Triggs would get two quick outs, but a two-run single to Victor Martinez gave Detroit a 2-0 lead on a pair of unearned runs.

Detroit added three runs in sixth after Triggs gave up back-to-back singles to Martinez and Justin Upton. He issued a walk to Tyler Collins to end his night with the bases loaded and one out. Jim Hendriks gave up a bases-clearing double to Jim Adduci to put Oakland down 5-0 and tag Triggs (4-2, 2.34 ERA) the loss.

“It ended up being two hits,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He walked a couple guys, managed it, got a double play ball in the first… He was throwing similar to what we’ve seen, just allowed a few more baserunners.”

The A’s scored in the bottom of the sixth after Jed Lowrie singled to open the inning. Khris Davis reached on an error then Alonso laced his first RBI basehit. Detroit added two runs in the eighth, one earned and one unearned, but Alonso would double home a run in the bottom of the frame. He’s now batting .348 over his last 15 games.

“I simplify things,” said Alonso of his approach this season amidst a .295 batting average and six homers on the year. “I’m just trying to get a good pitch.”

Shane Green relieved Fulmer after his eight innings of work, pitching a clean ninth to close the book on the A’s. Oakland looks to bounce back Saturday with Jesse Hahn on the mound. He’ll be opposed by Jordan Zimmermann and his 6.18 ERA.

Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis (2) hits a home run as Houston Astros catcher Evan Gattis reaches for the pitch during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 28, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

Two home runs from Khris Davis weren’t enough for the Oakland A’s to snap a four-game losing streak Friday night in Houston, with the Astros erasing a 3-0 deficit to win 9-4. Jharel Cotton (2-3, 5.00 ERA) gave up 6 runs over 4 1/3 innings for the A’s, being outdueled by Charlie Morton (2-2, 4.50 ERA) and his 10 K’s.

Davis continued his red-hot 2017 season, launching a three-run shot in the top of the first inning for his 8^th homer of the year. The Astros erased the 3-0 lead though with Carlos Beltran, Yuli Gurriel and Evan Gattis all plating runs.

Davis took Morton deep again in the top of the 3^rd, this time with the bases empty to give Oakland a 4-3 lead. It’d be the last run Morton gave up on the night, finishing the game with 7 innings, 5 hits and a dozen punchouts.

Cotton, however, yielded a single in the bottom of the 4^th, then couldn’t escape the fifth inning after giving up an RBI single to Evan Gattis and watching as Ryan Dull let an inherited runner score on a sacrifice fly by Alex Bregman. Cotton’s night was over after 4 1/3 innings and six runs, half earned, while striking out four.

Dull closed out the rest of the 5^th inning, then made way for longman Cesar Valdez to close out the final three innings of the game with Oakland down 6-4. Gurriel tagged Valdez for a solo homer in the bottom of the 7^th, then Carlos Correa doubled in a pair in the 8^th to hand Houston the decisive lead. For Houston, former Athletic Luke Gregerson and Ken Giles pitched scoreless innings to hand Oakland a fifth-straight loss.

The A’s will call on Andrew Triggs to right the ship Saturday. Triggs recently fell victim to an 11-1 drubbing from the Seattle Mariners Sunday in what has otherwise been a surprising start. The reliever turned starter has gone 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA this season. He’s opposed by Joe Musgrove for Houston.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 21, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics won their fourth-straight game Friday night at the Coliseum, topping the Seattle Mariners 3-1. Sean Manaea went six innings to pick up his first win of the season and Trevour Plouffe and Yonder Alonso each hit solo home runs off Hisashi Iwakuma to open the weekend series. Santiago Casilla nailed down his third save of the year to pull the A’s (9-8) a game over .500.

Manaea (1-1, 4.43 ERA) handled the M’s lineup with poise, walking only three batters in his six innings of work. The young southpaw struck out six M’s while allowing only one run on a two-out triple to Mitch Haniger in the top of the third for a 1-0 Seattle lead.

“The slider has really come a long way for him,” said Melvin. “That’s a big pitch for him. Whether it’s back footing righties, away to lefties, 2-3 pitches mixed in. All-in-all gave us six solid innings allowing one run and we turned it over to the bullpen.”

The A’s deep lineup, currently ranked third in the league in homers, came through for the emerging pitcher. The no. eight hitter tagged starter Iwakuma (0-2, 5.31 ERA) with a deep homer to center in the bottom of the fifth. It was Plouffe’s 100^th career homer and 4^th homer in 7 games.

“This is a true power guy,” said Melvin of his third baseman. “He had some injuries last year which, his numbers were down because of injury. But when he gets on a roll… He’s not swinging particularly well here and he’s still hitting homers, and big homers. He’ll find a streak where he gets really hot. He’s the type of guy who can carry a team.

Alonso, a free-agent-to-be, launched the winning run in the bottom of the sixth, crushing Iwakuma’s first offering over the wall in right center field for his third homer of the season. For the A’s, it was another homer from an usual spot in the line-up, the two-hole.

“We’ve talked about when we’re good,” said Melvin. “What we feel like is good for us is the length of the line-up,”

Stephen Vogt would score Jed Lowrie in the sixth as well on a sacrifice fly to make the score 3-1. From there, Ryan Dull, Sean Doolittle and Casilla would all toss scoreless frames. The A’s look to add to their winning record Saturday when Jharel Cotton takes the mound in the matinee. He’ll be opposed by Seattle lefty Ariel Miranda.

Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman, right, and Carlos Correa (1) celebrate after scoring against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, April 14, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. – In the battle of rebounding ace versus emerging rotation leader Dallas Keuchel and the Houston Astros scored the first victory, beating Kendall Graveman’s Oakland A’s 7-2 Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Keuchel (2-0, 0.86 ERA) pitched seven innings, giving up just four hits while striking out seven.

“He keeps the ball down,” said A’s Manager Bob Melvin. “When you feel like you get a decent swing on him the ball is down at the knees with decent movement and you’re beating the ball into the ground.”

Khris Davis hit his 5^th home run of the season and Trevor Plouffe added his first despite a rough night in the field and at the plate for the A’s (5-6), but Nori Aoki of the Astros answered with a homer of his own off Graveman as part of a two RBI night. Oakland’s bullpen, arguably its biggest strength, gave up six runs including three unearned in the seventh inning and two unearned in the eight to give Houston (7-4) the win.

Jose Altuve went 3-for-3 with two walks to reach base in 11 consecutive plate appearances over three games. Brian McCann (3 RBI) and Norichika Aoki (2 RBI) knocked in five runs combined.

“We’re not the only team that has that problem,” Said Melvin on keeping Altuve off base. “He uses the whole field, pulling the ball between the hole and third and short, hits one the other way to right field. On top of that you know he’s going to be able to steal bases and affect the pitchers tempo. He’s one of the better players in the league for a reason.”

Davis kept his McGwirean pace, launching his fifth homer of the season off the camera well in centerfield to open the second. Davis fell behind 2-2 but worked a full count before lifting Keuchel’s 88 mile-per-hour cutter to left center for a 1-0 lead. While Davis won’t likely maintain his 80 homer season pace, he may be the first Athletic to hit 50 in a season since Big Mac in 1996.

The Astros tagged Graveman back from a surprising source of power in the top of the fifth. The nine-hole hitter Norichika Aoki punished a belt-high sinker on a 1-0 count, hitting his first homer of the season onto the stairs over the right field wall. Aoki hit four long balls last year, with two coming against the A’s.

Graveman exited the game with the no-decision after just 5 innings and 74 pitches and one run. The opening day starter has given up just four runs over 18 innings this season, but Friday marked his shortest outing of the year after pitching 6-plus innings in his previous two starts.

“His first couple games, he threw a lot of pitches for the amount of time he was out there,” said Melvin. “He didn’t feel great. I wasn’t going to mess around with it.”

Graveman is expected to make his next scheduled start, but said that the cold was keeping him from getting and staying loose.

He gave way to Ryan Madson, another pitcher who had trouble with Nori Aoki. After the Astros put runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, the light-hitting outfielder again picked up a run scoring hit for a 2-1 lead.

Madson (0-1, 2.25 ERA) exited the game with two outs in the sixth on the line for the loss, making way for Ryan Dull. A throwing error by Trevor Plouffe allowed Jose Altuve to score from second base. After Bregman reached base on a walk, Melvin went to the lefty Daniel Coulombe. Coulombe couldn’t escape the jam, giving up a two-run double to Brian McCann with two outs. In total, Houston scored 3 runs in the 7^th, all unearned to take a 5-1 lead.

“We’re always concerned about our defense,” said Melvin. “We haven’t been consistent, as a matter of fact we’ve been inconsistent here recently. IT’s an area of concern. You can’t give away runs and extra outs to a team like that.”

Chris Devenski came in for the Astros, pitching a scoreless eighth inning despite giving up a leadoff double to Marcus Semien. He then punched out Rajai Davis, Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis. Houston tacked on a run in the ninth after Altuve walked to open the inning, moved to second on a balk off Raul Alcantara and scored on Plouffe’s second throwing error of the game. McCann would pick up a sacrifice fly in the inning as well.

Plouffe atoned for his earlier errors, taking Michael Feliz deep for his first homer of the season with one out in the ninth. He was previously 0-for-3 with three strikeouts, two looking.

The A’s will look to get back to .500 Saturday, sending Sean Manaea to the mound for game two of the series. Manae is coming off a stellar start against the potent Texas Rangers, going seven innings and allowing just two hits and one run. He’ll be opposed by Lance McCullers Jr. The Houston lefty is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA.