Author: Matthew Harrington

A’s Don’t Help Themselves, Wild Card Race Tied After M’s 4-3 Walk-off Win

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Photo credit: @Mariners

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s clinched a postseason berth Friday night, but it was hardly cause for celebration. By virtue of the Cleveland Indians losing earlier in the night, the A’s knew they’d be locked into a spot in the Wild Card game. The only question is where will that game be played?

The picture didn’t get clearer Friday. The A’s needed a win in Seattle to stay a game ahead of Tampa Bay for home field advantage in the do-or-die game, with the Rays winning earlier in the night. All signs were pointing up when Matt Olson hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Oakland a 3-2 lead. But closer Liam Hendriks couldn’t hold on to the lead and the Mariners rallied to walk the A’s off 4-3 on a J.P. Crawford double. Now both Oakland and Tampa sit at 96 wins apiece.

Hendriks got a quick out before Mallex Smith singled. The A’s closer bounced back with a punchout of Dylan Moore, but Smith advanced to second and third base on wild pitches and scored easily on a Shed Long single to tie the game. Crawford then took a 3-2 pitch to left field on a line for the walk-off winner.

The A’s were trailing 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh after Seattle scored runs in the top of the first and third innings off Mike Fiers. Marcus Semien’s 33rd homer of the season in the leadoff spot was the lone as run off Justus Sheffield to that point. Matt Chapman singled off reliever Zac Grotz with one out in the seventh, then Taylor Guilbeau was called in to face Olson. Olson hammered a 3-2 count over the wall in left field to give the A’s the 3-2 lead. AJ Puk, Jake Diekman and Joakim Soria all pitched scoreless innings in relief of Fiers, who pitched five strong, but will most likely watch the Wild Card game from the dugout, thanks to the reemergence of Sean Manaea.

The Rays have yet to announce a starter for Saturday’s game against the Blue Jays, but Trent Thornton and his 5.00 ERA will await the Tampa hitters who will step up to the plate eagerly. For Oakland Brett Anderson takes the hill against Marco Gonzalez, who despite a 4.09 ERA has 16 wins to his credit.

Sharks Win First of Preseason, 4-1, on Four-Goal Third Period

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Matthew Harrington

SAN JOSE–The San Jose Sharks finally won in the 2019 preseason, besting the Calgary Flames 4-1 Thursday night at the SAP Center. Dylan Gambrell helped his cause to make the opening night roster by scoring two goals, line mates Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl scored a goal apiece and Brent Burns notched assists on all four goals.

Both teams were scoreless entering the third period, but Kane opened the flood gates by beating Flames netminder Artyom Zagidulin 3:17 into the third. San Jose then scored three goals in a span of 2:58. Tomas Hertl tipped a Burns blast past Zagidulin at the 10:59 mark then Gambrell beat Zagidulin twice for a 4-0 lead.

Gambrell opened the game on the second line with Evander Kane and Tomas Hertl, but couldn’t take advantage of his opportunities and found himself on the potential fourth line with Melker Karlsson and Goodrow. His odds of factoring into the opening night roster, be it as a skater or a scratch were dwindling, especially with Lukas Radil excelling with Kane and Hertl throughout the preseason. The pressure coach Peter DeBoer has put on the young Gambrell paid off in spades with his performance down the stretch, with production from the fourth line being a necessity this year as the Sharks try to replace Joe Pavelski’s production.

One of the many Sharks assured a spot in the lineup October 2nd, Brent Burns still turned in a stellar performance, collecting four assists in a period. The feat would match a franchise record were the game to have counted.

The Sharks got solid goaltending from Martin Jones with the incumbent starter making 24 saves on 25 shots. The lone goal came with 4:02 left in regulation after Justin Kirkland punched home a rebound to cut the lead to 4-1. The same could not be said of Calgary’s goalie Zagidulin. The 24-year-old former KHLer gave up four goals on 12 shots, entering the game to start the third period. Cam Talbot was perfect to open the game, turning aside 24 Sharks shots to enter third tied 0-0.

Up next for the Sharks are some roster decisions and a match-up with the same team the Sharks will face twice in the season’s first two games. San Jose will face the Vegas Golden Knights Monday on the road before opening the season at T-Mobile Arena on October 2nd.

Camp Battles Begin in Sharks’ 4-3 Loss to Ducks

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Photo credit: @SanJoseSharks

By Jerry Feitelberg

The San Jose Sharks lost to the Anaheim Ducks 4-3 to open the preseason slate of the 2019-20 campaign at home Tuesday night, but they did get some intel on a couple camp battles. Darkhorse candidates for open forward spots Jonny Brodzinski and Joachim Blichfeld both scored for the Sharks, while potential midseason call-up Ryan Merkley had a pair of assists. Fresh off inking a new deal to take himself out of restricted free agency, Timo Meier picked up right where he left off last season, putting the puck in the net as well.

Aaron Dell, the incumbent to the backup goalie gig 11 saves on 12 shots, leaving the game up 2-1 after just over 30 minutes of play. Josef Korenar made 10 saves, but gave up three goals in the Ducks’ come-from-behind win. Max Jones had the game-winner and added an assist for Anaheim.

San Jose’s primary goal in the exhibition slate is to determine which forwards who either weren’t on the roster or saw limited time in 2018-19 will replace Joe Pavelski’s production. The previous Sharks captain departed San Jose in the offseason after 761 points over 13 seasons with San Jose. With openings on almost every line, Team Teal is expecting it to be a committee to replace Pavelski’s production.

With that being the case, Brodzinski and Blichfeld each flashed a skill from Pavelski’s toolbox Tuesday night. Brodzinski’s goal to take a 2-0 lead 10:47 into the game came on the power play, with the 26-year-old deflecting a puck past Ducks goalie Ryan Miller in the crease, number 8’s old spot on the Sharks man advantage. Brodzinski boasts 54 games of NHL experience over 4 seasons and seemed destined to start the year with the Barracuda in the AHL, but a willingness to go to the dirty areas may help him find a spot on the Shark’s fourth line.

For Blichfeld, the WHL’s leading point-getter last season, the contribution is a laser-like wrist shot. He showed it in beating Ducks goalie Anthony Stolarz to tie the game at 3 2:55 into the third period. The 21-year-old is a pure scorer who could do damage on Joe Thornton’s wing if he breaks camp with the team, but handicappers have him below other prospects like Sasha Chemlevski and Ivan Chekhovich who have yet to make their preseason debuts. If Blichfeld can fill the net like he did in junior, scoring 53 goals for the Portland Winterhawks last season, he can help San Jose replace Pavelski’s 355 career goals.

Dell looked good heading into the 2nd period holding a 2-0 lead, but Devin Shore beat him 5:53 into the second to cut San Jose’s lead in half 2-1. After Dell came out, Nicolas Deslauriers and Adam Henrique each scored on Korenar to take a 3-2 lead heading into the third. After Blichfeld’s tying goal, Jones beat Korenar on the power play 6:43 to finish the game.

Dell is expected to be Martin Jones’ backup, but his down 18-19 campaign and cap hit will have him feeling the heat to excel in training camp this year. The crowded crease will also be an issue for the Sharks who will need to find competitive opportunities for five goalies. Jones is expected to be the starter at the NHL level, while Dell, Korenar and Antoine Bibeau are all in on the backup spot, with Dell getting the edge on experienced. San Jose also signed Andrew Shortrigde out of Quinnipiac last season, and would probably be best served developing at a level higher than the ECHL this season leaving five goalies for four spots. This will be a spot to watch as the preseason unfolds.

Fiers Dominates White Sox, A’s Keep Pace in Wild Card Chase with 7-0 Win

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Photo credit: @MLBNetwork

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s hit a pair of solo homeruns in the first two innings to stake starter Mike Fiers to a 2-0 lead, and it’d be all he needed in a stellar seven-inning performance allowing no runs to the Chicago White Sox. Of course, the A’s would add in another five runs in the top of the eighth to turn the close contest in to a rout in a 7-0 A’s win in the South Side.

Fiers twirled a gem, punching out eight Pale Hosers, while scattering just three hits and walking none to give Oakland a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild card spot with Tampa yet to play in San Diego Friday night. Matt Chapman and Stephen Piscotty hit solo shots in the first and second innings off former Athletic Ross Detwiler. Chad Pinder had the big blow in a five-run eighth inning, hitting a two-run homer, while Dustin Garneau knocked in a pair as well.

After Marcus Semien grounded out to open the game, Matt Chapman fell in an early 0-2 against Detwiler. He took a ball then sent an 84-mph changeup on a line over the wall in left for his 25th homer of the season. Piscotty would open the next inning working Detwiler to a 2-0 account before missing on another changeup. He took Detwiler to centerfield on the 4th pitch of the at bat, a sinker belt high for a 2-0 lead.

While Fiers (11-3, 3.30 ERA) was near unhittable, Detwiler did settle in. He exited the game with an out in the fifth having given up only four hits and the two runs, but control was an issue. The lefty (1-3, 5.35 ERA) struck out four, but also walked a quartet. Jose Ruis pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball, including stopping a pair of inherited runners from scoring to keep the game in reach.

The game was handed over to Jace Fry in the eighth inning, who struggled for the jump. He worked a full count on Mark Canha, but lost him on ball four, then surrendered Chad Pinder’s 11th homer of the year on a 3-1 count for a 4-0 A’s lead. He then walked Khris Davis and gave up a single to Jurickson Profar before being replaced by former San Francisco Giant Josh Osich without recording an out.

Jurickson Profar gave Osich a rude welcome, sending a line drive past Leury Garcia at second on the first pitch to knock in Khris Davis for a 5-0 A’s lead and a double. Dustin Garneau would also jump on the first pitch, hitting a double to left that would score Piscotty and Profar for a 7-0 lead. He bounced back to strike out Marcus Semien and coax groundouts from Matt Chapman and Matt Olson, respectively.

With the lead in hand, manager Bob Melvin tabbed trade acquisition Jake Diekman with the bottom of the eighth inning. He struck out Matt Skole and Ryan Cordell on four pitches each then forced a ground out from Garcia in his frame. Joakim Soria nailed down the win in the ninth, allowing a single to James McCann but being otherwise flawless.

The A’s and White Sox meet again on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. PT.

Davis Turns Corner, A’s Top Twins 5-3

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

After a move down the batting order, Oakland A’s DH Khris Davis is starting to show signs of life again. Friday night at Target Field in Minneapolis “Khrush” knocked in two runs on two hits as the A’s beat the Twins 5-3. Liam Hendriks picked up his seventh save of the season and Marcus Semien hit his 15th home run of the season. Marwin Gonzalez went deep for the Twins.

Semien put the Green and Gold on the board early, taking Minnesota ace Jake Odorizzi’s third pitch of the game out of the park for a 1-0 lead. After Odorizzi bounced back for two outs, Mark Canha singled and Ramon Laureano walked to bring Davis up to the plate.

Davis entered the game hitting .167 over his last 15 games, and was moved down in the batting order earlier in the week. He laced a single off Odorizzi in a 1-1 count to plate Canha for a 2-0 lead before Minnesota had even taken its first cuts.

The rare error from Matt Olson with runners on second and third in the bottom of the second pushed across a Twins run. An inning later, Gonzalez hit his 11th homer of the season with Nelson Cruz on base to take a 3-2 lead off Chris Bassitt. Bassitt (7-4, 3.96 ERA) would hang on for the win with five innings of two-earned-run ball on five hits.

He’d be the beneficiary of a Matt Olson RBI single in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game. Davis’ second RBI single of the game an inning later off reliever Ryne Harper (3-2, 3.18 ERA) would give Oakland the 4-3 lead. Chad Pinder would single in a run off Harper as well for the 5-3 final.

Ryan Buchter pitched 1 1/3 scoreless for Oakland (56-42), Joakim Soria added an inning and Liam Hendriks went 1 2/3 to nail down his seventh save against one of the toughest lineups in the majors. The Twins (59-37) will look to bounce back with All-Star Jose Berrios on the hill Saturday while Oakland counters with Brett Anderson.

A’s Rally in 7th for 5-2 Win Over M’s

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s rallied in the seventh inning to beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on the road Friday night. Franklin Barreto hit his first homerun of the season, Robbie Grossman knocked in two runs and Brett Anderson went six-plus innings for the win. Newly minted All-star and closer Liam Hendriks nailed down his fourth save of the year.

Seattle took the lead in the first off a J.P. Crawford sacrifice fly, but Barreto’s big fly off starter Yusei Kikuchi tied the game. Tom Murphy lifted a solo fly off Anderson in the bottom of the fifth to give Seattle a 2-1 edge. 

Kikuchi was cruising through six innings having given up just the one run, but he ran into trouble in the seventh. Matt Olson hit a ground-rule double to open the inning then scored on Khris Davis’ single and a throwing error by Domingo Santana in right. Mark Canha grounded out to move Davis to 3rd, then Davis scored on Ramon Laureano’s sacrifice fly for a 3-2 A’s lead.

Kikuchi (4-6, 4.94 ERA) would escape the inning, but wound up the loser after going seven innings with four hits and three runs (two earned) allowed. Anderson (9-5, 3.86 ERA), by virtue of the rally, wound up the winner after going 6 1/3 innings with five hits and two runs.

Robbie Grossman gave the A’s breathing room in the top of the ninth, knocking a one-hopper to the wall off Dan Altavilla good for two runs. Hendriks, crowned the A’s closer with Treinen injured, pitched a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to close out the contest after Ryan Buchter and Yusmeiro Petit bridged the gap between Anderson and the closer. 

Olson Homers Twice, A’s Crush Halos 7-2

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics mashed their way to a 7-2 win over the hosting Los Angeles Angels Friday night in SoCal, thanks to the bat of Matt Olson. The A’s Gold Glove first baseman hit two homers and knocked in five runs while designated hitter Mark Canha went deep as well. Mike Fiers went 6 2/3 innings, giving up only one run.

Olson opened the first inning with a bang, taking opener Noe Ramirez deep on an 0-1 pitch with a runner on and two outs for a 2-0 lead. After Ramirez (L, 3-1, 3.32 ERA) was removed after an inning for long reliever Felix Pena, Olson again would strike in his next at-bat. With runners on first and second, Olson this time went to right field for a 5-0 lead.

Fiers was dominant, working around six hits to only give up the one RBI on an Albert Pujols single in the 5th inning. Friday marked his eighth straight start of six-plus innings and three runs or fewer. In fact, of his last 12 starts, all were three-run or less affairs, though a May 13th outing only lasted five innings. Friday he went 6 2/3, while throwing 104 pitches to improve his record to 8-3 with a 4.01 ERA.

After Pena went five innings, only yielding the three-run shot to Olson, Luke Bard took over the seventh. Mark Canha tagged him with a two-run blast. Canha was filling in for Khris Davis who was hit by a pitch earlier in the week.

The A’s bullpen was almost flawless, but Lou Trivino gave up a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning off the bat of one-time Athletic Jonathan Lucroy. The run was unearned due to a passed ball earlier in the inning.

The A’s hope to have Davis back in the lineup Saturday when they send Brett Anderson to the mound. He’ll be opposed by Tyler Skaggs of the Halos.

Semien Spectacular, A’s Edge Rangers 5-3

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s found themselves a game over .500 once again after beating the Texas Rangers 5-3 in Arlington Friday night. Marcus Semien went 4 for 5 with two homeruns, including the game-winning two-run shot in the ninth and Blake Treinen wriggled out of a bases loaded one-out rally in the ninth to preserve the win for Yusmeiro Petit. Petit (1-1) also escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh.

The A’s were trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, but Semien stepped up with one out and runners on first and third, singling home Mark Canha off Shelby Miller to tie the game. He knocked in his third and fourth runs of the game, launching a Jose Leclerc (1-2) offering over the wall in right for a two-run blast in the top of the 9th and a 5-3 A’s lead.

Treinen entered the bottom of the inning looking to nail down the game. He got a fly out of Rougned Odor but pinch-hitter Ronald Guzman singled and Delino DeShields and Logan Forsythe walked to load the bases. Treinen coaxed a 5-4-3 double play out of Elvis Andrus to end the game and notch his 13th save.

Oakland led 2-0 by the fifth inning after a Matt Olson RBI single and Marcus Semien’s first homer of the game, his eighth of the season, both of Texas starter Lance Lynn. A’s starter Brett Anderson was cruising through five, giving up no runs, but the 6th inning proved his downfall. Elvis Andrus hit an RBI triple, Nomar Mazara grounded out but plated a run and Hunter Pence blasted his 13th longball of the season to give the Rangers a 3-2 edge late in the game, a lead Semien would single-handedly erase.

The A’s and Rangers, separated by one game in the standings, will play two Saturday. Paul Blackburn draws the game one assignment for the Green and Gold, while Chris Bassitt gets game two. Joe Palumbo and Adrian Sampson get the ball for Texas.

A’s Long Balls Key in 6-2 win over M’s; 7th straight for Oakland

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sfgate.com photo: Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, celebrates with Stephen Piscotty (25) and Marcus Semien, center, after hitting a three-run home run off Seattle Mariners’ Wade LeBlanc during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 24, 2019, in Oakland, Calif.


By Matt Harrington


The Oakland A’s mashed three home runs to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-2 and take game one of the weekend series. Matt Olson, Mark Canha and Stephen Piscotty all went deep for Oakland in a seventh-straight win.

Daniel Mengden started for the A’s going four innings and allowing a run on a Domingo Santana RBI single in the top of the first. Oakland would hit two two-run shots in the bottom of the fourth off M’s starter Wade LeBlanc, but Mengden was ineligible for the win after not reaching five innings.

The A’s added a run on a steal and wild throw in the bottom of the seventh, answering back after the M’s scored in the top of the frame to make it 4-2 at the time. Piscotty then took Connor Sadzeck deep in the bottom of the eighth.

Lou Trivino picked up the win after getting the final out of the seventh and finishing off the eighth. Blake Treinen closed out the ninth in a non-save. 

Olson and Canha went back to back in the fourth innning to get the A’s an early jump, Canha filling in for injured DH Khris Davis has been on a tear lately replacing the major league home run leader in the line up, “If you’re looking for a replacement for Khris, that’s the guy, he feels good at the plate, he’s getting good swings, seeing some pitches, taking some walks. Really good.” said A’s manager Bob Melvin.

A’s outfielder Stephen Piscotty had a big night with the homer and two singles, putting him a 22 consecutive games to get on base leading the majors in reaching base. 

A’s starter Daniel Mengden started out the game walking four M’s hitters, but later A’s reliever Lou Trivino, who got the win and was the fourth of five pitchers was able to get four of five hitters out. 

Notes: Oakland A’s P.A. announcer Dick Callahan acknowledged A’s Spanish play by play announcer and our very own talk show host Amaury Pi-Gonzalez on the A’s scoreboard, who missed most of the first two months of the season after having surgery. Amaury looks great and says he’s been anxious to get back to work. 

Today’s 1:07 pm starters at the Oakland Coliseum for the Seattle Mariners Yusei Kikuchi (3-1, 3.43 ERA) vs. Oakland A’s starter Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.05 ERA).


Matt Harrington covers A’s baseball each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Montas’ Near Complete Game Still A Feat, A’s Continue Dominance Over Tigers 7-2

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By Matthew Harrington

Frankie Montas came one out away from pitching his first career complete game, finishing the night with 10 strikes on four hits with two earned runs to give the Oakland A’s (21-25) its 14th consecutive win against the Detroit Tigers 7-2 at Comerica Park Friday. Mark Canha and Chad Pinder each hit two-run home runs and Khris Davis went 3-for-4 with an RBI single to hand the Motor City Kitties their fifth loss in as many games. Miguel Cabrera and Josh Harrison knocked in the runs for Detroit (18-25)

Montas and Tigers starter Daniel Norris were trading zeros through the first three innings, but a Matt Olson fielder’s choice with runners on first and third in the top of the fourth plated the A’s first run. Canha added two runs on his fifth homer of the year in the top of the fifth when Norris’ 1-0 fastball caught nothing but the heart of the plate and the head of Canha’s bat for a 3-0 lead.

The Tigers after a pair of doubles from Miguel Cabrera and Josh Harrison manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth. Montas hit Dewal Lugo with a pitch to put runners on second and first with one out, but consecutive groundouts bailed Montas out of a jam in his best start of the year.

Olson hit a single that, combined with a fielding error by center fielder JaCoby Jones, brought in a run in the top of the sixth. Pinder would knock losing pitcher Norris (2-2, 4.50 ERA) out of the game a batter later, taking him deep on a full-count offering for a 6-1 lead. Davis would single in a run against Sandy Baez in the top of the eighth for the A’s seventh run.

Montas (5-2, 2.67 ERA) came out to start the ninth, the first time he’d done so in his career, but be greeted by a single from Gordon Beckham. He would strikeout Christin Stewart and coax a groundout from Nick Castellanos, but future Hall of Famer Cabrera would not be the last victim of Montas. He doubled off Montas’ 109th pitch of the night, plating Beckham for a 7-2 A’s lead. Lou Trivino would coax a Ronny Rodriguez punchout to end the game.