Author: smallforce

~  (AP Photo/Richard Carson)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ The number two affected Oakland in more ways than one against the Houston Astros Saturday, in a 3-0 loss.

Marwin Gonzalez became the hero when on a 3-0 pitch, he hit a two-run single with the bases loaded.

Starting pitchers Collin McHugh (The Astros, 1-2) and Kendall Graveman (3-4) almost pitched identically, going six innings with six strikeouts and giving up six hits. They only had a two walk difference, which equated to the two run score differential until the eighth inning.

Houston surpassed their season-high five double plays, turning four of them in the final four innings.

Both teams had their best chance in consecutive half-innings.

In the top of the fourth, A’s former Astro Jed Lowrie had a leadoff single and after a line out double play, Oakland had two more singles. Matt Chapman recorded the final out though on a flyout.

Next is when Houston responded by loading the bases.  Jose Atulve led off with a walk and stole second before Josh Reddick also walked. Yuli Gurriel then singled to load the bases.

McHugh followed with a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the fifth.

With one out in the first half-inning, the A’s Marcus Semien had the game’s first and extra base hit with a double. He was then tagged out on a fielder’s choice.

The Astros threatened in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff infield single and a walk. Atulve grounded into a double play though.

In the bottom of the fifth, Houston’s Alex Bregman hit a double but was thrown out at home plate. The call was upheld after review.  

Bregman got his run with a home run in the bottom of the eighth. That same inning Atulve almost became the sole AL stolen bases leader, but upon review, it was overturned.

From inning six to inning nine, Oakland got at least one man on base, but their progress was cut short with the Astros’ turning of double plays. The final one came when Ryon Healy was called safe at first. It was challenged and overturned, a call finally going Houston’s way, but unfortunately for the A’s, this time resulting in a game-ending double play. Tyler Clippard earned his first save for the Astros.

Game notes: Atulve now is in a tie for the AL stolen bases lead with 28. Graveman had two 1-2-3 innings. McHugh, who got his first win and faced the A’s for the first time this season, continued his success versus them. The teams will wrap this series up 11:10am Sunday.

Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman, right, is congratulated by Mark Canha, left, and Chad Pinder after Chapman and Pinder scored on a single by Bruce Maxwell during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

ANAHEIM– Oakland took the three-game series with a five run rally in the eighth to win 11-10 over the Los Angeles Angels Sunday.

The 4 hours, 12 minute game tied the Angels record set August 25, 1998 and broke the record for longest nine-inning home game in franchise history.

Bruce Maxwell brought in the game tying and game winning run, ending a 0-for-11 run.” Of the long and hot day game, he replied, it was “…more of mental stability, than it is physical…” and deadpanned, “…felt like I was sitting in an oven, at Thanksgiving, but it could be worse. It could be 12 degrees and freezing.”

The eighth inning was almost over, with the score 10-5 and the A’s left to their final at bat. However, Oakland got six straight baserunners for the second time in a row to take the lead. Two of the runs came against Blake Parker, snapping a 27-game streak and the three remaining versus closer Bud Norris.

The win went to Josh Smith, the loss Norris and Blake Treinen earned the save.

Some of A’s Manager Bob Melvin comments were, “there’s just no quit,” “they like to play,” and “an all-around team win.”

According to Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland had a …”record season-high 18 hits, 10 extra-base hits. First series win at Anaheim since June 23-26, 2016.” The A’s hit three home runs and the Angels two. Both teams had hits in each inning except the last, the only 1-2-3 inning, leaving 10 runners on base overall.

Los Angeles came close to their own rally. C.J. Cron had a one-out double in the eighth. A wild pitch from Santiago Casilla got Andrelton Simmons on his left side. Casilla then later loaded the bases with a walk, but was able to prevent any damage.

Oakland’s Chad Pinder went 4-for-5 with a home run, three runs and two RBIs. Teammate Mark Canha reached home plate this whole successful series with his three-run blast.

The Angels scored for the first time this series when Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff home run. Sean Manaea recovered well though, as he got the next three outs against Mike Trout (strikeout), Albert Pujols and Cron.

Until the A’s rally, every time they scored, Los Angeles had an answer. The Angels had two runs come by errors. Four runs originated from walks

Manaea got Escobar out the second time around, but gave up a home run to the man behind him, Trout with his 999th career hit.

Each team used their whole lineup and scored four apiece in the fourth inning.

Oakland finally broke through pitcher Ricky Nolasco with their first of six straight baserunners. After a one out double by Pinder, Mark Chapman doubled him home to cut the lead to 2-1. Nolasco then walked Maxwell. Canha then gave the A’s their only lead before the end with a three-run homer, continuing his success this series. It was his first long ball since May 20.    

Manaea did not help matters thought, as two walks and a single loaded the bases in the bottom inning. Juan Graterol re-tied the game by clearing the diamond partly with a two-run double. Then Cliff Pennington brought in Shane Robinson and on an error by Jaycob Brugman, Graterol scored to make it 6-4. This brought in Simon Castro to pitch.

Oakland tried again in the fifth. After a leadoff double, Nolasco was replaced too by Cam Bedrosian. Ryon Healy scored from third on a wild pitch to make it 6-5.

Los Angeles got the run back in the bottom and more. Simmons hit a one out double and was able to score on a single by Kole Calhoun. Calhoun then scored on a groundout

In the sixth, the A’s had two two-out singles but Yusmeiro Petit closed it out with his third strikeout of the inning.

Two leadoff walks by Oakland’s Liam Hendriks turned into runs in the bottom to put the A’s into a 10-5 hole.  

The A’s then tried to knock their way back into the game, equaling the Angels’ four runs, and adding one more. It started with a solo shot from Pinder in the seventh and a two-run blast by Khris Davis in the eighth. Davis’ shot came with two outs and was the first of the five run eighth.

Daniel Coulombe, Smith, Casilla and Treinen held Los Angeles to two hits in 3 and ⅓ innings.

Game notes: Escobar had to leave the game with a right intercostal strain, will need a MRI and was replaced by Kaleb Cowart in the seventh. Before the game, Seattle made a waiver claim for Oakland All-Star Yonder Alonso in exchange for former A Boog Powell, which will give Matt Olson from the minors a chance to play. The end of this three-game series marks the end of Oakland Matt Joyce’s two-game suspension for uttering a gay slur during Friday’s game. The A’s will see Alonso again at their next game Tuesday at 7:05pm.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ ANAHEIM– Paul Blackburn (3-1) pitched 6 and ⅔ innings as the Oakland Athletics shutout Los Angeles 5-0 Saturday.

Blackburn threw a career high 112 pitches to new catcher Dustin Garneau who the A’s claimed Friday. Six of Blackburn’s seven starts now have gone six or more innings. His complete line read five hits, no walks and one strikeout for a game score of 73. It was his first start versus Los Angeles.

The last time the Angels were shut out was July 7. No player was able to get more than a single against any of the Oakland pitchers.

On the hitting side, the A’s had timely runs, walks and stolen bases with help from wild pitches/throws. Four of their runs came with two outs.    

Rajai Davis had three stolen bases, Matt Chapman had two walks and Mark Canha had two infield singles that led to runs.

Garneau also lent his bat to the cause with a two-run single in the fourth.  

Technically, with the way the game went, Oakland could have won with the first inning. Davis stole second, third and eventually home on a wild pitch for the game’s first run. Manager Bob Melvin commented, “He’s playing his best baseball here the last month and a half or so and when he’s on the bases, he creates havoc….“  

Davis tried traveling the bases in the third again, but was not as lucky. Skaggs missed first base, but Davis was thrown out then trying to reach second.

In the fourth, with two outs, the A’s got four runners on base. Chad Pinder hit a double, Chapman walked and Canha hit a grounder but no out was able to be recorded, loading the bases. Garneau then made it count with a two-run single to make it 3-0.

Opposing pitcher Tyler Skaggs (1-2), who had not played since April 28, due to injury, was replaced by Kenyan Middleton in the fifth inning. Skaggs threw 83 pitches in four innings, giving up six hits, three runs, two walks, three strikeouts and two wild pitches, ending with a game score of 42. He is now 0-3 versus the A’s.

Oakland tacked on two more in the sixth. With two outs, Chapman and Canha both had another walk and infield single respectively. Kaleb Cowart was unable to make a play at second. Yunel Escobar then tried to get the final out at second when Davis hit, but his throw went into the outfield, scoring Chapman. A double steal by Canha and Davis turned into the second run when Canha was called safe at the plate.

Ryan Dull, Santiago Casilla and Blake Treinen backed up Blackburn the rest of the way with one strikeout and limited the damage to one hit.

Game notes: The rubber match of the series concludes with a day game Sunday at 12:37pm.

~ Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Troy Scribner sits on the ground after falling off the mound while pitching during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

~ By Pearl Allison Lo

~ ANAHEIM– Though Oakland held the lead for most of the game, the Los Angeles Angels’ chips finally felled the A’s, as the Angels rallied again with an 8-6 win Friday.

Pitching, walks, a stolen base and fielding all commingled to play a part in the loss. Oakland’s biggest lead was four runs.

Yunel Escobar’s 1,500th career hit led to the game-winning run. Jesse Chavez got the win, Bud Norris the save and Daniel Coulombe the loss.   

The A’s were able to fend off two previous rally attempts in the second and sixth. Starter Jharel Cotton and reliever Ryan Dull were able to get big men Mike Trout and Albert Pujols out when Los Angeles came within tying range.

On Trout Bobblehead Day, he was the first player to get on base.

The first two innings saw errors and runs by both teams.

With a walked runner on base and one out, Oakland’s Ryon Healy hit a ground ball which was at least one out, if not two. However, Escobar’s throw merely touched his teammate’s glove as the situation turned to two runners on base. After one more out, Matt Chapman brought all of the runners home with a three-run homer.

The A’s committed multiple errors in the bottom of the inning. The Angels responded well with a flurry of hits, starting with two straight. The second hit resulted in runners on the corner with no out when Jaycob Brugman misplayed the ball. Kole Calhoun was then able to score on a fly out from Ben Revere. Cotton had a wild pitch and then his next pitch hit Martin Maldonado on the back of his helmet, loading the bases. With two outs, Chapman also had a fielding error which made the score 3-2 and brought up Trout, but Cotton preserved the lead by inducing a fly out.

Brugman made a nice diving catch in the bottom of the fourth.

Opposing starter Troy Scribner fell after throwing a pitch in the top of the fifth. He was then replaced by Keynan Middleton after walking his second batter with no outs. Khris Davis eventually scored the two walked batters to make it 5-2. After an intentional walk, Middleton got the final two outs.  

It was a long sixth inning.

First, Oakland used two doubles an out apart to make it 6-2 in the sixth.

The A’s used three pitchers in the bottom of the inning as Los Angeles had their biggest threat of the game since the second. Cotton gave up a leadoff single and a walk, bringing in Liam Hendriks and signaling the rally monkey. C.J. Cron stole second base which allowed him and Andrelton Simmons to score when Cliff Pennington hit a single. Another single signaled in Dull to relieve Hendriks. Dull walked Trout to load the bases but then ended the threat when he got Pujols to pop out as Chapman traveled from third base to the other side of the left field foul line to catch the ball.

Oakland had a tougher start in the seventh inning. New pitcher Coulombe gave up two leadoff walks and went on a 2-0 count to Revere before walking him too.This brought in Blake Treinen. One out later, pinch hitter Luis Valbuena finally brought the Angels to a tie with a two-run single. Los Angeles then took the lead when Escobar bounced the ball to third and Chapman was unable to make a play. Trout made it 8-6. The four runs marked the highest scoring inning of the game.

Cotton had only given up one earned run until he left the game. He finished pitching five innings, giving up seven hits, four runs, three earned, one walk and two strikeouts on 83 pitches.

Scribner’s stat line in his first MLB start was four innings, two hits, five runs, two earned, four walks and three strikeouts on 74 pitches.

Game notes: The middle game of the series begins Saturday at 6:07pm