Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s at Yankees A Book End Series

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The Oakland A’s Sheldon Neuse takes a hack for a RBI single in the top of the third inning at Yankees Stadium in the Bronx against hosts the New York Yankees on Mon Jun 27, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s at Yankees: A Book End Series

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

After winning their 3-game series in Kansas City, the Oakland A’s are now in New York to face the New York Yankees for the first time this season. A three-game series, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. against the team with the best record in major league baseball, Yankees 53-20 will play the A’s 25-49, with the other 28 MLB teams in the middle.

The great disparity in records doesn’t mean the Yankees will sweep. The beauty of baseball, with so many games during a marathon of a season is that at any given time the team that is a long shot can come out on top.

Although these teams (at this time during the season) closing into the conclusion of the first half are at the top and bottom of major league baseball, one on a pace to win 100 or more games and the other one to lose 100 or more games.

After this series in the Bronx, the A’s will have 88 games left and the Yankees 89 to complete the 2022 regular season schedule. The Yankees could beat the best record for a regular season, which belongs to the 2016 Seattle Mariners 116-46, as well as the 1906 Chicago Cubs who also won 116 games.

In 2001 the Oakland A’s ended with 102-60 and 14 games behind Seattle, that year the A’s played to a .630 percentage. The next season, 2002 A’s had another terrific season 103-59 as they played to a .636 percentage. Both times they failed to win the league and advance to the World Series.

After the Bronx, the A’s will fly across the country to Seattle to face the division rivals Mariners for 4 games and then back to the Oakland Coliseum for a six-game home-stand on the 4th of July for 3 games against Toronto and 3 against Houston. Kansas City is the only team with a losing record that the A’s will face during this stretch.

After this week in New York, the Yankees will play the Athletics once more this year, at Oakland on August 25-28 a four-game series. At that time they could be on their way to the best record ever. But what we can predict is those four games at the Oakland Coliseum will be by far the best attendance for a series this season at the home of the A’s.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s relieved to win two straight; Big test tonight at Yankee Stadium

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The Oakland A’s hitter Seth Brown turns on a sixth inning pitch for his tenth home run of the season against the Kansas City Royals in the top of the sixth at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Sun Jun 26, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Oakland A’s (25-49) for the second day in a row put together back to back wins this one coming on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City with a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals (26-45).

#2 The A’s got offensive punch something they had been missing for most of the month of June when the A’s Seth Brown belted his tenth home run for 2022 and Nick Allen slugged a couple of hits which turned out to be RBIs.

#3 Things started looking up until the Royals answered right back in the bottom of the sixth inning with a couple of runs of their own to tie it up 2-2.

#4 The Royals Carlos Santana in the sixth hit a two RBI single and Edward Oliveras got a bloop single that scored three runs for all of Kansas City’s offense for the afternoon. With the Royals in front 3-2 the A’s came right back and scored twice in the top of the seventh thanks to Nick Allen’s two run RBI the A’s then went up 4-3. Cristian Pache hit for an RBI single that gave Oakland some cushion for the eventual win 5-3.

#5 The A’s head to the Big Apple and face the hottest team in the Majors on Monday night the New York Yankees (50-20) the Yankees have won six of their last ten games. The A’s will start Paul Blackburn (6-3, 2.97) he’ll be opposed by Jordan Montgomery (3-1, 2.97) a 4:05 pm PDT first pitch.

Barbara does the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s String Together Wins: Oakland holds on, wins 5-3 in Kansas City finale

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By Morris Phillips

It’s been awhile since the A’s have given as good as they’ve got with the season falling off most measurable charts after an 8-6 start devolved into a 24-49 June reality.

But on Sunday afternoon, they’ve gave and got change back and a dose of respect. In a game the A’s led 2-0, then trailed 3-2 briefly, before rebuilding a 4-3 lead in the seventh and 5-3 in the ninth, they held on. Lou Trivino was given another opportunity to close and he did–with the tying runs in scoring position–retiring the last two batters in a 5-3 win over the Royals.

The A’s avoided a ninth, consecutive series loss and won the final two games in Kansas City after losing 3-1 on Friday night. The win also reveals a weird juxtaposition in which the A’s are 4-19 in series openers but are 11-12 in the finales, which suggests this inexperienced clubs needs time to adjust to new surroundings.

Next up, the adjustment gets a little bit speedier with Oakland traveling to New York for a four-game set against the Yankees, who could be a bit cantankerous following a 3-4 week and some tough contests with the AL West-leading Astros. The A’s will be trying to avoid an 11th consecutive series-opening loss on Monday night.

Starting pitcher James Kaprelian set the tone by pitching into the sixth inning, and allowing just two hits. In the sixth, Kaprelian gave up consecutive walks to Andrew Benintendi and Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases, and was relieved by Sam Moll. But after striking out MJ Melendez, Moll allowed consecutive RBI base hits to Carlos Santana and Edward Olivares to put the Royals in front 3-2.

“He almost ended up on the wrong side of it with a fluke hit that falls in thankfully we were able to get him off the hook and get him a win,” manager Mark Kotsay said of Kaprelian.

Olivares’ hit produced a scary moment when a stumbling Jonah Bride ran into outfielder Chad Pinder, felling both A’s for several minutes. But miraculously, given the intensity of the collision, both appeared okay, although Bride did leave the game at that point.

Nick Allen’s single to center scored two runs in the top of the seventh, allowing the A’s to regain the lead for good. That rally was set up when Royals’ starter Brady Singer attempted to field a potential double play ball, and had it glance off his mitt, then away from infielder Whit Merrifield, putting A’s on second and third with two outs.

The A’s gained insurance–itself a rarity for the A’s in their 9-29 slide–with a ninth inning Pache RBI single, and then manager Mark Kotsay called on Lou Trivino to close it out.

Lou let me know he was good for one inning and I let him know that if that was the case he’d be in the ninth,” Kotsay said. “Obviously it wasn’t easy but he got the job done.”

Paul Blackburn and New York’s Jordan Montgomery are the announced starters for Monday’s opener at Yankee Stadium.

Oakland Breaks Four Game Losing Streak defeat Kansas City 9-7

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Nick Allen (2) of the Oakland A’s takes off for home on a Jonah Bride RBI single in the top of the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Sat Jun 25, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Breaks Four Game Losing Streak defeat Kansas City 9-7

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s (24-49) took on the Kansas City Royals (26-44) in game two of they’re series. The A’s lost game one Friday 3-1. They struggled on offense and never really got going in this game.

The A’s got up on the scoreboard early in this game. Seth Brown hit a single in the first inning driving in Tony Kemp. Sean Murphy grounded out and Ramon Laureano scored for the 2-0 lead.

The A’s would extend their lead in the third inning. Brown grounded out and Kemp would cross home plate for the second time in the game, now leading 3-0.

The Royals got on the board when Bobby Witt Jr. hit a solo home run to left. They trailed in this game 3-1.

The A’s would add more runs in the fourth inning. Nick Allen doubled driving in Elvis Andrus followed by Jonah Bride who singled and Allen scored. Oakland now had a 5-1 lead.

Kansas City added another run in the fourth inning. Cam Gallagher doubled bringing home MJ Melendez and Carlos Santana. Oakland still led but the Royals were making a push. In the sixth inning Cam Gallaher doubled for a second time in the game and Michael Taylor scored. The A’s were clinging onto a 5-4 lead.

Oakland got some insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Sean Murphy singled in the seventh driving in Seth Brown and in the eighth inning Tony Kemp hit a home run with Nick Allen on base. The A’s had a nice 8-4 lead going into the bottom of the eighth.

The Royals pulled the carpet from underneath the A’s in the eighth inning. Michael Taylor hit a homer with two runners on base negating the nice lead that Oakland had. Again Oakland had a slim one run 8-7 lead.

Sam Moll came in for Oakland and didn’t even last the eighth inning. He walked three and allowed the Michael Taylor home run. Lou Trevino took over on the mound trying to get out of the inning without further damage. Trivino had a good inning and it was on to the ninth inning.

The A’s got an insurance run in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt scored on a Dylan Coleman wild pitch to take a 9-7 lead. The A’s were three outs away from a win. Trevino would remain in the game trying to to close this one out.

Oakland had to fight to the end in this game. It was a 3 hour and 46 minute marathon. Lee Trevino saved the game breaking their four game losing streak. The A’s had 14 hits in this game with some nice offense.

First pitch in Game Three is schedule for 11:10 AM at Kauffman Stadium. James Kaprielian (ERA 5.98) will take the mound for the A’s. Brady Singer (3-2, 4.34) will get the nod for the Royals.

Oakland Loses Another One to KC 3-1; A’s on four game skid

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Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt throws his bat after striking out in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Fri Jun 24, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Loses Another One to KC 3-1

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (23-49) took on another struggling team In Kansas City, the Royals (26-43). Oakland is coming off three straight losses against Seattle at the Oakland Coliseum.

Cole Irving took the mound for Oakland. He pitched 5 2/3 innings and did have a good game but it wasn’t enough as the A’s failed to give him any run support in the 3-1 loss at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

He has not won a game since April 24th. Something that he rarely does is allow more than a single home run in a game but Kansas City’s Edward Olivares did exactly that hitting one in the third inning and a second in the fifth inning.

The Olivares home run in the third inning gave Kansas City the early lead 1-0. In the fourth inning Seth Brown hit a single and drove Tony Kemp home to tie up the game 1-1.

Olivares’ second home run gave the lead back to the Royals in the fifth inning 2-1. The Royals solidified the win in the sixth inning when Carlos Santana singled driving Hunter Dozier home.

Zach Greinke pitched for Kansas City back with the Royals handing the A’s their fourth loss in a row.

Oakland had six hits in the game but but only managed the one run in the fourth inning. They could not string hits together and that has been a problem for the team all season. Seth Brown and Sean Murphy each had two hit games for the A’s.

Oakland will play game two of this series at 1:10 PM tomorrow afternoon. On the mound for the A’s will be Jared Koenig (1-2, 6.59) who had a great game in his last outing with a much improved ERA at 6.59. His last win was Sunday beating the Royals 4-0. Kansas City will start Brad Keller (2-8, 4.30).

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmson: A’s open three game set with Royals in Kansas City tonight

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The Oakland A’s Sheldon Neuse slides in at home plate in the bottom of the first inning to score the A’s only run of the game against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas left little doubt that he’s a front line pick for the July trade deadline. Montas went eight innings and threw a no hitter for 7.2 innings against the visiting Seattle Mariners on Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 Montas has been keeping opponents off balance all season long with his brand of pitching. Opposing teams know that they’ll have their hands full when they face him.

#3 The pair of wild pitches by reliever AJ Puk in the top of the ninth that allowed the tying run and go ahead run had to be one of Puk’s worst meltdowns this season?

#4 It also had to be a tough afternoon for A’s reliever Zach Jackson who loaded the bases for Puk and he ended up taking the loss because he was responsible for the runners left on base.

#5 The A’s open a three game series with the Royals tonight the A’s will start Cole Irvin (2-4, 3.14) he’ll be opposed by the Royals Zack Greinke (0-4, 5.05) this ball game is underway at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Join Jeremiah Fridays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s pen melts down in ninth hands M’s 2-1 win; Montas’ excellent pitching performance goes to waste

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Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas (47) pitched a gem but was lifted after eight innings of work against the Seattle Mariners at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–A couple of baseball adages apply to Thursday afternoon’s game between the Seattle Mariners and the Oakland A’s. The first adage is the one that says the winning team has to record 27 outs.

The second adage says good teams find ways to win, and bad teams find ways to lose. The A’s found a way to lose on Thursday that had the fans booing the team after the game. The A’s Frankie Montas had his best outing of 2022.

Montas held the M’s hitless until two outs in the top of the eighth. The M’s broke up his no-hit bid with two singles. Montas retired J.P.Crawford for the final out in the eighth and left the game with the A’s ahead 1-0.

All the bullpen had to do was get three last three out to preserve the win for Montas. What happened in the top of the ninth left A’s fans shaking their heads. The A’s bullpen issued four walks and two wild pitches to give the M’s two runs without the benefit of a hit. Seattle managed just two hits in the game and won 2-1 to sweep the three-game series.

The A’s plated a run in the bottom of the first. A’s third baseman Sheldon Neuse led off with a single. M’s starter Robbie Ray retired the next two hitters. A’s DH Sean Murphy walked to send Neuse to second. Cristian Bethancourt followed with a single to drive in Neuse with the run.

There was a scary moment in the “s half of the fifth. Sheldon Neuse hit a slow grounder to M’s third baseman, Abraham Toro, with two out. Toro’s throw to first appeared to hit the first baseman Ty France in his midsection.

France dropped to the ground in agony. After, the M’s medical staff got him back on his feet. France was unable to continue. Dylan Moore replaced him at first base. Neuse was ruled safe on the play. Robbie Ray retired Jonah Bride for the third out. The A’s lead 1-0 after five.

Montas continued his excellent outing into the top of the eighth. Frankie retired the first two hitters he faced. The next hitter, M’s second baseman Adam Frazier, hitting .221, singled to left to break up Montas’ no-hit bid. M’s catcher Luis Torrens followed with a single to put Frazier into scoring position. Montas retired J.P.Crawford for the third out. The A’s still had the lead 1-0 after eight innings.

Things got a bit hairy in the top of the ninth. A’s manager Mark Kotsay called on righty Zach Jackson to pitch. Jackson committed the cardinal sin of walking the leadoff hitter in the ninth. He retired Julio Rodriguez for the first out. Jackson’s control was slightly off as he walked Jesse Winker, which sent Moore into scoring position. Jackson struck out Eugenio Suarez for the second out.

The A’s brought in A.J. Puk to face Kevin Padlo. He walked Padlo to load the bases. Seattle tied the game on Puk’s wild pitch to Abraham Toro. Puk walked Toro on a 3-2 pitch. The ball got by Christian Bethancourt. Winker scored on the pitch.

The M’s have scored two runs in the ninth without the benefit of a hit. Four walks and two wild pitches. The M’s lead 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will probably be criticized for taking Montas out of the game. The A’s bullpen did not do the job. The ways the a’s are going, Montas has to wonder if he has to throw a no-hitter if he hopes to win a game.

The M’s closer, Paul Sewald, retired the A’s in order 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Seattle 2-1. They swept the three-game series.

Game Notes: The A’s are now 23-48 for the year. They are competing with the Cincinnati Reds for the worst record in baseball. The Reds kept pace with the A’s as they lost to the LA Dodgers 10-5 on Thursday.

The A’s had lost ten consecutive home series for the first time since June 20th, 1916, when they were in Philadelphia. The A’s are 8-28 in their last 36 games. 

The A’s offense continues to flounder. The A’s line was one run, five hits, and no errors. The A’s have scored one run or fewer in 26 of the 71 games played this year. They are last in hitting with a team average of .209. Teams can’t win many games this way.

The A’s starting pitching has an ERA of 4.46 for the season, which is the second-highest in the American League. The bullpen is 1-7 with six blown saves and a 6.61 ERA over the last 25 games. These numbers indicate a team that one can say is not very good.

The A’s are on their way to Kansas City to face the Royals for three games starting Friday night. Lefty Cole Irvin (2-4, 3.14 ERA) will pitch for Oakland. Former AL Cy Young award winner, righty Zach Greinke(0-4, 5.05 ERA), will pitch for K.C. The game will start at 5:10 pm.

The time of the game was two hours and fifty-eight minutes. Eight thousand two hundred seventeen fans watched the A’s hand the M’s a 2-1 win. 

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: A’s too wild to stay in game against M’s in 2-1 loss; Oakland reliever Puk throws two wild pitches in 9th

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The Seattle Mariners Jesse Winker scores from third base on Oakland A’s pitcher AJ Puk’s second wild pitch in the top of the ninth inning at Ring Central Coliseum in Oakland on Thu Jun 23, 2022

On the A’s podcast with Daniel:

#1 Daniel, the Oakland A’s (23-48) leading 1-0 for eight innings couldn’t hold on in the ninth inning as reliever AJ Puck threw two wild pitches that allowed two runs to scored as the Seattle Mariners (32-39) came away with a 2-1 win.

#2 Meanwhile the A’s back in the bottom of the first inning scored their only run of the game when Cristian Bethancourt hit a single that scored Sheldon Neuse. What makes this so unusual the A’s have had to scratch for getting a run of any kind.

#3 The A’s got superb pitching from starter Frankie Montas who threw shutout ball until he was lifted after eight innings of dealing. Montas’ line eight innings, two hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts.

#4 The A’s relivers Zack Jackson and AJ Puk couldn’t salvage the game in the top of the ninth. The A’s leading 1-0 saw the bases loaded and Puk replaced Jackson. Puk threw a wild pitch that allowed the Mariners Dylan Moore to score from third base to tie it up 1-1. Another Puk wild pitch allowed Jesse Winker to score from third for the Seattle go ahead run making it 2-1.

#5 The A’s go back to the drawing board and open a three game series in Kansas City where they’ll start Cole Irvin (2-4, 3.14) he’ll be opposed by the Royals Zack Greinke (0-4, 5.05) a 5:10 pm first pitch at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.

Join Daniel for Major League Baseball podcasts Thursday nights right here at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: How long will the A’s keep Frankie Montas?

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Frankie Montas Oakland A’s starter has been lights out but has not been getting any run support and could be a candidate for a blockbuster trade (ESPN file photo)

How long will the A’s keep Frankie Montás?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–How long with the A’s keep Frankie Montás? That is “The $64,000 dollar question”. Back in the late 1950’s, there was a game show on CBS-TV prime time with that title. Although today $64,000 is not enough even to buy you an electric car, this is the question that many A’s fans I speak with before every game at the Oakland Coliseum will like to have an answer to.

They have seen all the A’s established players getting traded before the season began; from Olson to Chapman, to Chris Bassitt to others that produced and helped the team make it to the postseason in recent history.

On a warm Wednesday afternoon at the Coliseum in front of an 8,215 in attendance, Frankie Montás pitched one of his best games ever, trying to prevent the Seattle Mariners from sweeping the A’s in a 3-game series.

Montás pitched eight innings (had a no-no for 7 2/3, threw fastballs at 99 mph, mixed with his nasty splitter, plus) gave up only two hits, no runs, and struck out eight. His eight innings pitched was a season high. Seattle won the game 2-1.

Montás is 0-3 with a 1.79 ERA in 6 games against AL West teams and 3-4 with a 4.27 in nine starts against the others. For A’s pitchers is dangerous this year to give one or two runs, because their offense is well…offensive. The A’s have been shutout nine times already.

The night before the A’s best pitcher by record, Antioch native Paul Blackburn did not have much on the ball as he gave seven earned runs on ten hits to the Mariners, his team lost 9-0. Although Blackburn should be headed to his first All Star game because of his performance so far, 6-3 with a 2.97 ERA, we all know the best and definitely must gutsy pitcher for the green and gold is Dominican-born Frankie Montás.

Frankie Montás has the most value of any of the current Oakland Athletics active roster and with the shortage of starting pitchers among contending teams, it would be a surprise for the A’s to keep him prior to the regular August 2 deadline.

There are many reasons for that. Common sense will tell us that even if he stayed with the team the whole season, the A’s still will not be a contender. The other reason is just a fact of life in Oakland in 2022, you are here for a short amount of time and logically there are half dozen teams that have been interested in Montás since Spring Training.

We most never think that because he has not been traded, he will stay with the A’s the rest of the season. In my opinion (and I am not a betting man) still a long shot.

The Chicago White Sox come to mind. They were supposed to win the weak Central Division “going away” and they still might, but as of today that is debatable as the Guardians and Twins are definitely looking like they also can win.

Andrew Vaughn is the type of player the A’s can use, the 24-year old Santa Rosa native is on his second year with the White Sox, playing everyday hitting .333 with seven home-runs and 31 runs batted in.

This is just one of many scenarios that have been mentioned during the past few months of a possible trade. Other teams have also ‘check the tires’ on Frankie Montás. It is possible that the A’s want more than Vaughn for Montás and that is keeping both sides from pulling the trigger.

I would like nothing more than for Frankie Montás to be part of the rebuilding going on here in Oakland. and possibly when they move to their new ballpark he can be surrounded by productive players, that would make the Oakland A’s a contender again.

I am the eternal optimist, but I also have my feet planted on the ground and will doubt if he did stayed for this whole 2022 season. It just doesn’t make sense, plus his demand after today’s performance went way up. If anything, after this afternoon in Oakland more General Managers are aware of who is Frankie Montás who has pitched his heart out with very little run support.

Early in the season manger Mark Kotsay told me when I asked him how important is Frankie Montás for his team, he responded “very important, everytime he pitches, our team feels they can win the game”.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play talent on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: No Swinging A’s in series against Mariners

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Oakland A’s shortstop Nick Allen (left) gets the ball too late as the Seattle Mariners Julio Rodriguez (right) slides in safely at second base in the top of the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jun 22, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, the Oakland A’s have simply have not been getting any hitting throughout the first two games of the series with an 8-2 loss on Tuesday and the Seattle Mariners blew the A’s out on Wednesday night 9-0.

#2 The A’s up and down their line up struggled on Wednesday night faced just two Mariners starter George Kirby who went six innings giving up five hits, one walk and six strike outs shutting out the A’s during his time on the mind keeping A’s hitters off balance.

#3 With the A’s with no runs scored only two players got two hits in the contest centerfield Ramon Laureano and catcher Sean Murphy which showed how much this team is struggling just to get on base.

#4 Also the A’s fifth pitcher in the game was position player Sheldon Neuse who was inserted to relieve in the top of the ninth inning retired three hitters in order who all hit the ball to the warning track. Neuse was left in the game as a designated hitter.

#5 The A’s battle the Mariners once more on Thursday to conclude the three game series at the Coliseum starting for the Mariners Robbie Ray (6-6, 4.25) and for the A’s Frankie Montas (3-7, 3.53) a 12:37 pm PDT first pitch

Join Jerry Thursdays for the A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com