Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The Year of the Angels? Series with A’s at Oakland this weekend

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The Los Angeles Angels scoreboard at the Big A in Anaheim shows one out in the top of the ninth with the Tampa Bay Rays Kevin Kiermaier at the plate during Angel pitcher Reid Detmers No-hitter on Tue May 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

The Year of the Angels? Series with A’s At Oakland this Weekend

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND–Could this be the year of the Angels? On Tuesday at Angels Stadium their 22-year-old lefty Reid Detmer pitched a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays. It was the 12th no-no in the history of the Angels. The rookie had no words to describe his feat. So far, it looks like this could be their year. It is early in the season and I still believe the Houston Astros are the team to beat in this division.

Noah Syndergaard, the ex-Mets starter, looks as good as the $21 million one-year contract he got from the Anaheim team, but their lineup is really most menacing.

There is no rest for pitchers against this lineup, with Brandon Marsh, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Anthony Rendon, and Jared Walsh, one after the other, they all pack a punch. Their pitching rotation is doing well and if they can maintain any type of respectable pitching this team will be in the race all season long.

The biggest enemy for the LA Angels? Injuries. They have two of the best players in the world in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani and then one of the best all-around third basemen in Anthony Rendon, very underrated as an all-around player. These guys are irreplaceable. Especially because this organization doesn’t have much ready in the minor leagues.

Jo Addell, whom the Angels expected this season to blossom into the star outfielder he can be, has not done it so far. He was recently sent to the minor leagues for more seasoning. Late in April they officially designated veteran outfielder Justin Upton for assignment, as a team will honor all the $28 million he is owed this season.

Two months into the season, the Los Angeles Angels are clicking on all cylinders and their leader Mike Trout (who was hurt most of last season) is hungry to take his team to the postseason. The last time they made the playoffs was in 2014.

In their 61 seasons, they’ve been in the playoffs a total of 10 times. In 2002 under manager Mike Scioscia (pre dating these players of today) they beat the Giants and won the World Series.

But this current Angels crew has never experienced such a thing. During their 2021 season their three-time MVP Mike Trout only played in 27 games due to injury (ironically 27 is also his famous number).

Shohei Ohtani is a tremendous athlete, the only two-way star player currently in baseball, and the most famous since… Babe Ruth. However, this is Trout’s team, he is the leader by example, great talent, and professionalism.

I was calling the game for the Angels on FSW when Mike Trout made his major league debut. He was called to replace Peter Bourjos in center field. That night (July 8, 2011) Mike Trout made his debut, started the game in center field, and hit in the ninth position, he went 0 for 3.

During his first season, he struggled and played a total of 40 games. Next year, when he started 2012 ‘from scratch’ in Spring Training with an opportunity, he seized it and has been their All-Star center fielder ever since.

There is nothing Mike Trout cannot do on the field. The LA Angels need a healthy Mike Trout all year long, not only because of his productivity, but he is the soul of this team, and as Trout goes so do the Angels. By the way, Mike Trout was the 25th pick in the 2009 draft.

Beginning Friday at the Oakland Coliseum. Friday 6:40, Saturday DH/1:07, and 6:40. and Sunday 1:07. The most improved Minnesota Twins will follow for a 3-game series beginning on Monday and ending on Wednesday, before the A’s pack and go on the road again.

A’s beat Tigers to break nine game losing streak 2-0 opens 5 game series in Detroit

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Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn prepares to deliver against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of action at Comerica Park in Detroit on Mon May 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

A’s Beat Tigers To Break Losing Streak 2-0

By Barbara Mason

Oakland A’s lead off hitter Tony Kemp connected for a homer in the third inning helping the Oakland A’s (11-18) break their nine game losing streak beating the Detroit Tigers (8-20) 2-0.

The homer in the third inning was a solo shot for Kemp giving the A’s a 1-0 lead. In the fourth inning Sean Murphy had a double and would advance to third when Seth Brown flied out. A single by Chad Pinder drove Murphy home and Oakland would take a 2-0 lead. They would take that lead into the ninth inning looking to break their long losing streak.

Starting pitcher for Oakland Paul Blackburn had a great outing going 6 2/3 innings. He was relieved by Zach Jackson for 1.1 innings. Dany Jimenez would be the closer for Oakland.

Michael Pineda was the losing pitcher for Detroit. The Tigers have now lost five games in a row.

In the ninth inning not only Javier Baez would be tossed from the game but also manager A.J. Hinch. Baez did not agree with the strike out call and things got really heated leading to the ejection.

Things got very tense in the ninth inning when Jimenez put two on base with two outs. Robbie Grossman hit a single, stole second and then Jiminez would walk Austin Meadows. The Oakland closer would pull it together and close out the game striking out Jonathan Schoop for the win.

Tuesday the A’s will play the Tigers in a doubleheader. Oakland will be the home team in the first of the two games. First pitch is scheduled for 10:10 am PDT at Comerica Park. Starting pitchers for the front game, for the “visiting” Tigers Tarik Skubal (1-2 ERA 3.04) and for the A’s Frankie Montas (2-2 ERA 3.44) and in the night cap the A’s have not announced a starter and for the Tigers right hander Alex Faedo (0-0 ERA 3.60) will get the call.

Capable Yet Culpable: A’s lead briefly, but lose 4-3 to the Twins, their ninth, straight loss

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By Morris Phillips

The A’s went from virtually no offense on Saturday to a key lineup addition and a little bit of offense on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough. The struggling ballclub still dropped its ninth straight, losing to the Twins 4-3.

If you’re concerned, grab a bat. This club needs all the help it can get apparently.

The A’s enjoyed a brief, 3-1 lead over the Twins and starter Chris Paddack in the third, but Paddack apparently wasn’t right, and after motioning to the Twins’ dugout, Paddack departed with what was later described as elbow discomfort. The injury was disturbing news for the hosts. It also was a clear moment of changing momentum as well.

The Twins answered with three runs in the bottom of the third, first on Jose Miranda’s RBI double, then Jorge Polanco’s two-run single off Daulton Jeffries. Jeffries went seven, but suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits. After winning his first decision this season, Cal alum Jeffries has dropped five, consecutive decisions, and continues to struggle with opponent’s high, on-base percentage which translates to heavy traffic on the bases.

The A’s welcomed back Ramon Laureano from his lengthy, PED suspension, but were without Stephen Piscotty, Jed Lowrie and starting pitcher Cole Irvin. The absences have hurt a club desperate for talent and experience, which is reflected in the length of losing streak, and their statistics which have them last in on-base percentage and hitting just .170 as a team over their previous 13 games combined.

The Twins have 11 players currently on the injured list, but the effect on their play isn’t as noticeable. The Twins won Sunday for the ninth, consecutive time at Target Field. Their most notable absence prior to the game’s start was Byron Buxton, the hard hitting outfielder who shelved due to a “low-level” hip strain.

The A’s struck first–in the first– in a manner unlikely for a team that has scratched together the bare minimum offensively the last two weeks with three, consecutive base hits with two outs. Chad Pinder delivered the third single, scoring Sean Murphy. In the third, Seth Brown knocked in a pair of runs with a base hit that preceded Paddack’s exit.

The A’s haven’t won since splitting the two-game series with the Giants. Since then they’ve been swept by the Guardians, Rays and now the Twins. The A’s open a series with the Tigers in Detroit on Monday with Paul Blackburn getting the start, opposed by the Tigers’ Michael Pineda.

“We’ve just got to keep swinging it and it will fall come the next couple series,” Jeffries said.

Oakland Loses A Tough One Against Twins 1-0; Kaprielian’s best outing isn’t good enough

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Oakland A’s Chad Pinder (10) strikes out in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sat May 7, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Lose A Tough One Against Twins 1-0; Kaprielian’s best outing isn’t good enough

By Barbara Mason

Saturday the A’s (10-17) took on the Minnesota Twins (17-11) in the second game of their series.. Oakland had only three hits in this game losing another close one 1-0. The bats have gone ice cold for the Athletics.

The crushing blow for the A’s came in the sixth inning when Jorge Polanco hit a home run to center and that would be all it would take for Minnesota to win the game.

This game was reminiscent of Friday night’s game. In game one the A’s had the bases loaded in the ninth inning and had every chance to take the lead in the game. Saturday again, Oakland had two on base in the ninth inning looking to tie or even take the lead. It all ended with a strikeout like it did last night.

So much disappointment in this game for Oakland. After his last outing which was not good, James Kaprielian had a great game once he settled in. He had seven strikeouts and only walked 2. For the most part these losses have come at the hands of the offense. It has been a very rough patch for the team.

It wasn’t that long ago that the A’s had a winning record and were feeling pretty good. That has come to a standstill as Oakland lost their eighth game in a row.

There may be some good news for the A’s tomorrow. Ramon Laureano is expected to join the club in tomorrow’s game for the final game of this series. While he has not been hitting as well as he would like he is certainly looking forward to joining the team after his suspension.

All eyes will be on Laureano knowing how much he can bring to the team offensively but especially defensively. His bat will come around as he trusts in his swing and doesn’t dwell on technique. We have seen how hot his bat can get and it will come around.

His return comes at the right time with Stephen Piscotty just being placed on a 10-day IL with a sprained wrist This just might be the spark that will turn this losing streak around.

Tomorrow Oakland will play Minnesota in the final game of this series. Daulton Jeffries take the mound for the A’s and Chris Paddack will start for the Twins. First pitch is schedule for 11:10 AM.

Seven Losses In A Row For Oakland; Losing to Twins 2-1 at Target Field

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Home sweet home for the Minnesota Twins’ Jose Miranda (64) high-fives Royce Lewis (23) after hitting a home run in the second inning against the visiting Oakland A’s at Target Field in Minneapolis on Fri May 6, 2022 (AP News photo)

Seven Losses In A Row For Oakland Losing to the Twins 2-1

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland Athletics (10-15) traveled to Minnesota to take on the first place Twins (15-11). The A’s have been struggling having lost their last six games. Oakland last came out with a win on April 27 when they beat the San Francisco Giants 1-0. The string of loses continues for the A’s as they drop their seventh consecutive game at Target Field to the Twins 2-1.

Zach Logue was on the mound for Oakland and Josh Winder got the nod for Minnesota. Logue has a 2-1 record and Winder comes in with a 1-0 record and a 2.20 ERA.

Through five innings the A’s had a five hits but Winder was really heating up with nine strikeouts through five innings. His breaking ball was spot on making things very difficult for Oakland hitters. Stephen Piscotty singled in the second inning and Elvis Andrus singled in the same inning. Piscotty was waved home and was thrown out at the plate. That was about the only threat that Oakland posed so far in this game.

In the second inning Minnesota’s Jose Miranda homered left to take the early lead 1-0. In the fifth inning Byron Buxton would send another ball out of the park for a 2-0 lead. This was his ninth homer of the season. Going into the sixth inning the Twins had five hits.

The A’s made some noise in the sixth inning with runners on first and third. Pache had an infield single. Sheldon Neuse grounded into a fielder’s choice. Cristian Pache would reach third base on a fielding error by second baseman Jorge Polanco. When Jed Lowry hit a sacrifice fly to center Pache would score. Oakland trailed 2-1 after six innings.

The A’s would battle to the end. In the ninth inning Oakland had the bases loaded but Chad Pinder would strike out and another disappointment for the Athletics.

The A’s try to avoid a eighth loss in a row as the team continues to struggle offensively. For Saturday the A’s will start James Kaprielian (0-1 ERA 18.00) who will take the mound for Oakland and for the Twins Chris Paddack (1-2 ERA 3.15) will start in game 2 of the series in Minneapolis. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 AM.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Starting pitching a commodity as Irvin experiencing shoulder tightness

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Oakland A’s starting pitcher Cole Irvin has experienced shoulder tightness and is questionable for Friday night’s start in Minnesota against the Twins at Target Field (file Cole Irvin Twitter page)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Oakland A’s (10-15) starter Cole Irvin is schedule to start Friday night’s game in Minnesota but is experiencing some tightness in his shoulder according to A’s manager Mark Kotsay.

#2 Kotsay said that Irvin threw on Tuesday and had the tightness after pitching against the Rays Kotsay he would decide if Irvin can go against the Minnesota Twins (15-10) Friday night. Right with the way pitching has been going for the starting rotation it’s become a commodity.

#3 Knowing what Irvin is going through the A’s called up pitcher Zach Logue from Triple A Las Vegas. Logue was at the Coliseum on Wednesday and Kotsay thought ahead to have him on hand just in case he had to pitch tonight in Minnesota.

#4 What was impressive about Irvin last season he made all of his 32 starts and was one of seven American League starters who didn’t miss a turn.

#5 Jeremiah, if Irvin does start he will be coming in with a 2-1 ERA 2.93 and he’ll be opposed by the Twins right hander Josh Winder (1-0 ERA 2.20) first pitch in Minneapolis is at 5:10 pm PDT.

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

Preview of weekend series between Oakland A’s and Minnesota Twins

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The Minnesota Twins key hitter in the line up is Carlos Correa who could opt out of his contract after this season. The Twins are having a good run and chances are Correa could stay. Correa will be in the line up Fri May 6, 2022 against the Oakland A’s (photo from Puckett’s Pond)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (10-15) start an eight-game road trip with three games against the Minnesota Twins (15-10). The A’s will then travel to Detroit for five with the Tigers.

The A’s will have their hands full with the Twins. The Twinkies are currently in first place in the AL Central with a 15-10 record. The Twins started the season by losing eight of the first 13 games. Since then, they have won ten of the last 12.

They beat the White Sox three straight, then won three more from the Tigers. The Twins are finishing a four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. So far, they have won two of the three games played.

Their manager, Rocco Baldelli, is in his fourth year as skipper. The Twins hired former San Diego Padres manager Jayce Tingler to be their bench coach. The Twins made a couple of trades to bolster their pitching and offense in the off-season.

The Twins acquired former A’s starter, Sonny Gray, from the Cincinnati Reds. Gray is currently on the 10-day IL. The big trade was sending Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the New York Yankees for catcher Gary Sanchez and infielder Gio Urshela.

Another key acquisition was Carlos Correa. Correa’s contract was for three years and 105 million dollars. Correa can opt-out after the 2022 or 2023 season.

The Twins starting rotation does not have a lefty starter. All their starters are right-handed. They include Joe Ryan, Dylan Bundy, Chris Archer, and Chris Paddack.

The bullpen features a couple of relievers that once worked for the A’s. Emilio Pagan was with the A’s in 2018. Former A’s manager Bob Melvin called lefty Danny Coulombe out of the bullpen for three years from 2016 to 2018.

The Twins bullpen will use Tyler Duffey, the well-traveled Joe Smith, lefty Caleb Thielbar, Josh Winder, Cody Stashak, and Griffin Jax. Jhoan Duran has become a stalwart in the Twins bullpen. He is 0-0 with an ERA of 3.00 and has one save.

The former Yankee, Gary Sanchez, has settled in as the Twins catcher. Sanchez is off to a slow start. The slugger has only one homer and nine RBIs so far. Ryan Jeffers is the other Twins backstop. Miranda and Arreaz can fill in at all the other infield positions. Jose Miranda is a cousin of Lin-Manual Miranda.

Longtime Twin infielder, Jose Polanco, will be at second base. Carlos Correa will handle the shortstop chores, and Gio Urshela will be at third base.

The Twins will have Trevor Larnach in left-field. Larnach is hitting .300 with no home runs and seven RBIs. The Twins’ will start outfielder, Byron Buxton, will be in center. Buxton is hitting .290 with seven homers and 13 RBIs. Max Kepler will be in right. Kepler is hitting. 240 with five home runs and 12 RBIs. Kepler can move over to center if Buxton is the DH.

The A’s are struggling right now. Oakland has lost six straight. They were 0-6 at home for the first time since 1956, when they were known as the Kansas City Athletics. The A’s have lost nine of the last eleven games and are 10-15.

In the last eleven games, the A’s have scored more than two runs three times. They scored three in a game against Cleveland but still lost. In another game against the Guardians, Oakland lost 9-8. They scored seven against the Tampa Bay Rays but lost 10-7 in ten innings.

The offense in the other eight games produced eight runs. A’s manager Mark Kotsay has to find a way to get the offense going. During the 162 game season, teams will go into a slump. Teams will have hot streaks. Sometimes the offense is not going well, but the pitching is good. Sometimes the hitting is producing, but the pitching has gone south. Sometimes, both are going well and vice versa. The manager’s job is to figure out the lineups that will produce wins.

It will be a bid series for both teams. The Twins want to continue their winning ways. The A’s want their hitting to improve and the relievers to perform better. The A’s will send left hander Cole Irvin to the Hill on Friday. Irvin is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA. He had some soreness in his shoulder after his last start.

The A’s have not announced that he will be scratched. On Saturday, righty James Kaprielian will make his second campaign start. Kaprielian had a rough outing in his last appearance. Kaprielian relies on pinpoint control. He could not locate his pitches and had an early exit from the game. Daulton Jefferies will go for Oakland on Sunday. The Twins have not announced any of their starters.

The series should be a good one. The A’s and Twins have had an intense rivalry for many years. From 1987 to 1991, The Twins went to the World Series in 1987 and 1991 and won both. The A’s won three consecutive AL Pennants in 1988, 1989, and 1990. They won the 1989 World Series. The season has a long way to go. Let us hope the A’s can right the ship and start getting some wins.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s get out of town after getting swept twice by Cleveland and Tampa Bay

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Manuel Margot hits a two-run single against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum as the Rays shutout Oakland 3-0 on Wed May 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (10-15) who were swept twice in the last homestand by the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays (15-10) one thing that showed in this past homestand they just couldn’t get many runs on the scoreboard.

#2 Game three of get away day on Thursday was quite transparent as the A’s and Rays played to a 0-0 score until the top of the eighth and the Rays attacked with three runs and never looked back and wound up with a 3-0 shutout win.

#3 The Rays Manuel Margot who slugged a two run single in part of the Rays three run attack broke what was a great pitching duel between the A’s starter Frankie Montas and Rays starter Corey Kluber.

#4 Montas threw like he could have completed the game but his pitch count was up and he was lifted for reliever Zach Jackson in the top of the eighth. Jackson was the pitcher of record that was charged with the three earned runs.

#5 It’s once again back to the drawing board for the A’s as they head for the Twin Cities and Minneapolis and Target Field for Friday night as the A’s will start left hand pitcher Cole Irvin (2-1 ERA 2.93) and the Twins have not announced a starting pitcher yet a 5:10 PDT first pitch.

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

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Oakland A’s tough days at the Coliseum, Nothing new

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Oakland Coliseum site of the smallest crowd since the 1980 season with one of the smallest customers on the stairs with a whole section to himself the A’s drew 2488 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Mon May 2, 2022 (USA Today photo)

Oakland A’s: Tough Days at the Coliseum, Nothing New

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND–On April 17, 1979 the Seattle Mariners visited the Oakland Coliseum, the official attendance announced was 250. Yes, 250 people. We might not get to that point this season.

In 1979 there was also very high inflation, they were gas lines and shortages, a hostage situation, and a war in the middle east, in other words very similar to what’s happening now, with the big difference that covid was not around. The population of Oakland was around 330,000 people.

A’s owner Charlie Finley eventually sold the team to the Haas family/Levi Strauss, in my humble opinion, the best ownership the A’s ever had. Right away they got to work and built a winning atmosphere with great players, winning pennants and three consecutive trips to the World Series (1988-89-90) winning over the Giants in the 1989 World Series.

The Coliseum was a place to be and enjoy baseball with all kinds of promotions and great players like Henderson, Stewart, Canseco, McGwire, and company. Regardless of how you feel, we must credit Charlie O Finley because he built a tremendous championship team that won three World Series in a row, from 1972 to 1974. As a matter of fact, only the A’s and Yankees can say they have won 3 consecutive World Series.

Yankees as many as five in a row during their 1950s dynasty. However, after those 3-years Finley basically traded everybody, he didn’t want any part of the signing of free agents, he thought paying a million dollar for a player was crazy.

Finley suggested every player should become a free agent every year and sign a one-year contract. By the way, the current Oakland A’s have nothing but one-year contracts.

Soon this summer A’s fans will know if the team will definitely be able to build the new Howard Terminal ballpark or not. “It is Howard Terminal or bust”, said Dave Kaval President of the A’s, after the recent positive decision by the BCDC, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.

If the A’s get the final approval to build the new ballpark in downtown Oakland, they will still have to play at the Oakland Coliseum for a couple of years and chances are that with the current team, is not expected to be in the race for the postseason, attendances will continue to be so small that some players will tell you they can hear the stadium vendors as clear as if they were sitting with the fans. There are still hurdles and three lawsuits against the A’s building the new park at Howard Terminal.

I talked with many fans at the Oakland Coliseum, true Oakland A’s fans for years and they are more than frustrated, they are extremely cynical.

One told me a few days ago “We still support the A’s and come here knowing that Montas, Laureano, Murphy, and any player than can bring some value in return will be gone”.

Nobody can blame any A’s fans for their attitude, they are the ones paying for parking and for the games and for souvenirs and food. There used to be a saying that “the customer is always right”. And, in this case, they are right.

Rays send A’s down to their sixth loss in a row; Oakland shutout at Coliseum 3-0

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Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena slides home to score against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 4, 2022 (AP News photo)

BY Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Tampa Bay Rays (15-10) beat the Oakland A’s (10-15) 3-0 to sweep the three-game series. The A’s suffered their sixth loss in a row and have lost nine of their last eleven games. The team continues not to hit well.

The A’s had four hits on Wednesday afternoon. Seth Brown had the hardest-hit ball when he tripled in the bottom of the second. 

The game was scoreless for seven innings. The A’s ace, Frankie Montas, was dominant. He went seven innings and allowed four hits and no runs. His opponent, former two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber pitched a masterful six innings.

Kluber looked like the dominant pitcher he was when he pitched in Cleveland. Kluber’s line was six innings, three hits, and no runs. He threw just 64 pitches.

One of the adages in baseball is that good teams find a way to win. Bad teams find a way to lose. The A’s found a way to lose Wednesday afternoon. The Rays put three runs on the board as the A’s reliever Zach Jackson walked two, hit a batter, and gave up a single.

The Rays’ third run scored on a balk. The results are bad when teams have trouble scoring runs and the relievers aren’t performing well. The game summary follows below.

The Rays put three runs on the board in the top of the eighth with just one hit. In relief of Frenkie Montas, Zach Jackson walked Brett Phillips to start the frame. Phillips went to second on a wild pitch. Jackson retired Yandy Diaz for the first out.

Phillips went to third on the play. The next hitter Wander Franco struck out. Jackson walked Randy Arozarena and hit Brandon Lowe with a pitch to load the bases with two out. The Rays’ Manuel Margot singled to right-field to drive in Phillips and Arozarena.

A’s manager Mark Kotsay brought in Domingo Acevedo to pitch with men on at first and third. The Rays plated the third run when a balk was called on Acevedo. The Rays lead 3-0 midway through the eighth inning. The Rays’ bullpen shut the A’s down in the eighth and ninth innings to win the game 3-0.

Game Notes: The A’s ended the six-game homestand 0-6. The A’s are 10-15 for the year with the loss. The Rays are 15-10. The winning pitcher for Tampa was J.P.Feyereisen. Zach Jackson was the losing pitcher. 

The A’s are off on Thursday as they are traveling to Minneapolis to face the Twins for three games starting Friday night. Left Cole Irvin will itch for Oakland. Irvin is 2-1 with a 2.93 ERA. The Twins have not announced their starting pitcher. 

The time of the game was two hours and thirty-nine minutes, and there were 4838 people present to watch the A’s lose.