Category: Oakland Athletics

A’s-Sox preview: Watch out Red Sox- The homer happy A’s are looking to do damage at Fenway

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Oakland Athletics’ Boog Powell (3) follows the flight of his two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

by Jerry Feitelberg

Boston- The Oakland A’s coming off a sweep of the Houston Astros and winners of five straight, are on their way to Boston to face the AL East division leader, the Boston Red Sox. The A’s had lost eight of nine before beating the Angels last Wednesday. The lost all six on the road and the first two games of the home stand.The young and powerful A’s did not have any trouble scoring runs, but the pitching couldn’t keep the opponents off the scoreboard. All that changed this past weekend as the A’s pounded the Astros’ pitching and the pitching kept the Astros from scoring.

For many of the young A’s hitters, it will be their first trip to Fenway Park. The A’s are hitting homers. They have over 200 so far, and they are led by Khris Davis, Ryon Healy, Matt Chapman, and Chad Pinder are leading the way from the right side, and Matt Olson and Matt Joyce are the big boppers from the left side of the plate. Fenway Park has very unusual dimensions. The distance down both lines is slightly over 300 feet. The problem for the right-hand hitters will be hitting the ball over the 37-foot high wall aka the Green Monster. For the lefty hitters, if they can pull the ball down the line, it will be an easy home run. However, the distance increases to 380 feet quite rapidly, and it takes a big blast to put the ball out of the park.

The other problem the A’s have is that they cannot win on the road. The A’s at home are 42-33 but have a woeful road record of 21-47. The Red Sox, on the other hand, need to win. They are in a dogfight with the New York Yankees for the top spot in the East. The Sox do not have the big boppers in the lineup this year. The Sox have hit 146 home runs, and that is about 40 homers below the league average. They have several excellent players. They are led by the veteran Dustin Pedroia. Pedroia has missed a lot of games due to injury, but the slack has been taken up by Eduardo Nunez. Nunez came over to the Red Sox in a trade with the SF Giants. Rafael Devers is manning third base. He is just 20 years ago and made a big splash when he came. He had his first slump of his career but seems to be hitting much better now. Xander Bogaerts is at short, and Mitch Moreland platoons at first base with Hanley Ramirez. The Red Sox have Andrew Benintendi in left, Jackie Bradley, Jr in center and Mookie Betts in right field. Sandy Leon and Christian Vasquez handle the catching.

The pitching matchups for the series will see Sean Manaea pitch Tuesday night against Eduardo Rodriguez. Manaea beat the Angels last Wednesday in Oakland. He went six innings and no runs while earning his tenth win of the year. Rodriguez, also a lefty, is 4-5 with an ERA of 4.33. Rodriguez has scuffled most of the season, but he had a good outing last week as he allowed just six hits and 2 runs in six innings of work. Rodriguez is 1-0 against the A’s lifetime with an ERA of just 1.69.

The second game of the series will feature Jharel Cotton going against Boston’s Doug Fister. Cotton’s record is 7-10, and he has an ERA of 5.82. In his last outing, Cotton gave up seven runs in five innings of work. He continues to give up the gopher ball. In his last outing, he was hammered three times. He has given up 12 big flys in his last 33 2/3rds innings. Fister was plucked off the waiver wire from the LA Angels. Everyone thought Fister was done. Fister has shown that he is not ready to close the book on his career. With the Red Sox, he is 5-2 and has an ERA of 2.79. Overall he is 5-7 for the year, and his ERA stands at 3.91. In three of his last starts, he gave up runs in the first inning, but settled down and was able to pick up three wins.

The Thursday game will feature righty Daniel Gossett going against the lefty, Drew Pomeranz.Gossett beat the Astros on Saturday as he allowed just one run in six plus innings and struck out seven. Pomeranz, a former Oakland Athletic, has found a home in Boston as he is having the best year of his career. His overall record is 15-5, and his ERA is 3.35. He is also pitching very well in Boston. Fenway Park is notorious for being a nightmare for left-handed pitchers. Lefties have to keep the ball down and away to right-hand hitters. If they come inside, there’s a good chance that pitch will either be off the wall or over it. Pomeranz is 8-2 at Fenway. Pomeranz has faced the A’s just once since leaving the team. In his only game against Oakland earlier this year, he gave up one earned run in the four innings that he pitched.

It should be a fantastic series. The Red Sox figured that this might be a breather for them. That was two months ago. They cannot take the A’s lightly. This young team is starting to come together, and if the A’s get any kind of pitching, the series could be a barn burner.

 

A’s catch fire, slug their way to four-game sweep of the Astros

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment
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Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien (10) and Boog Powell celebrate Powell’s two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. The A’s won 10-2, and swept the four-game series. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Dallas Kuechel’s post game comments weren’t meant to be a slight to the A’s nor were they necessarily disingenuous. But they definitely needed a disclaimer, that being the pitcher speaking was responsible for runs 31 through 35 of Oakland’s weekend-long, 41-run onslaught that lead to the most unlikely sweep of any in baseball this season.

“It just so happened that they hit some mistake pitches,” Kuechel explained. “They weren’t hitting quality, quality pitches. When we were making quality pitches, that’s when we were getting outs. But when you throw the ball down the middle or hang a breaking ball, major league hitters are going to do that.”

“It’s just a combination of a bunch of things and whether they’re a lot of little small things or just one big thing, they can get you in a hurry, just like today.”

Today, and Saturday–in both ends of a doubleheader–and in the later innings on Friday. In other words, Kuechel may have relayed his part of the story, but after four wins, 41 runs, 13 extra-base hits in Saturday’s doubleheader, four home runs on Sunday, Kuechel probably only has a limited grasp of what went on.

For starters, the Astros have owned the A’s and had a fleeting shot at sweeping all 10 games at the Coliseum between the clubs this season when they arrived on Friday. Then after the Astros built a 7-3 lead in the opener, the A’s tied it in the eighth, and won it in the ninth.

That broke Houston’s seven-game win streak, one day after the A’s ended an eight-game slide. Then all counterintuitve hell broke lose on Saturday.

The A’s sent shots all over the place, the Astros hurlers couldn’t find the plate, issuing five–yes, five–bases-loaded walks. Suddenly, after losing 12 of 15 to their least-preferred opponent, the A’s whipped the Astros three straight.

But four straight? Kuechel’s mastery over the A’s this season was rare and complete, with the Astros’ ace sporting a 3-0, 0.83 ERA record. Faced with the path of more of the same from Kuechel, or more hits and runs to cap the weekend, the A’s boldly chose the latter, scoring in double figures for a third straight game and winning the finale, 10-2.

“I’m not saying it was unexpected, but the fashion we did it in was pretty impressive,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.

“These are all things that define these young guys,” said starter Kendall Graveman, who allowed one run on five hits in six innings, and got the win. “And in a sense, they don’t know no better. It’s, ‘let’s go play ball and give it our best effort.'”

 

 

Oakland A’s Commentary by London Marq: Fans like the idea of bringing back the traditional doubleheader

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Oakland Athletics’ Matt Olson, right, celebrates with Ryon Healy (25) after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Houston Astros, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By London Marq

OAKLAND–On September 9th, The Oakland Athletics host a doubleheader with the AL West leading Houston Astros. Doubleheaders in professional baseball have been popular since around the since the 1880’s. Originally used to make up games cancelled by weather conditions. Today though are seemingly used up make scheduling/traveling easier and make up rained out games.

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey we’ve seen numerous sports teams on the southern United States cancel or reschedule games. In the MLB no team has been more effected than the Houston Astros. The were unfortunate to have homes games not only postponed, but some were moved to neutral sites. Others turned into double headers, such as the first game in Houston after Harvey had passed.

Controversy ensued when the Texas Rangers refused to swap home games with the Rangers in light of their post season chances. While easy criticism was made of the Rangers choice, from a competitive standpoint it does make sense. Houston already had the benefit of having the best record in the division while the rangers were trying to catch up.

The Athletics Astros doubleheader was a scheduled double header. That is to say that without the tragedies of Mother Nature, they were set to play two games yesterday no matter what. That means that there is an extra day that players have to play twice, which doesn’t make much since if you are really trying to save a small handful of days over the course of a season.

Due to the weather, the Astros schedule was already jumbled. I argue that that they are put at a competitive disadvantage, due to all of the circumstances already. Having a scheduled double header leaves less room for alterations to the schedule. This is why doubleheaders are important and should be used in need only.

Major League Baseball should extend the regular season and only implement double headers when games on the schedule cannot be played or fit into the schedule. You can retain teams home-field advantage this way. And if games need to be postponed longer than just a few days, you can create double headers by attaching them only future series.

The double-header may be apart of baseball history to be preserved. The way we choose to preserve it however, should benefit the teams playing.

London Marq does them all commentary, baseball coverage, and San Jose Earthquakes coverage, at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game Two A’s win 11-5 to sweep Doubleheader

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Chad Pinder celebrates his second HR of the night Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

The Oakland Athletics had not swept both ends of a doubleheader since September 22, 1998 when they did it against the Detroit Tigers. The A’s ended that drought on Saturday as they swept the doubleheader from first-place Houston Astros (86-56).

Oakland won the second game 11-4 after having won the first game 11-1. You are not reading a typographical error. The last-place Oakland Athletics (62-80) just outscored the Houston Astros — the team with best record in the American League — 22 to 5 in a doubleheader.

The two victories also mean that the Athletics have won the opening three games of this four-game series with the Astros. No matter what happens on Sunday, the A’s have won this series with Houston.

The Athletics are now 41-33 at home for 2017 season. That means they have matched the Astros home win total for the season. Only Baltimore and Boston have more wins at home in the American League than do the Oakland A’s.

The big problem for the Athletics is they are 21-47 on the road which is the worst road record in the Major Leagues.

Game Two

Daniel Mengden took the mound for the A’s in the nightcap. After being with the big club briefly early in the year, Mengden spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Nashville. The A’s have always had big hopes for Mengden but things have not worked out the way either party would have liked things to go.

Saturday Mengden worked six innings giving up three runs (two earned) on two hits. He struck out four Astros, walked two and gave up one home run. Manager Bob Melvin was pleased with his starter’s performance.

The outing was also Mengden’s longest of the year in the majors. He went just 3.1 and 4.2 innings in his two previous starts at the beginning of the season.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The game got very shaky for the A’s when the bullpen took over in the seventh inning. Sam Moll faced two batters and gave up a double to Carlos Beltran followed by a single to Brian McCann that moved Beltran to third. That was all for Moll who would be charged with an earned run after Beltran scored on a sacrifice fly.
  • Chris Hatcher 1-1) took over for Moll and ultimately picked up the win in the game. He not only shut down the scoring in the seventh, but he pitched a scoreless eighth inning as well. Managers love relievers who can post “Goose Eggs” in the score book.
  • Santiago Casilla worked the ninth inning and also put up a “Goose Egg” (zero runs) on no hits with one strike out and one walk.

Houston

  • Brad Peacock (10-2, 3.05) made the start for the Astros and had the game under control until the sixth inning when the A’s figured him out. Peacock went 5.0-innings giving up two runs (both earned) on five hits while striking out nine. Matt Olson’s two-run home run in the sixth chased Peacock from the game. He did not figure in the final decision.
  • The Astros used four relief pitchers and they all broke the rule of the “Goose Egg”. Each reliever gave up at least one run. Michael Feliz gave up four. It was a bloodbath.
  • Chris Devenski (8-4) took the loss. For those of you who are still into antiquated stats, he was also charged with blown save number six of the season.

In the batter’s box

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Franklin Barreto scores go ahead run in the seventh inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Athletics

  • So many stories — so little time.
  • Boog Powell went 2-for-4 with three Rbi and a run scored
  • Chad Pinder hit two home runs in the game (13,14). One home run tied the game and the other just “Wowed” the crowd.
  • Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with a home run, run scored and two Rbi.
  • Franklin Barreto was 2-for-4 with a triple, Rbi and two runs scored.
  • Oakland scored 11 runs on 14 hits. They were 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The A’s left just four runners on base.
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Boog Powell rounds the bases after his home run Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Astros

  • Carlos Beltran went 2-for-4 with a double and run scored.
  • Josh Reddick (1-for-3) extended his hitting streak to eight games.
  • Jose Altuve hit his 10th career home run against the A’s in the sixth inning. He was 1-for-4 with two runs and an Rbi in game two.

Star of the doubleheader has to go to the Athletics Matt Olson

The rookie first baseman went 4-for-7 in the two games with a home run (16), a double, two Rbi and two walks. Olson is one of the big reasons the A’s feel their future is very bright.

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game One Athletics crush the Astros 11-1

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
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Khris Davis hits 100th Rbi of 2017 Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

“Let’s play two” is the baseball quote made famous by the late, great Ernie Banks. The problem is for most baseball fans is they really have no idea what Banks was referring to when he made that famous statement.

Sure, most baseball fans have heard about day-night doubleheaders where one game is played in the afternoon then the stadium is cleared and the second game is played several hours later as a night game. Of course separate tickets are required for each game.

On Saturday, the Astros and Athletics scheduled a “twin bill” the old fashion way. The first game started at 1:05 p.m. and the second is scheduled to start approximately 45-minutes after game one is over. And, only one ticket is required to see both games.

As Bill King would say, “Holy Toledo!”

Game One

The Athletics needed a strong pitching performance from their starter Daniel Gossett because the pitching staff would be taxed playing a minimum of 18 innings on Saturday. Gossett was trying to bounce back from a less than stellar start last Sunday in Seattle that lasted just 3.2-innings and resulted in Gossett recording his eighth loss of the season.

The problem for Gossett has been the way opponents hit off him after they see him one time through the order. The batting average against Gossett the first time through the order is just .211. The batting average against Gossett jumps to .356 after that first time look at his pitches.

Gossett struck out four Astro hitters and gave up no runs on two hits in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Gossett issued back-to-back walks and the A’s dugout began holding their breath. Gossett then retired Bregman, Altuve and Correa to get out of the inning.

Gossett was able to come out to start the top of the seventh inning but he walked the first batter and Bob Melvin came to the mound to take him out the game. Melvin no doubt had some words of praise for his starter as well. Gossett (4-8,5.02) pitched 6.0-innings giving up just one run (earned) off five hits. He struck out seven and walked just three. The 99-pitch effort by Gossett was most definitely a “quality start”.

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Daniel Gossett exits the game in the 7th inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

The Athletics also exploded for 11 runs against the Astros. Houston starter Charlie Morton (11-7, 3.86) was expected to be a real problem for the A’s hitters on Saturday. Morton gave up a double to the Athletics leadoff batter Marcus Semien in the first inning and then proceeded to record three consecutive strikeouts. It looked like it might be a long day for the A’s.

The Athletics (61-80) broke through for three runs off Morton in the second inning and never looked back in the game. The A’s put three more runs up on the board in the sixth inning and then broke the bank with a five-run eighth inning that forced the Astros to use J.D. Davis — an infielder — to close out the game on the mound.

The powerful Astros (86-55) were not able to generate anything on offense. The scored only one run off their five hits.

On the hill

Oakland

  • The A’s relievers did their job in game one holding up their starter Gossett by putting up the coveted “Goose Eggs” in their three innings of work.
  • Ryan Dull and Simon Castro not only allow zero (Goose Eggs) runs in three innings of relief but they allowed not no hits and just one base runner via a walk. That is the perfect scenario for a bullpen to preserve a win.

Houston

  • The Astros pitchers were their own worst enemies in game one of the doubleheader. As a staff they issued 13 base-on-balls and struck out 12.
  • Houston pitchers walked in five of the 11 runs they gave up to the Athletics in game. That will give managers and pitching coaches ulcers and nightmares.
  • The Astros gave up 11 runs on just 11 hits to Oakland

In the batter’s box

Athletics

  • The “2 Matts” had another big game for the A’s. Matt Olson 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Matt Chapman was 1-for-4 with two runs, one Rbi, one walk and one triple.
  • Boog Powell enjoyed his day with the bat going 2-for-4 posting two Rbi to go with three runs scored.
  • Khris Davis posted his 100th Rbi to become the first Athletic to have back-to-back 100-plus Rbi seasons since Miguel Tejada accomplished that feat in 2002-03.
  • A’s batters walked 13 times in the game and struck out 12 times — that is bat control.

Astros

  • Frankly there are not many highlights for Houston. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Houston left six men on base.
  • The big blow for the ‘Stros was Alex Bregman’s double in the fifth inning that drove home the only run for Houston.
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Marisnick goes down on the back end of a 5-4-3 double play Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Postgame note

Astros catcher Juan Centeno started the game but had to leave the contest in second inning when he took a bat off the back of the head from a hard swing by Matt Joyce. He is being evaluated for a possible concussion.

A’s Rally for Rare Win At Home Against Astros 9-8

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie, center, is mobbed by teammates after making the game winning hit against the Houston Astros in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. – Friday night, the Oakland Athletics looked like they were on their way to the usual ending they get when facing the Houston Astros; a loss. Thanks to some late-inning dramatics from Marcus Semien, Boog Powell and Jed Lowrie, the A’s turned what would have been an 11th-straight home loss to the Astros into a 9-8 walk-off win.

Lowrie singled home the winning run, Boog Powell hit one of four A’s homers to tie the game in the 9th and Marcus Semien hit a then game-tying grand slam to help the A’s erase a 7-3 deficit. A’s starter Jharel Cotton allowed six runs on 3 homers, but Houston starter Collin McHugh departed his start just 3 innings in after suffering from a right middle finger avulsion.

Powell opened the 9th facing fireballing closer Ken Giles (1-3, 2.63 ERA) with the A’s trailing 8-7. He quickly fell behind 0-2 on a pair of fastballs before hitting his second homer of the year to right field on a slider from the Astros closer.

“I just wanted to get on base,” said Powell. “I knew he had the heater, and he throws hard, so I was just trying to go the other way with it, then he threw me a slider right where I liked it, and it ended up going out.”

Oakland continued to rally after Semien singled and Matt Joyce walked. Lowrie flared a Giles offering to center field that Cameron Maybin originally charged in on. He pulled up, and with Marcus Semien going half-way to 3rd base already, failed to get the ball to home plate in time to stop Oakland’s short stop from scoring the winning run.

The A’s needed to rally after Blake Treinen (2-6, 4.48) gave up a run in the stop of the 9th. Josh Reddick doubled home George Springer with two outs to take a 8-7 lead, one of 4 RBIs for the former Oakland Athletic.

Reddick’s run would have been just an insurance run for a cushy Houston lead if not for Semien’s bases-loaded shot in the bottom of the 7th off another former Athletic, Luke Gregerson. Semien’s no-doubter, his 6th of the year, as his first long ball since July 8th.

“That’s what last year I did a lot more of. I’m just trying to hit the ball hard,” said Semien. “When you get pitches to drive out of the ballpark it’s always nice to do it. It just hasn’t been happening as often this year.”

The Astros were cruising to the win despite McHugh’s early exit thanks to a trio of homers off A’s starter Jharel Cotton. Jose Altuve, Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel all hit two-run shots off Cotton in his 5 innings of work, with Reddick also doubling a run off Cotton.

“He’s got to get the ball down,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He has to keep the ball in the ballpark.”

Oakland trailed 7-3 when Cotton exited the game thanks to homers from Matt Chapman (two runs) and Matt Joyce to stay afloat against McHugh before being shut down by Houston’s pen for the next 3 innings.

Saturday the A’s send a pair of Daniels to the mound in a true traditional double-header. Daniel Gosset gets the ball in game one, while former Astros farmhand Daniel Mengden toes the rubber in game two. The Astros counter with Charlie Morton and former Sacramento Rivercat Brad Peacock.

 

Preview of the Oakland A’s vs Houston Astros series this weekend in Oaklnd

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File Photo: Houston Astros right fielder Josh Reddick (22) jersey has a patch honoring Houston Strong in the second inning during an MLB game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, September 2, 2017. Houston Astros defeated New York Mets 12-8.(Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The A’s are off on Thursday as they are still trying to figure out why they lost eight of the last nine games. The A’s salvaged a win against the LA Angels Wednesday but now have to face the Houston Astros for a four-game series starting Friday night at the Coliseum.

The A’s are in the midst of rebuilding the team for the future. They have jettisoned veteran players such as Stephen Vogt, Adam Rosales, Rajai Davis, Sean Doolittle, Ryan Madson, John Axford, and Sonny Gray. Gray’s trade was a mystery as the team had control for two more years, but they received three prospects from the Yankees. Two of the prospects are pitchers, but two of the three players are currently on the DL. The A’s young position players have performed well and appear to be in the mix for next year. Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder, Boog Powell, Ryon Healy, and Bruce Maxwell will be the building blocks for the revival of the A’s. They need to improve the pitching, both in the starting rotation and the bullpen.

The A’s are looking at the model that the Houston Astros used to build their team from a team that lost over 100 games in three straight seasons to a team with the best record in the American League. The Astros started the rebuild with second baseman Jose Altuve. Altuve is leading the AL in hitting, and the Astros have teamed him with the terrific shortstop Carlos Correa. Correa was injured but is now off the DL.

George Springer is an All-Star and left field is held down by our old friend Josh Reddick. Reddick is having a great year in Houston and is hitting over. 300. There are no easy out in the Houston lineup. Jake MArisnick and Cameron Maybin are sharing the duties in center field. Marwin Gonzalez has given the ‘s fits over the years. Yuri Guriel is at first base, Brian McCann handles the catching, and the veteran Carlos Beltran is the DH.

The Astros pitching rotation has struggled at times, but the Astros made a trade late in August to bring in Justin Verlander. Verlander beat the Seattle Mariners in his first start as an Astro but will not pitch this weekend. The Astros’ starters will be Collin McHugh Friday night, Charlie Morton (11-6) and Brad Peacock (10-2) will pitch on Saturday. Peacock is winless in his last five starts and will be heading to the bullpen to make room for Verlander in the rotation. Dallas Keuchel (12-3), the former Cy Young award winner will go on Sunday.

The A’s Jharel Cotton pitches Friday night. Cotton is 7-10 but has pitched better in his two or three outings. Daniel Mengden(0-1) will make his first start since June 3rd. Mengden went on the DL and has been at Nashville since coming off the injury list. Daniel Gossett(3-8) will pitch the second game of the double header. Gossett had a tough outing in Seattle last week. He went just 3/23rds innings and gave up three runs and seven hits. Gossett has not completed four innings in his last five starts. Kendall Graveman (4-4) faces the Astros on Sunday. Graveman did not have a  good outing last Monday against the Angels. He gave up five runs in five innings of work. The A’s rallied to get him off the hook.

The Astros lead the Cleveland Indians by 2 1/2 games for the best record in the AL. The team with the best record has home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Indians are red hot right now. They have won fourteen games in a row and want to head into the playoffs as the team that no one wants to face. The Astros want the road to the World Series to go through Houston. They want to sweep the A’s this weekend. Bob Melvin and Company will give the Astros everything they can handle. The A’s may be down, but there is no quit in this team. Just ask Mike Scioscia and the Angels.

 

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Fallout over stolen signs debate still a an issue in MLB

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Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman, right, is tossed from the game by home plate umpire Mike Everitt after Chapman argued with Los Angeles Angels catcher Juan Graterol during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–It started with Oakland A’s third baseman Matt Chapman standing in at the plate on Wednesday afternoon when Los Angeles Angels catcher Juan Graterol got into a firey exchange with Chapman. Graterol jumped up out of his crotch and started jawing at Chapman over Chapman looking back and telling Chapman to stop stealing signs. Then A’s manager Bob Melvin came running out of the dugout wondering what was happening? Melvin is talking to Everitt and he goes back to the dugout and they thought it was settled.

Graterol was still chirping at Chapman and Chapman gave it back to him and that’s when Everitt tossed him. Chapman wasn’t raising his voice he was getting heated and he didn’t say any bad words but he got tossed for not letting it go and that is what happened on Wednesday. When A’s centerfielder Mark Canha was at the plate Graterol was accusing Canha of stealing signs. So when Chapman came to the plate he has something to say about Graterol’s treatment of Canha.

Jerry does the A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Sean Manaea helps the Green and Gold snap the 8-game losing streak as they down the Halos 3-1

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Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea throws to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND- The A’s, behind a terrific outing by starter Sean Manaea, snapped an eight-game losing streak as they defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. Manaea went six plus innings and allowed no runs and just four hits. His record for the season is 10-9. The Angels’ starter Tyler Skaggs also went six innings, but he gave up five hits and three runs. Skaggs’ record is now 1-5

The A’s Khris Davis put one on the board when he led off the fourth inning with a solo home run that cleared the scoreboard in right field. For Davis, it was his 39th homer of the year, and he is now leading the American League in that department.

Oakland scored two more runs in the fifth. Only one was unearned. With one out, Marcus Semien doubled. Chad Pinder followed with a single to drive in Semien with the A’s second run. They scored the third run when Khris Davis hit a very high fly ball to left. Angels’ left fielder, Justin Upton, lost the ball in the sun. He did get a glove on the ball but couldn’t put it away. Pinder scored all the way from first, and Davis landed on second. Upton was charged with an error. Tha A’s lead 5-0 after five.

The Angels plated a run in the eighth. The big blow was Kole Calhoun’s triple into the corner in right field. Andrelton Simmons scored on the play.  The A’s bullpen did not allow another run as the A’s snapped the eight-game losing streak. Chris Hatcher earned his first American League save.

Game Notes- With the loss and the win by the Minnesota Twins over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday, the Angels fall a half-game back of the Twins in the race for the second Wild Card in the AL. The Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Tamp Bay Rays all have a chance, and each game is so critical for these teams. The Angels really wanted to sweep but to the A’s and Bob Melvin deserve credit as they team refused to quit, and even though they lost two very close games to the Angels, they came to play on Wednesday.

A very strange event occurred in the fourth inning, A’s third baseman Matt Chapman was about to hit when he and Angels’ catcher Juan Graterol got into a bit of a heated exchange. Graterol jumped up from his crouch and confronted Chapman. Home plate Umpire Mike Everitt tried to intercede, and A’s manager Bob Melvin raced out of the dugout to quiet things down. Melvin appeared to have the situation in hand and headed back to the dugout. Chapman must have said something to Everitt as Everitt turned to Chapman and gave him the boot. Renato Nunez replaced Chapman in the lineup.

The Angels’ Mike Scioscia used just three pitchers in the game while the A’s used four. It was quite a contrast from the last two games when both teams used twenty on Monday and fifteen Tuesday.

The A’s are off Thursday and resume play Friday night against the Houston Astros. They will play single games on Friday and Sunday, and there will be an old-fashioned single admission doubleheader on Saturday. The A’s Jharel Cotton, with a record of 7-10, will pitch for the Green and Gold. Collin McHugh (2-2) will handle the pitching chores for the Astros.

Time of game was three hours and ten minutes and 10,544 faithful A’s fans were on hand to see the Green and Gold defeat the Angels 3-1.

Extra Extra innings read em and weep: Angels torment the A’s again as the Halos send the A’s down to their eighth loss in a row 8-7

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland A’s continued to battle tooth and nail. The game was a thriller as both teams refused to quit as each team rallied to take the lead. The contest was very similar to the Monday marathon which the Angels won. The Angels won again on Tuesday night by a score of 8-7. The Angels used eight pitchers, and Oakland sent seven to the hill. The A’s lost their eighth straight game. With the win, the Angels took over the second spot in the Wild Card Race and now lead the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles by just 1/2 game.

The A’s starter Kendall Graveman lasted just five innings. Graveman gave up five runs and threw over 100 pitches and did not get a decision. The Angels’ Garrett Richards, making his first start since April 5th, threw just 53 pitches before leaving in the fourth. Richards missed most of the 2016 season with an arm injury and he was on the DL for most of the 2017 season.

The Angels put a crooked number on the board in the top of the third. The Angels scored three runs on just two hits. A’s starter Kendall Graveman could not find the strike zone as he issued three walks and uncorked a wild pitch. He walked C.j.Cron to start the inning. Martin Maldonado singled to put men on at first and third with no out. Brandon Phillips singled to drive in Cron with the Angels’ first run. Maldonado went to third on the play and Phillips went to second on the throw.  Mike Trout walked to load the bases. Graveman issued a walk to Justin Upton to force in a run. Albert Pujols hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the Angels third run. Right fielder Kole Calhoun hit a scorcher that A’s first baseman Matt Olson fielded cleanly and Olson’s throw home nailed Mike Trout who was running on contact. The Angels lead 3-0 in the middle of the third.

In the bottom of the fourth, Oakland put a run on the board. The human doubles machine, Jed Lowrie, led off the inning with his 42nd double of the season. He went to third on a Khris Davis single and scored when Chad Pinder doubled. Davis stopped at third. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia did not hesitate and removed his starter. He brought in Blake Wood to pitch and Wood struck out Bruce Maxwell and Matt Chapman to end the threat.

The Angels tacked on another run in the top of the fifth. Brandon Phillips led off with a single. Phillips was out at second when Mike Trout hit into a fielder’s choice. Trout promptly stole second. Justin Upton followed with a single. Trout, attempting to score from second, was thrown out at home on a very close play. Upton went to second on the throw home. Graveman had two strikes on Pujols but could not retire him. With the count 3-2, Pujols singled o drive in Upton. The A’s, with two out in the bottom of the fifth, exploded for four runs to take the lead 5-4. Matt Joyce started the fireworks with a solo homer. Jed Lowrie singled, and he scored when Khris Davis hit his 38th of the year. The crowd was still cheering when Matt Olson followed with his 15th long ball. Olson now has fifteen in his first 53 games. Only Mark McGwire had 18 in his first 53 games as an Athletic.

The Angels regained the lead in the sixth. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in lefty Sam Moll to pitch. Moll struck out Andrelton Simmons for the first out. The next batter, Luis Valbuena, walked. That was it for Moll. Melvin brought in righty Liam Hendriks to pitch to C.J.Cron. The strategy did not work as Cron went yard and put the Angels ahead 6-5. The A’s came right back and tied the game. Angels’ reliever, Troy Scribner, walked Matt Chapman and Boog Powell to put men on at first and second with no out. Marcus Semien doubled to drive in Chapman. Powell was held up at third by Steve Scarsone. Matt Joyce struck out. Jed Lowrie walked to load the bases. Davis struck out, and Matt Olson ground out to end the inning.

With two out in the eighth, the Angels scored the go-ahead run. Luis Valbuena started the rally with a walk. A’s pitcher could not get past C.J.Cron. Cron, who homered his last at-bat, struck again as he tripled down the right field line to drive in Kaleb Cowart who was running for Valbuena. The Angels now lead 7-6 with the A’s coming to bat. The A’s wasted no time as they scored a run to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. Boog Powell led off with a double. Marcus Semien laid down a perfect bunt to send Powell to third. Matt Joyce, a former Angel, drove in Powell with a sac fly to left.  The game is tied at seven after eight.

Santiago Casilla is now pitching for Oakland in the ninth. Casilla retired the first two batters. He walked Justin Upton and had to now face Albert Pujols. Casilla won the battle but it wasn’t easy as Pujols hit a long fly to right field that was caught for the third out and the fans let out a collective sigh. The A’s fail to score in the bottom of the ninth and the game is now in overtime.

In the tenth, with two outs, Blake Treinen hit Kaleb Cowart with a pitch. C.J.Cron had his third hit of the night when he singled. Ben Revere, pinch-hitting for Martin Maldonado, singled to left. Matt Joyce made a valiant effort to catch the ball but the ball was just a smidge out of his reach and Cowart scored the Angels’ eighth run. Eduardo Paredes is in to pitch for LA.  The A’s rally fizzled in the bottom of the tenth. The A’s loaded the bases with two out, but Jed Lowrie hit a fly ball to center to end the game. The Angels win 8-7.

Game Notes- The A’s and Angels conclude the three-game series Wednesday afternoon at 12:35 pm. Lefty Sean Manaea with a record of 9-9 will pitch for Oakland, and the Angels will counter with lefty Tyler Scaggs. Scaggs is 1-4 for the season, but one can be sure he will be out of the game as soon as he runs into a bit of trouble. Mike Scioscia has used twenty pitchers in the last two games, and Tuesday’s game was the fourth game in a row that the Angels have played that went past the four-hour mark.

The last time the A’s lost eight in a row was from May 22nd to June 1st, 2112.

Time of game was four hours and twelve minutes and 11,110 people were on hand to see the A’s lose again.