Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray works against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 14, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
By Matt Harrington
Things have cooled down on the trade talk of Oakland A’s pitcher Sonny Gray because of the recent acquisition of the New York Yankees Todd Frazer and the Yanks will be using Frazer at first base but it really doesn’t make any sense for Frazer to play first base when he’s really a great third baseman. What does that mean for Gray the Yanks might be finished with their shopping for this trade deadline.
It doesn’t make sense for the Yankees to just get one player because they still need a player like the A’s first baseman Yonder Alonso and they need to make that deal for Alonso and they need to make that deal for Gray. With all the injuries that Gray has had pitching and Sonny went down with a lat injury this season and came back and over his last six starts they’ve all been quality performances.
The question is what prospects can the A’s get in return, it’s a matter of what kind of deal can the A’s make that makes the most sense. You have the Astros pursuing Gray and at this point it doesn’t look like the Astros have enough to give the A’s in prospects and it might not make sense for the A’s to trade Gray inside the division.
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Frankie Montas, center, reacts as New York Mets’ Michael Conforto, left, and Matt Reynolds, right, runs the bases after Conforto hit a two-run home run during the seventh inning of an interleague baseball game Friday, July 21, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
By Matthew Harrington
Michael Conforto hit a pair of homeruns and T.J. Rivera knocked in a pair to help push the New York Mets past the Oakland A’s 7-5 Friday night at Citi Field. Marcus Semien went 4-for-5 for Oakland, knocking in two runs, while Khris Davis, Jed Lowrie and Ryon Healy knocked in runs. Healy exited the game early after taking a Lucas Duda liner to the head. Starter Paul Blackburn gave up 4 earned runs for the A’s while Mets pitcher Steven Matz allowed 3. Neither pitcher went past the 6th inning.
Before taking the line drive to his head, Healy opened the scoring in the game, singling Rajai Davis home in the 1st inning for an A’s 1-0 lead. Conforto would take Blackburn deep for his first two-run homer of the night in the bottom of the 3rd for a 2-1 edge.
The A’s took the lead after Semien (single) and Davis (sacrifice fly) knocked in runs for a 3-2 5th inning lead, but a blunder in the bottom of the 6th proved costly.
With the bases loaded, T.J. Rivera singled up the middle off reliever Blake Treinen, with two runs coming in to score. Rajai Davis fired the ball into 3rd trying to cut down Lucas Duda. The tag was in time, but third baseman Matt Chapman got greedy, trying to gun down Rivera at 2nd as well. His snap throw sailed into center field, allowing Rivera to easily score on the error and see the Mets take a 5-3 lead.
In the following inning, Conforto would take Frankie Montas, recently recalled to the major league team, for his 2nd 2-run homer of the game. His 18th homer of the year gave the Mets a 7-3 advantage.
Jed Lowrie and Semien collected RBI base hits in the top of the 8th inning off reliever Erik Goeddel, but former Athletic Jerry Blevins fired a 1-2-3 inning for his first save of the year.
The A’s most reliable pitcher, Sean Manaea, takes the hill in Flushing for the A’s tomorrow. He’ll be opposed by righty Zach Wheeler.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray follows through against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
On the A’s podcast with Jerry:
1 Sonny Gray who got a nice standing ovation on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum as the fans realize that this might be not only Gray’s final appearance as an Athletic but also he very well could be dealt on the current road trip in New York or in Toronto
2 Sonny appreciated the ovation and is ready for the A’s move as he realizes this is part of the business of baseball as of Thursday night the Houston Astros are pursuing him vigorously
3 Gray who has pitched well over his last five starts and certainly has showcased well for any team who might be interested
4 Chris Carter who was released by the New York Yankees this month has signed a minor league contract with the A’s triple A affiliate in Nashville. Carter formerly played with the A’s in 2010-12
5 How about former A’s rightfielder Shane Peterson who came back to the Coliseum for the Tampa Bay Rays and replaced the Rays Steven Souza who was injured sliding into second in the top of the first inning Wednesday afternoon. Peterson had four at bats for Tampa Bay and struck out four times. Also former Athletic Trevor Plouffe who played first for the Rays Wednesday hit ninth and went 0-3 with a walk
New York Mets’ Yoenis Cespedes (52) and Jose Reyes, right, celebrate with teammates after the Mets’ 7-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in a baseball game Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
by Jerry Feitelberg
NEW YORK–The Oakland A’s begin a seven-game road trip Friday night in the Big Apple against the New York Mets. The Mets, led by skipper Terry Collins, have a record of 43-50 and are in third place in the National League East eleven games behind the first-place Washington Nationals.
The Mets, who just two seasons ago, were National League champions. The Mets, however, were not able to repeat their success in 2016 and the 2017 season appears to be heading south. The Mets’ starting rotation, which just two years ago looked stacked, has seen their young stars land on the disabled list. The Mets, currently, have four starters on the DL. The names are Noah Syndergaard out with a torn right lat muscle. Matt Harvey out with a stress injury to his right shoulder, Tommy Milone out with a left knee sprain, and Robert Gsellman out with a left hamstring strain. Their closer, Jeurys Familia is on the 60-day DL as he is recovering from surgery to his right arm.
The Mets also have two position players on the DL, too. Second baseman Neil Walker is on the ten-day DL with a hamstring issue and third baseman David Wright is on the 60-day DL due to a cervical disc herniation.
The Mets, like the A’s, appear to be sellers as the July 31st trading deadline nears. Players that could be moved include first baseman, Lucas Duda, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, outfielders Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson, as well as closer Addison Reed.The Yankees were rumored to be interested in Duda, but after the trade with the White Sox, that will not happen. Jay Bruce is hitting .266 with 24 homers and 63 RBIs and would be a welcome addition to several teams. Granderson is on the downside of his career but he, too, could help a contender. Addison Reed, who has 16 saves this year, could also shore up a contender’s bullpen. The Mets will be making decisions very shortly on these players. If they don’t get traded by the 31st, they still could be moved later via the waiver process.
So who will the A’s be playing against this weekend? The A’s will face Steven Matz (2-3, 4.48 ERA), Rafael Montero (1-6,4.58), and Zack Wheeler (3-7, 4.98 ERA). They will not face their best pitcher Jacob deGrom or Seth Lugo. Lugo pitched Thursday against the St.Louis Cardinals. The big bats for the Mets are Duda, former Athletic Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Michael Conforto, and Granderson. The infield is made up by veterans Jose Reyes, Wilmer Flores, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Lucas Duda.
The series should be interesting as it is a matchup of the rebuilding Oakland A’s going against a team that is older and appears to be on the way down. Tha A’s still have a few veterans such as Rajai Davis, Matt Joyce, Yonder Alonso, and Jed Lowrie. Davis and Joyce have seen their playing time decrease as the A’s are playing Jaycob Brugman in center field and Chad Pinder in right. Pinder is still on the DL but he will return soon, and the A’s will play him at either second base or in right field. The trade market for Jed Lowrie does not appear to exist, and the Yankees interest in Alonso is gone. Both Lowrie and Alonso are free agents at the end of the season.
After the three- game series with the Mets, the A’s travel to Toronto to play a four-game series with the Blue Jays.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray works against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
by Jerry Feitelberg
OAKLAND– The A’s, behind the pitching of Sonny Gray, won the finale of the three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays by a score of 7-2. Gray went six and 1/3rd innings and allowed seven hits and two runs. He walked two and stuck out six as he earned his sixth victory of the 2017 campaign. Gray won his third straight start and fourth in his last five. The A’s bullpen of Daniel Coulombe, Liam Hendriks, and Santiago Casilla shut down the Rays the rest of the way. The Rays rookie sensation Jake Faria, who started his big league career with seven straight quality starts, absorbed his first setback as a member of the Rays. His record is now 4-1.
The Tampa Bay Rays scored the first two runs of the game in the fourth inning. Third baseman Evan Longoria led off the frame with a single. Logan Morrison followed with a single to put men on at first and third with no out. Rays’ catcher Willson Ramos hit one of the longest singles on record when he rifled a shot into the gap in right-center-field to drive in Longoria with the Rays’ first run. Morrison was held at third on the play. Morrison scored when Brad Miller hit into a fielder’s choice. Gray got out of the inning when he got Tim Beckham to hit into a 5-4-3 double play. The Rays lead 2-0
The A’s put a crooked number in the bottom of the fifth as they scored four times. The Rays’ starter Jake Faria gave up three walks, two wild pitches, and three hits as the A’s gave Sonny Gray a two-run lead after five complete. Faria walked Bruce Maxwell to start the inning. He struck out Matt Chapman but walked Jaycob Brugman to put men on at first and second with just one out. Rajai Davis hit a fly ball down the right field line that was just fair and bounced into the stands for a ground rule double. Maxwell scored on the play. Matt Joyce drove in Brugman with a sacrifice fly to center. The A’s scored the third run of the inning when Faria uncorked a wild pitch. It was the third game in a row that the A’s have scored a run on a wild pitch. Marcus Semien then singled, and he advanced to second on Faria second wild pitch of the inning. Yonder Alonso singled to drive in Semien with the A’ fourth run of the game. The A’s sent eight men to the plate thanks to Faria’s wildness.
The A’s plated another run in the bottom of the sixth. Andrew Kittredge was now on the mound for the Rays. Jed Lowrie greeted him with a solid double to right field. With one out, Matt Chapman singled sharply to center field. Lowrie had to hold up in case the ball was caught and he was not able to score. A’s manager Bob Melvin decided it was time to play small ball and he had Jaycob Brugman execute a suicide squeeze bunt. Lowrie scored, and Chapman advanced to third. There was no more scoring in the inning, and the A’s now own a 5-2 lead heading into the seventh inning.
The A’s dodged a bullet in the top of the seventh. Former A’s third baseman, Trevor Plouffe, reached on Marcus Semien’s second fielding error of the game. Gray struck out Shane Peterson for the first out. Gray’s pitch count reached 104, and Bob Melvin brought in lefty Daniel Coulombe to pitch. Corey Dickerson singled to put men on at first and second, but Coulombe was able to get the ever-dangerous Evan Longoria to hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. The A’s put another run on the board in the seventh inning.Marcus Semien walked leading off. He went to second when Yonder Alonso was hit by a pitch. Jed Lowrie singled to load the bases. Semien scored on a Bruce Maxwell ground out. The A’s lead by four 6-2 after seven complete.
Matt Joyce hit a solo home run with two out in the eighth to give the A’s the lead 7-2. For Joyce, it was his 12th dinger of the season, and he hit it about 12 rows deep into the BBQ terrace in right field. The A’s brought in Santiago Casilla to close out the game, and he retired the side to end the game.
Game Notes- With the win, the A’s improved to 4-2 on the homestand. The A’s are off on Thursday to the Big Apple to play the New York Mets for three games over the weekend. Paul Blackburn, Sean Manaea, and Daniel Gossett will pitch for the A’s, and the Mets will counter with Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and Rafael Montero.
The Rays Steven Souza, Jr suffered a right hip strain when he attempted to steal second in the first inning.
The A’s committed two errors on Wednesday and now have 82 for the year. They have allowed 55 unearned runs which are the most in the Majors. Opponents have stolen 77 bases on the A’s and that, too, leads the Majors. They also have the third fewest outfield assists in the American League.
The A’s are now 43-52 for the year and the Rays fall to 51-45. They trail the Red Sox by two in the AL East but the deficit could be three if the Red Sox beat the Blue Jays later in the day.
AP File Photo: The Houston Astros Josh Reddick takes a dive back into first base with the New York Yankees first baseman Chris Carter covering during their July 2 at Minute Maid Field in Houston. Carter is rumored to be an interest of the A’s during the trade deadline.
On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:
1) Billy Beane just used the “R-word” to talk about what is happening with the A’s right now. Why is the moneyball man suddenly talking about REBUILDING after avoiding the concept for almost 20 years?
2) The A’s beat the Indians in dramatic fashion on Saturday night and we when woke up on Sunday morning we found out Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson were on their way to Washington. Were you surprised by this move and talk to us about who Oakland received in the trade?
3) There has been so much focus on Sonny Gray – is still going away and if yes, where?
4) What about the All-star Yonder Alonso – is still a goner as well?
5) Who else could be leaving Oakland soon?
6) They have been rumors that Chris Carter – who was released by the Yankees could be wearing green and gold soon – why?
Tampa Bay Rays’ Shane Peterson watches his RBI single off Oakland Athletics’ Santiago Casilla during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 18, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
by Jerry Feitelberg
OAKLAND– The Tampa Bay Rays, currently in second place in the AL East, pulled out a win as they rallied to score two runs in the top of the ninth to beat the A’s 4-3. The A’s starter, Chris Smith, pitched well enough to win. He went seven innings and allowed 2 runs, one of which was unearned, on just three hits. Smith was trying to win his first game in the Majors since June 24th, 2008 when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox. Blake Treinen retired the Rays in order in the eighth. Santiago Casilla retired the first two Rays’ hitters in the ninth but could not record the final out. Not only did Casilla blow the save, but he also had to absorb the loss. The game summary follows below.
It was the Rajai and Khris Davis show in the bottom of the first inning. Rajai led off the inning with a single. Rays’ starter Blake Snell struck out the next two hitters, but Rajai stole second when Marcus Semien went down swinging, and he swiped third when Ryon Healy was at bat. Khris Davis made Rajai’s efforts all for naught as he blasted his 27th round tripper of the year to deep left center field to give the A’s an early 2-0. Snell, however, did strike out the side.
The Rays scored an unearned run in the top of the second inning. A’s starter Chris Smith walked Logan Morrison to start the frame. Morrison advanced to third when Matt Chapman misplayed Willson Ramos’ rocket shot for an error. Morrison was able to go from first to third on the play. Brad Miller hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Morrison with the Rays first run of the game.
The Rays tied the game in the third when Steven Souza, Jr. hit a line shot into the seats in left field for his 20th of the year. It was the second night in a row that Souza led off an inning with a solo homer to left.
The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Snell walked Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie to put men on at first and second with no out. Matt Chapman hit a fly ball to deep center field that allowed Davis to tag up and motor to third. For the second night in a row, the A’s scored a run on a wild pitch. Snell’s pitch got by Willson Ramos and Davis made it home safely. The A’s now lead 3-2 after four innings of play.
The Rays rallied, with two out, to score two runs on the strength of a single, walk, and two more singles off Santiago Casilla. Casilla recorded another blown save and is line to take the loss. Rays Alex Colome retired the A’s in the bottom half of the inning to record his 28th save of the season. The Rays win 4-3.
Game Notes- The A’s are now 42-52 for the year while the Rays improve to 51-44 and are just a game and a half behind the Boston Red Sox at the moment. Rays manager Kevin Cash was ejected in the fifth inning as he objected to home plate umpire Bill Welke’s third strike call on Steven Souza. It was Cash’s third ejection of the year and seventh of his career.
The A’s play the Rays again on Wednesday at 12:35 pm. Sonny Gray will pitch for Oakland and Jake Faria will go for Tampa Bay.
Time of game was two hours and fifty minutes and 15,231 fans saw the Rays rally to defeat the A’s.
Oakland- After sweeping the Cleveland Indians over the weekend, Oakland was hoping to continue their success against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The A’s starter, Daniel Gossett pitched one of his better games as a member of the A’s. Gossett went seven innings and allowed seven hits. However, two of the hits were solo homers, and he left the game trailing 3-1. The A’s rallied to score a run in the ninth, but it was not enough as the Rays were able to hold on for a 3-2 win.
The Rays’ starter, Jake Odorizzi stymied the A’s for seven innings. Odorizzi’s allowed just one hit, and that was a solo homer to Khris Davis. Odorizzi improved his record to 6-4 and Gossett’s record dropped to 1-5. Gossett had allowed eight homers in his first six starts and now has allowed ten this year. The game summary follows below.
The Rays’ right fielder, Stephen Souza Jr,, leading off the second inning, sent a Daniel Gossett pitch into the left field bleachers to give the Rays an early 1-0 lead. For Souza, it was his 19th round tripper of the year, and there was no doubt about when it left his bat. The Rays added a run in the top of the third. With one out, Gossett issued a walk to Mallex Smith. Smith advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a Corey Dickerson single. Evan Longoria reached on a fielder’s choice and that allowed Smith to record the Rays’ second run of the contest.
The A’s left fielder, Khris Davis, homered to right center field with one out to make it a 2-1 game. For Davis, it was his 26th homer of the season and it was the A’s first hit of the game.
The Rays’ Evan Longoria hit a solo homer in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. It was Longoria’s 14th of the year.
There was no more scoring in the game until the bottom of the ninth. Yonder Alonso led off with a double. He advanced to third on a ground out by Jed Lowrie. The Rays’ closer, Alex Colome uncorked a wild pitch and Alonso was able to score on the play. Colome retired Ryon Healy for the final out of the game to secure the win for the Rays.
Game notes- With the win, the Rays moved within two games of the AL East lead as the Red Sox lost to Toronto Monday night. The A’s managed just two hits in the game. Davis had the home run, and Yonder Alonso led off the ninth with a double off Rays’ closer Alex Colome.
The A’s used three pitchers in the game. Blake Treinen, acquired from the Washington Nationals in the trade for Doolittle and Madson, made his A’s debut and worked the eighth inning. He issued a walk but was able to retire the side with no damage. Michael Brady pitched the ninth for the A’s.
Time of game was two hours and forty-eight minutes. 9,736 people watched as the A’s lost their 51st game of 2017. The Attendance was the smallest crowd since May 2nd, 2011.
Game two of the three-game series will be played Tuesday night. It will be Root Beer Float night as the proceeds will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Righty Chris Smith will take the mound for Oakland, and lefty Blake Snell will pitch for Tamp Bay. Neither pitcher has a victory this year. Smith is 0-0 will Snell owns a record of 0-5.
Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien, right, prepares his throw over Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor (12) to complete a double play in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Indians’ Michael Brantley was out at first base. Oakland won 7-3. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP photo on the cover: Oakland Athletics’ Jaycob Brugman swings for a two run single off Cleveland Indians’ Trevor Bauer in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
By Morris Phillips
OAKLAND–Billy Beane agrees. The annual A’s roster purges, both maddening and philosophically necessary, have to stop. Even the long-time Oakland front office executive says after 20 years, dealing popular players, familiar faces–practices that he himself originated as a way to field a competitive team on a limited budget–has grown joyless.
“We need to change that narrative by creating a good team and ultimately committing to keep them around so that when people buy a ticket, they know that the team is going to be around for a few years,” Beane said Sunday.
That Beane’s statement comes on the occasion of another trade deadline deal, this one sending veteran relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to the Nationals for reliever Blake Treinen and two notable minor leaguers, isn’t contradictory, he says, because this will be the last wave of such trades, in advance of the building of a new, Oakland ballpark and the financial wherewithal that comes along with the new yard.
So this time, the rebuild has a target date, a definitive purpose, an end to the means. Just no ballpark site, or groundbreaking date, as of yet. After saying the location of the new park would be revealed at some point during the current season, the club know vows to have an announcement before the end of the year.
“Finding players has never been an issue for us,” Beane said. “Keeping them and ultimately keeping the faith and commitment from people who follow the team, that’s got to be done by keeping them around. Again, I’ve been assured by ownership that that’s what we’re going to do as it parallels with the stadium.”
According the latest trade rumors, Jed Lowrie will be moved prior to July 31, and so will Sonny Gray, now two years after the possibility of moving the team’s most talented, young pitcher was first realized.
So tell me again, what’s different this time?
“The important end of the sentence is rebuilding and keeping them,” Beane reiterated. “This is my 20th year on the job. There are only so many cycles that I can go through before I get as exasperated as everybody else.”
After saying goodbye to Doolittle and Madson, the A’s kept their heads and feet in the win column, beating the AL Central-leading Indians for the third, straight day, 7-3.
First inning, RBI singles by Ryon Healy and Jaycob Brugman–each delivered in two-strike counts–both frustrated and chased Indians’ starter Trevor Bauer before he could record three outs. The A’s four-run, first inning was a collaborative effort; Bauer provided the traffic on the basepaths with three walks, and Brugman and Healy contributed the big hits.
Bauer was lifted after throwing 43 pitches, saying he had little feel for how his body was moving, or where his pitches were going. For Cleveland, trying to avoid a first, four-game losing streak since 2015, Bauer’s short appearance was an ominous sign.
“You’re trying to salvage a game out of the series and you’re down four before you can even look up,” manager Terry Francona said. “That’s a hard way to play, and then you go through your whole bullpen. That wasn’t our goal for today.”
Sean Manaea was the beneficiary of the early offense, which he helped stand up courtesy of his wicked slider that baffled Cleveland hitters for seven innings.
Against a righty-heavy lineup constructed to avoid Manaea’s proficiency against lefty hitters, only Francisco Lindor enjoyed any success with a four-hit game. The A’s starter did the job on the rest of the Cleveland lineup, allowing only the two runs in the fourth inning.
The A’s continue their brief, six-game home stand on Monday against the Rays, with rookie Daniel Gossett facing Tampa’s Jake Odorizzi.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray works against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 14, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
By Matthew Harrington
OAKLAND, Calif. – The good news for Oakland A’s fans is that Sonny Gray pitched like his former Cy Young contender self in a 5-0 win over the visiting Cleveland Indians Friday night. The bad news is it means he may be pitching his way out of Green and Gold.
While rumors of a trade of the A’s ace to the Chicago Cubs were twirling around Twitter, Gray was spinning a gem to outduel Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco and his 10 K’s. Gray fired six scoreless innings with 4 punch outs and two-hits to Carrasco’s six hits and five runs. Yonder Alonso and Rajai Davis both hit solo homeruns in a two-run 5th inning. Matt Joyce and Marcus Semien also knocked in runs in a two-run 3rd. Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Santiago Casilla struck out 6 Indians out of the bullpen in an inning each to close out the win.
“It’s one of those things that you just have to deal with sometimes,” said Gray on late rumors that he was a scratch for the start and movement was imminent. “Whatever happens, happens. It’s out of my control.”
Gray (5-4) didn’t allow a hit until Cleveland had one out in the top of the third. He’d give up another in the inning, but escape unscathed. From there the Indians were hitless over Gray’s in-game tenure, with the righty departing after the 6th after throwing 100 pitches, 62 for strikes.
The 27-year-old hurler has now pitched in four-straight contests allowing 2 runs or fewer. During that stretch he has lowered his ERA over a full-point from 4.84 to 3.72. He’s pitched at least 6 innings in all of those starts, rebounding from a 5 inning, 5 run loss to the Astros June 20th.
“He’s pitched really well since he’s come back,” Said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “He’s had a couple bad innings, but the stuff has been there. When he’s gotten onto a roll pitching deeper into games and being healthy we’re seeing what we’re getting right now. We’ve seen it before. He pitched really well.”
The A’s (40-50) also were being no-hit by Carrasco into the 3rd, but Rajai Davis kick started the offense with a single. He scored from first base after Matt Joyce ripped a ball into the gap in right center. Davis originally hesitated rounding 2nd, but decided to go for home. Bradley Zimmer’s throw crept towards the first base side of the plate, but Yan Gomes dove back to the plate to make the tag. His mitt connected with the hand of a head-first sliding Davis a beat too late for a 1-0 lead. Joyce took third on the throw home and would score on Marcus Semien’s sacrifice fly in the next at-bat.
“(Davis) can impact the game in any number of ways,” said Melvin. “With Jaycob Brugman being sick today he got a start against a righty, a guy that he’s had some at-bats against. His best work has come here these last five or six games.”
Carrasco (10-4) allowed a single to Bruce Maxwell in the bottom of the 4th, but nothing came of it for the A’s. The last of the 5th started off with a bang though, with Davis taking Carrasco deep for his 3rd homer of the season. Davis, who provided the Game 7 heroics with a homer of Aroldis Chapman as a member of the Indians in the World Series last year, hit a looping fly ball over the out of town scoreboard in left for a 3-0 lead.
“It was definitely like a reunion,” said Davis.
After the next two hitters struck out, Oakland’s lone 2017 All-Star Yonder Alonso continued the downhill half of the season with his 21st homer of the season on a no-doubter to right-center field. Alonso’s 21 homers are more than double his single-season best of 9 as a member of the Padres in 2012 and good for more than 1/3 of his 8 year career total of 60. Like Gray, due to his upcoming free agency, Alonso may be playing his way onto a contender come July 31st.
The A’s scored another run charged to Carrasco after Matt Chapman smoked a triple to open the bottom of the 7th. Carrasco gave way to a pair of relievers after 6 1/3, with righty Nick Goody’s wild pitch closing the book on his pitching line after Chapman crossed home.
Brentwood Native Paul Blackburn draws the unenviable task of taking the hill Saturday against Cleveland’s 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber for the middle game of the two-game series. Sean Manaea looks to continue his bounce-back season with his first start of the second half, drawing a match-up against Drone enthusiast Trevor Bauer.
