Category: Oakland Athletics

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary Part 2: Is the fixing up of the Coliseum a prelude to selling the A’s?; Kaval exploring Lake Merritt or Jack London Square for new A’s stadium

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sfgate.com photo: Oakland A’s computer animation of A’s Jack London Square Waterfront ball park at the Howard Terminal is one plan for the A’s new stadium in downtown Oakland

On the podcast with Amaury Part two:

I’m a fan of A’s team president David Kaval not because I do the Oakland A’s Spanish broadcasts on radio. The man has a vision for his team he’s a young man he’s in his 40s. He married a lady from the Bay Area, he went to Stanford he’s a very smart person. He will reach his goal of building a new park for the A’s. He did the same thing for the MLS San Jose Earthquakes with Avaya Stadium he built a beautiful park for pro soccer.

Things are changing yes it’s like putting lip stick on a pig but we know that Kaval is trying. I remember when the San Francisco Giants former team managing partner Peter Magowan when he had the team move to AT&T Park . When Magowan first took over he did do a lot of team renovations to Candlestick Park when he and team president Larry Baer first took over the team in 1993. Kaval is taking action much in the same way making the park inviting for kids and families. Making it affordable with $15 seats on the third deck and for fans who want to see the A’s take batting practice letting them in early on Tuesday nights at 4:30PM. It’s going to be interesting to see how the A’s get their new park.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio talent, the LA Angels Spanish TV talent and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

The A’s meet the NL East cellar dwellers, the Miami Marlins to start inter-league play Tuesday night at the Coliseum

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AP File Photo: LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 19: Miami Marlins Second base Dee Gordon (9) whose been struggling at the plate faces the Oakland A’s this Tuesday takes a dives back into first base to avoid the tag from Los Angeles Dodgers Outfield Cody Bellinger (35) during the game between the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 19, 2017, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by David Dennis/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s buoyed be winning three out four from the Boston Red Sox and improving their record to 20-24, welcome the Miami Marlins to the Coliseum Tuesday night.

The A’s have had some bright spots so far this season. The team leads the American League with 64 home runs but have knocked in just 168runs. First baseman Yonder Alonso is hitting much better than last year and has hit twelve homers. Khris Davis is fourth in the Majors with 13 dingers. Other players that are hitting the ball out of the park are Ryon Healy, Chad Pinder, Mark Canha, and Jed Lowrie. However, the team batting average of .237 is ranked 25th out of 30.

The A’s also have some negatives. The A’s are ranked 21st in pitching as the team ERA is 4.40. Andrew Triggs has been the most reliable starter but was the losing pitcher on Sunday. Sonny Gray seem to be returning to form. Kendall Graveman has been consistent, but Sean Manaea and Jesse Hahn have not. The pitchers need to go deeper into the games and take the stress of the bullpen. The A’s now have Ryan Dull, Sean Doolittle, and John Axford on the DL. Dull is dealing with a knee issue, and there is no time set for his return. Doolittle and Axford have shoulder problems. Axford is due back soon, but Doolittle’s return is uncertain. A’s manager Bob Melvin has to be very judicious in making sure that he doesn’t wear out his relievers but that task is so difficult when the starters don’t go deep into the games.

The A’s will have a chance to creep closer to the .500 mark as the face the Miami Marlins for two games starting Tuesday night. The Marlins are 15-28 so far and appear to be on their way to their eighth consecutive losing season. They just finished a 1-8 homestand and have lost 19 of their last 23 games. The Marlins lost their best pitcher Jose Fernandez last year in a horrible boating accident. The loss of Fernandez still seems to hang over the team. The team, managed by Don Mattingly, has the highest payroll in franchise history but is only one game better than the 1998 team that lost 108 games at this point in the season.

The Marlins do have some pretty good players. Their outfield of Marcel Ozuna, Giancarlo Stanton, and Christian Yelich is nothing to sneeze at. Ozuna is hitting .311 with 11 homers and 30 RBIs. Superstar Stanton also has 11 homers and 30 RBIs to go along with a batting average of .261. Center-fielder Christian Yelich has 6 homers, 21 RBIs and owns a batting average of .258.

Marlins’ second baseman Dee Gordon is not having a good season. Gordon was suspended last year for 80 games for PED use. He has not regained his form and is mentioned as possible trade bait. Gordon’s average is about .260. Fist Baseman Justin Bour is another power hitter, and he also has hit 11 homers and knocked in 28. Derek Dietrich is playing third as Martin Prado is on the DL. J T Riddle is at short as Adelny Hechevarria is also on the DL. J.T. Realmuto is handling the catching chores, and he comes in with a .301 average, and he has some power with 3 dingers and 17 RBIs.

The Marlins starting rotation does not appear to scare anyone. The starters are Edinson Volquez, former Athletic Dan Straily, Jose Urena, lefty Justin Nicolino, and Vance Worley. Hardly any of them are household names although Volquez won a ring with the Kansas City Royals. The only familiar name on the list of relievers is Brad Ziegler who broke into baseball with the A’s. A.J. Ramos is the closer and has 4 saves to his credit this year.

The pitching matchups for the series will be Jesse Hahn going against Miami’s Jose Urena Tuesday night and Sonny Gray versus Edinson Volquez Wednesday afternoon. Volquez has yet to win a game for the Marlins this year.

Following the short two-game series with the Marlins, the A’s are off to New York for the three against the AL East leaders. After that series, the A’ travel to Cleveland to meet the 2016 AL Champions, the Indians for four games. The A’s, who have not played well on the road, will have their work cut out for them.

 

MLB Podcast The Show with Matt Harrington: The A’s take three out of four from the Sox; Pinder, Davis, and Canha a series of the longball

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Oakland Athletics’ Chad Pinder (18) is congratulated after hitting a two-run home run that scored Ryon Healy (25) against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, May 21, 2017. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

On the MLB The Show with Matt Harrington:

1.  The A’s certainly had a series with the Red Sox nearly taking four straight, they had plenty of offense in the series something that had A’s manager Bob Melvin was concerned about after having about the listless hitting from the last road trip in Texas and Seattle but Khris Davis, Chad Pinder, and Mark Canha made use of the lumber to lead the A’s to three straight wins over the Boston Red Sox to start the current homestand.

2. Pinder hit a tape measure homer that helped the Athletics on Saturday and the A’s got their third victory over a Red Sox team that everyone was concerned about after that road trip where they won only one game in six.

3.  In the series against the Sox it seems like the offense is jelling together and even though they got laughed out of the yard on Sunday 12-3 the A’s are set for the Marlins series on Tuesday night after taking Monday off. It’s a brief two game series but the A’s want to make the best of it as they try to gain ground in the AL West race’

4. The A’s on Saturday were happy with their handy work as they won that ball game on 8-3 and scored two runs in each of the first, fifth, and sixth innings off the visiting Sox

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcast each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s inability to defend, shut down Red Sox’s running game costs them a four-game sweep

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–On Saturday, the A’s were Murderer’s Row. On Sunday, the same nine guys populated the starting lineup, but the collective was something far less, the difference between an easy win the first day, and a lopsided loss the next.

The change? The A’s defense took a rest.

Aided by three Oakland errors and several misplays, the Red Sox rebounded, avoiding a four-game sweep with a 12-3 whipping of the A’s at the Coliseum.

“Coming in here you say, ‘Give us three of four, we’ll take it.’ Granted, once you win three games, you get greedy and want to win the last game,” manager Bob Melvin said.  “And it felt like we had them on the run a little bit. And then they get the lead, and we come back and take the lead again, and you feel pretty good. But they were pretty persistent today.”

Persistence was the sum of 15 Red Sox base hits, four stolen bases and a trio of two-out RBI knocks, more than enough to overcome the A’s brief 3-2 lead after four innings.  Boston would take the lead for good with two runs in the fifth. They added on with two in the sixth, one in the eighth, and five more in the ninth.

Eduardo Rodriguez pitched a season-best eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk, to grab the win. Rodriguez shedded the hard luck label he’s worn thus far this season as five of his previous eight starts left him with a no-decision.  For Red Sox Nation, likely inconsolable after three straight losses, Rodriguez was everything and more for a rotation that hasn’t had David Price all season, and has watched Rick Porcello struggle.

“We’ve seen it now on this road trip (in) the two starts for Eddie,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of his starting pitcher. “It’s been the fifth and sixth innings have been keys for him where we’ve scored, he’s gone out and had quick innings, shutdown innings. And I think that’s been huge for him in his evolution as a pitcher.”

A’s starter Andrew Triggs didn’t pitch poorly, but his inability to slow Boston on the basepaths cost him, as much as the ragged defense behind him.

In the sixth, Triggs allowed a two-run shot to Mitch Moreland, the 19th time the former Texas Ranger has homered against the A’s in his career.  Earlier, the second batter of the game, Dustin Pedroia hit a bloop single down the line, but it turned into much more when Mark Canha fielded it in right, spun towards second base and threw the ball to no one. That allowed Pedroia to take second base, and allowed baserunner Mookie Betts to score the game’s first run from first base.

Chad Pinder would misplay a grounder in the second, and catcher Josh Phegley later unleashed a poor throw, increasing the A’s errors to a major league-worst 42.

Triggs walked three as well, and didn’t do much of a job holding runners on base. Those missteps had Boston running at every opportunity, and as a result the A’s saw their AL-worst total in opponents’ stolen bases jump to 38.

“Today, I was being a little bit too fine. I let guys get on base, and then from there you’re not wanting to let things to compound like they did on the Moreland homer,” Triggs said. “I was trying to be a little bit too fine.”

The homering A’s made a cameo appearance in the fourth when Chad Pinder went deep for the second straight day.  Pinder’s two-run shot wasn’t the once-in-a-generational bomb he hit Saturday, but it came off Rodriguez, who dealt other than that moment, and gave the A’s a lead.

For Melvin, the issue is simple.  His A’s lead the AL in home runs with 64 after 44 games, but of the team’s top seven home run threats, five are below average defenders.  All five–Trevor Plouffe, Ryon Healy, Khris Davis, Pinder and Canha–were in the A’s lineup on Sunday when the errors, mental gaffes and miscues snowballed.

Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso, the two plus defenders on the list, will occasionally lose playing time to Pinder and Healy, due to the latter pair’s youth and promise.  In the short run, that factor also weakens the A’s defense.

A lot to ponder for Melvin and Billy Beane as they chart the direction of the team.

On Tuesday, the A’s resume their homestand against the Miami Marlins with Jessie Hahn facing the Marlins’ Jose Urena at 7:05 pm.

All of a sudden, and out of nowhere, Oakland is the epicenter for home runs win 8-3; A’s take three straight from Sox in four game series

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND-The first home run, off Mark Canha’s bat, was a blast. The media address would soon label it 453 feet in length.

Khris Davis, the guy most likely to have role in such a gargantuan display, launched his next, over the centerfield wall. A majestic shot that bounced off the support for the centerfield camera deck, Davis’ shot with a runner aboard gave the A’s a sixth-inning lead.

Holy Toledo! The familiar refrain flashed on that new neon display just a few feet behind where Davis’ ball came to rest.

Then two batters later, Chad Pinder tagged the longest home run measured in the big leagues this season, and one of a handful of the biggest home runs in the history of the Oakland Coliseum at 460 feet, then measured by a different system as 485 feet.

Three monster home runs, more than a quarter-mile in length, in one inning? Even with the reaction within the stadium muted due to the heavy presence of Red Sox fans, the display felt like the second coming of the Bash Brothers.

“It seems like they got longer and longer,” manager Bob Melvin said after being relegated to a vantage point in front of a big-screen TV following a second inning ejection. “Canha crushed that ball. K.D., we’ve seen it, and the Pinder one, I don’t even know how to explain that.”

Pinder, the sneaky tall and freakishly strong author of the mega homer, couldn’t add much to Melvin’s explanation, but just like the saying, his soft speaking accompanies his big bat.

“It’s one of those swings where you kind of just black out,” Pinder said. “You see it and you hit it, and you don’t know what happens after.”

Well, compared to the how, the what is easy. A conundrum of clout, built on an impressive platform of power, that being the 25 home runs the A’s hit in their previous 13 games, the outburst of three prodigious blasts in one inning announced the mostly youthful A’s collection of sluggers as the American League’s undeniable, new source of power.

Now, 43 games into the season, the A’s, not the mighty Yankees, lead the senior circuit in home runs with 63.  And it’s not just the toy tank, Davis, or the suddenly powerful Yonder Alonso.  It’s Canha, finally regaining his health, it’s Ryon Healy, it’s the timeless, sneaky power of Jed Lowrie.

And Pinder? Deserving of a category of his own.

“It’s not a surprise,” Melvin said. “Everyone we have in development, from our hitting coaches to the managers that have had him, rave about him. He’s a bat, for sure. It’s finding a position for him. It might be the versatility and playing some outfield that ends up being the right spot for him. But he can hit, and he’s done it everywhere he’s gone.”

Pinder’s homer came without a toe tap, or repositioning of his feet, making it a feat of upper body strength.  The swing was violent, the pitch poorly executed, and the flight of the ball otherworldly. It landed above the lowest level of outfield suites, in the middle third of the seats within Mount Davis.

Reminiscent of home runs hit by Larry Walker in 1999, and the Giants’ Jarrett Parker of the Giants in last year’s Bay Bridge Series, Pinder’s shot made an impression. Capping a five-run fifth, it helped turn a one-run deficit into an A’s 7-3 lead, and made an impression on the struggling Red Sox, who have dropped three straight in Oakland, after winning both games in an abbreviated series in St. Louis.

Sean Manaea outlasted former Athletic Drew Pomeranz to earn the win, with Manaea slogging through five innings, and Pomeranz lasting just four, but needing 97 pitches to get there.  Manaea didn’t walk anybody, but did allow a home run to Hanley Ramirez.

The pitching star for the A’s undoubtedly was Frankie Montas, who followed Manaea with three innings of scoreless relief. Melvin lauded Montas after the game as a guy who’s establishing himself as a reliable, versatile arm out of the bullpen. Montas had his breaking pitches going–along with his signature 100 mph heater–in striking out five of the 11 batters he faced.

The A’s look for the rare, four-game sweep on Sunday with Andrew Triggs on the mound. Lefty Eduardo Rodriguez goes for the Sox, a fill-in for a Boston rotation that is currently without David Price.

Chris Sale Historic, But A’s Make It Memorable with 3-2 Extra Innings Walk-off Over Red Sox

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Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha smiles as he does an interview after being hit in the face with shaving cream following his solo walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox on Friday, May 19, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 3-2. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics survived becoming history at the hands of Chris Sale, then walked off to a 3-2 win against the Boston Red Sox Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Mark Canha opened the bottom of the tenth inning with a moonshot to left field to win the game after tripling in a run in the fifth inning. Khris Davis doubled home a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2.

Boston scored first in the fourth on a two run homer by Mitch Moreland, with the two runs looming large with ace Chris Sale on the mound. Sale pitched seven innings of 10 strikeout ball, his eighth straight game with ten-plus K’s, but wound up with the no-decision. Sale has now performed the feat twice, joining only Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez.

Moreland hit his second homer in as many nights, taking starter Kendall Graveman deep to the stairs in right field, plating Xander Bogaerts in the process for a 2-0 Boston lead. Graveman would settle down against a deep Red Sox lineup though, throwing six innings and striking out five. He’d turn the game over to Ryan Madson, Liam Hendriks, Santiago Casilla and winning pitcher Ryan Dull (2-2, 6.32 ERA) who all threw scoreless innings.

The A’s rallied back on after Ryon Healy singled with one out. Canha hit a fly ball to right that Mookie Betts took a bad route to, allowing Healy to score and Canha to reach third. Sale would punch out Chad Pinder then get Josh Phegley to fly out to end the inning.

Oakland wasn’t done yet though, with Rajai Davis opening the sixth with a single. After Sale coaxed a pop out from Rosales, Jed Lowrie singled to move Davis over to second. Davis then unleashed a ringing double to score Davis and put Lowrie at third, tying the game in the process. Sale would strike out Plouffe and Healy to keep the game tied.

After Joe Kelly pitched a scoreless eighth, Sox manager John Farrell tabbed closer Craig Kimbrel with the ninth. The former All-Star got two quick outs, but nearly wound up the loser after Healy connected on a deep drive to center field. Boston center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. had other ideas though, tracking the ball all the way to the wall then leapt and stretch to his left, pulling the game-winning bid into his mitt to save the game, for an inning at least.

“I thought it was out. I thought it was a home run,” said Canha. “You never expect a guy to jump up and make an amazing play like that. But then when it happened, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, it’s Jackie Bradley out there.’”

With Heath Hembree (0-2, 4.29) inserted into the game, Canha teed off on the first pitch he saw. Canha gave Oakland its fourth walk-off win of the year, blasting his second homer of the year in the process.

“I couldn’t even tell you what pitch it was unless I saw the replay,” said Canha. “It just kind of popped out of his hand, and I saw it really well and put a good swing on it.”

The Sox look for revenge Saturday with Drew Pomeranz, a former A’s starter and reliever, on the bump. Lefty Sean Manaea looks to give Oakland the series win.

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Could the Oakland Athletics be for sale?; Kaval studying other sites for A’s

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New Oakland Athletics President Dave Kaval holds his first open office hours, speaking to Saint Mary’s College sophomores Michael Doran, left, and Ryan Mitchell, center, both 19 and longtime A’s fans, at the Oakland Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Janie McCauley)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

OAKLAND– They say “everything is for sale, for the right price”. That has not changed even in this twitter-text-e-mail-facebook-uber world we are living today.

I remember not very long ago when Andy Dolich (used to be Business manager for the Athletics in the 1980’s) gathered an eclectic group of investors to buy the Athletics and keep them in Oakland. This was after the San Francisco Giants built their current park by the bay and rumors were swirling the Athletics might leave town. That never happened. Nevertheless Andy put the very respectable group of investors lead by the Save-Mart company, the Clorox company(headquarters in Oakland) George Zimmer of the Wearhouse and others. I was at the rally at Fremont, where A’s supporters were behind the idea of the team building a park in Fremont, currently the fourth most populated city in the Bay Area, San José for years was rumored to be the new place for the A’s to have their own ballpark, and us, who have lived here in the bay area for a long time can even remember when Sacramento was the leading city for an A’s move.

Let’s move to the present. The Oakland Athletics now have a new team President. David Kaval, also the San Jose Earthquakes President. Kaval replaces Michael Crowley who was the Athletics team President close to 20 years; now he is an adviser for the team. Lew Wolff is selling all but keeping a small stake of the Oakland Athletics and giving up his managing partner role and turned over leadership of the franchise to John Fisher. The “numero uno”goal of this team is seeking a new Oakland location for their new ballpark.

Team President Michael Crowley is stepping away from day-to-day operations after nearly 20 years in the role but will advise the A’s ownership group. The new Oakland Athletics President Dave Kaval will fill Crowley’s position while also keeping his same position with the San Jose Earthquakes.

In other words, their is a new administration in town, and their point man is David Kaval. The new A’s President visited our Spanish broadcast booth in April and told us (as we translated) that he will announce this year the new location where the A’s are going to build their new home. Under just a short time on the job Mr.Kaval has worked hard with the City of Oakland, on the “Rooted in Oakland”campaign, and to identify the Oakland Athletics with the city and their residents, while improving the Oakland Coliseum and making the fan experience a much better one, reminding all of the winning tradition of the Oakland A’s, naming the playing field at the Coliseum, “Rickey Henderson ” Field and listening to the fans, exploring new ideas. Mr Kaval is the best salesman the Athletics have right now.

With all these things happening, the potential is there for others to come over and be part of the A’s ownership. All is fair in business. Rob Manfred, who took over Bud Selig in 2015 and since then has been the Baseball Commissioner is happy that the Oakland Athletics, who have played in Oakland since 1968 will be staying in Oakland.

All-of-a-sudden, not than long ago when the A’s were rumored to be leaving Oakland, now they have their strongest position to stay in Oakland for many years to come, especially after the news that the Raiders are moving to Las Vegas and the Warriors to San Francisco.

Oakland will not even have the visit again of the great Ringling Brothers Circus who is closing after 100 years. So, what do you know? The tables have turned into the Oakland Athletics favor.

Living in a free enterprise/capitalistic country, we should never be surprised of a baseball team for sale. Let me make this very clear. The Athletics are not for sale The Miami Marlins are the one team for sale currently with four different groups trying to fish the Marlins, including Yankee great Derek Jeter and Jeb Bush ex-governor of Florida. However, but in the famous words of once Athletics pitcher Joaquin Andujar “you-never-know”.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the TV Spanish talent for the Angels, the radio Spanish for the A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sonny Gray finally finds his way to a win, and perhaps more

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By: Eric He

OAKLAND – The slumping A’s could definitely use some sunshine these days, and they may have their sun back in Sonny Gray.

The 27-year-old righty recorded his first win of the 2017 season on Thursday night in the A’s 8-3 win over the Red Sox at the Coliseum, and he showed flashes of his former self, striking out eight batters in six innings. He threw 103 pitches, allowing four hits and three runs, two of which came in the first inning.

Gray retired 16 of his last 18 batters, and gave up just one hit after the first inning — a fourth inning home run by Mitch Moreland. But it was one of just a few blemishes in a much-needed resurgent start.

“Sonny was absolutely outstanding,” catcher Stephen Vogt said. “He looked as good as I’ve seen him in a very, very long time. Had all four pitches working. Really put the ball where he wanted to, when he wanted to do. Had that swing and miss slider tonight that we all know he has. It was very refreshing to see that.”

Everything about Gray’s evening had to be refreshing for the A’s, who have seen their ace go MIA since 2015. Last season, injuries hampered Gray, who made just 22 starts, going 5-11 with a 5.69 ERA, more than 2.5 runs higher than his previous career high.

The disappointment continued into 2017, when Gray began the season on the disabled list with a lat strain. After making two rehab starts, he went winless in his first three appearances with the A’s, and entered Thursday facing a Boston team that was the lone American League team he had yet to beat in his career.

But on Thursday, the sun shone. The Sonny we love might be coming through, at long last.

He wasn’t Clayton Kershaw, but his mojo was back. Save for early first inning struggles, Gray was stellar against a strong Red Sox team that usually pummels A’s pitching and has beaten the A’s nine of the last 10 matchups. Gray had batters whiffing on his sinkers, fastballs, curveballs and changeups.

“It didn’t matter,” Vogt said.

Vogt, who has caught Gray since the pitcher’s rookie season in 2013, knows that when Gray is on, he’s making batters swing at air.

“When he’s punching people out, that’s when you know Sonny is Sonny,” Vogt said. “He’s an ace, and aces punch people out. That’s what he did tonight.”

Gray struck out six of the last 10 batters he faced, and prided himself on it after the game.

“My last start I struggled putting guys away,” he said. “That’s really been a focus for a while now. I feel like my stuff is getting better. My stuff is the best it’s been in … I can’t remember when.”

We haven’t seen this Sonny Gray in a couple of years, though manager Bob Melvin doesn’t think Gray has ever changed.

“Everyone’s going to have a tough year,” Melvin said on Gray’s 2016 campaign. “There were injuries involved in it. But the stuff is always there, and he’s quite the competitor. I don’t fall into that and say he’s not who he is anymore. One year is not going to get me off who I think he is.”

Melvin added that Gray is the “kind of starter who wants to factor in and get a decision,” and that Gray would be happy with getting the win on Thursday.

He was right. It was Gray’s first in nearly 10 months, but it’s not like he was counting.

“I don’t know how long it’s been,” Gray said. “As a pitcher, you want to win games. You want to start a game that you can let the team win. That’s the most important thing as a pitcher — is to win. It’s nice to get a win for sure. Hopefully I can put together some good starts from here.”

The A’s pound the Red Sox, win Game One of the four-game series 8-3

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Oakland Athletics’ Rajai Davis (11) is tagged trying to stretch a double into a triple, after stepping off the bag at third, by Boston Red Sox third baseman Deven Marrero during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 18, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s sent their ace, Sonny Gray, to the hill as they started a four-game series with the visiting Boston Red Sox. Gray entered the contest with a 0-1 record and an ERA of 3.78. The A’s were hoping that he would return to the form he showed in 2015 when he finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award. Gray responded with a “quality start” as he went six innings and allowed just four hits and three runs. The Red Sox scored two in the first and Gray threw 31 pitches, and it looked like it was going to be an early exit for Sonny. However, Sonny found his rhythm and was able to go six full innings and threw 103 pitches as the A’s beat the Red Sox 8-3.

The Red Sox starter, Hector Velazquez was making his Major League debut. The 28-year old Velazquez was called up from Pawtucket where he was 5-1. Velazquez had pitched in then Mexican Leagues for eight years before signing with the Red Sox. He did not have a memorable first start. He went five innings and allowed six runs, nine hits including three home runs, walked two and struck out four. Velazquez took the loss and is 0-1.

The Red Sox took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The Sox’ Mookie Betts hit a sharp single to left. Dustin Pedroia followed with a slow roller that went for an infield single. Betts made it to 3rd when no one was covering. A’s starter Sonny Gray struck out Xander Bogaerts for the first out. Sox DH Hanly Ramirez singled to drive in Betts. Mitch Moreland walked to load the bases. Former Athletic Chris Young hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Pedroia with Boston’s second run of the inning. Sonny Gray threw 31 pitches in the inning.

The A’s responded in the bottom of the first. Rajai Davis led off with a single. Davis tried to steal second but was thrown out. Matt Joyce walked and that was followed by a booming home run to center-field over the 400-foot marker off the bat of Jed Lowrie. The next batter, Khris Davis homered to right-center. It was the first time this season that the A’s have homered back-to-back. Hector Velazquez, making his Major League debut for Boston, also threw 31 pitches in the inning.

The Sox tied the game in the top of the fourth when first baseman Mitch Moreland took Sonny Gray deep to left-center-field for a solo homer. The A’s, however, stormed back in the bottom of the inning. Ryon Healy led off with a single and came around to score when Trevor Plouffe doubled into the gap in left-center. A’s DH Chad Pinder blasted a home run that went over the 388-foot marker to give the A’s a 6-3 lead.  The ball landed in the seats and appeared to travel well over 400 feet.

The A’s scored two more on a walk and two hits to take a commanding 8-3 lead. Robbie Ross, Jr was the Red Sox pitcher. Things went downhill for him as he walked Stephen Vogt leading off. Trevor Plouffe singled to put men on at first and second with no out. The Runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. With one out Adam Rosales singled to drive in Vogt with Oakland’s 7th run of the night. Rajai Davis hit into a fielder’s choice and Plouffe scored run number 8 for Oakland. The A’s lead 8-3 after six innings of play

The A’s bullpen shut down the Sox’ offense the last three innings of the game to win the opener of the four-game series.

Game Notes and stats- The A’s offense came to life Thursday night as they rapped out 13 hits after being shutout Wednesday night in a game that saw them manage just two hits. All the players in the A’s lineup had a hit except for Stephen Vogt. Home runs were hit by Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis, and Chad Pinder. Trevor Plouffe Plouffe extended his hitting streak to nine games and had a single and two doubles in Thursday’s game. Jed Lowrie snapped a 0-for-13 streak with a home run in the first inning.

Game Two will be played Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Game time will be at 6:05 as the A’s will have their first Fireworks night of the season.

Kendall Graveman (2-2, 3.95ERA0 will go for Oakland, and he will be opposed by Boston’s star lefty, Chris Sale (4-2, 2.15 ERA). Should be a good game if Graveman has his sinker working. Sale leads Major League Baseball with 85 Strikeouts and is tied with Randy Johnson for a pitcher through their first 8 starts of the year with a team.

 

Oakland A’s Podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s five out of six loss on the road reviewed, team looking for some home cooking with Sox tonight

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Oakland Athletics first baseman Yonder Alonso drops the ball as Seattle Mariners’ Boog Powell (8) arrives at first base with a single during the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 17, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg:

#1 The A’s just couldn’t get a handle on this last road trip dropping five of six games to Texas and Seattle

#2 The A’s ended the trip with a loss in Seattle behind Christian Bergman’s shutout 4-0 on Wednesday

#3 How many Boog Powells does it take to get a hit off the A’s? Answer: One, first the one in the 70s who played with the Baltimore Orioles  and then there was Wednesday’s Boog Powell who plays for the Seattle Mariners  who got his first big league hit. Powell who played with the A’s Chad Pinder and Ryon Healy said Healy didn’t know he was even at the ball park.

#4 The A’s manager Bob Melvin said about the A’s offense after getting shutout 4-0 “I don’t know if we’ve look much worse” Jerry talks about what Melvin means

#5 The A’s open up for a four game series against the Red Sox starting tonight how do you see this match

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