Category: Oakland Athletics

The A’s win in a walk-off in the tenth

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Oakland A’s Josh Reddick (center) gets the treatment from his teammates after his walk off single RBI in the tenth for the gamer for the A’s fourth straight win

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s came back from a three-run deficit as they scored two in the seventh, one in the ninth and one in the tenth to defeat the Houston Astros 4-3. The A’s sent rookie Dillon Overton to the mound to start the game Tuesday night. Overton pitched into the seventh inning, but he would have been the losing pitcher had the A’s not rallied to win. Overton went six and a third innings. He allowed nine hits and three wins, and he received credit for a “quality start.” The Astros’ Dallas Keuchel also pitched very well. He went six and a third innings, and he allowed just two runs on five hits. The A’s bullpen allowed just two hits and no runs after the fifth inning while the A’s broke through against Houston’s All-Star close Will Harris to tie the game in the ninth.

The Astros struck first in the top of the third. With one out, A’s starter Dillon Overton gave up a single to Marwyn Gonzalez and a double to Jose Altuve.  The next hitter, Carlos Correa, hit a swinging bunt. Dillon made a terrific play as he fielded it and threw home to nail Gonzalez at the plate to keep the Astros off the board.   Dillon couldn’t keep the Astros at bay as Luis Valbuena singled to drive in Altuve.

The ‘Stros plated two more runs in the fifth. George Springer led off the frame with a booming fly ball to deep center that looked like it was ready to orbit the planet. With one out, the leading hitter in the AL, Jose Altuve, tripled off the center-field wall. Altuve scored on a sacrifice fly to put Houston ahead 3-0 in the middle of the fifth.

The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Billy Butler singled. Jake Smolinski doubled to deep right field but Butler, not having any speed, had to stop at third. Rookie third baseman, Astros’ manager A.J.Hinch removed Dallas Keuchel from the game and brought in Ken Giles to pitch. Ryon Healy  Greeted Giles with a double to drive in Butler and Smolinski. Giles retired the next two hitters to get out of the jam.

The A’s threatened to score in the eighth.They received two walks and had the benefit of a wild pitch to put men on at first and third with two out. Bob Melvin called on Josh Reddick to pinch-hit for Jake Smolinski. The Astros’ Luke Gregerson induced Reddick to fly out to left to end the inning.  ‘Stros sill lead 3-2 after eight.

The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the ninth. Stephen Vogt won a twelve-pitch battle with Astros’ closer Will Harris when he doubled to right-center. Coco followed with a blast to right to drive in Vogt. Coco probably made the biggest baserunning blunder of his life. He thought the ball went over the wall for a walk-off win for  Oakland. However, the ball was in play, and Crisp was just jogging the bases when the throw came in from the right fielder, and he was tagged out. The game is tied at three and we head to extra innings.

The A’s won the game in a walk-off. With two out, Marcus Semien singled to get the rally going. Semien stole second . Yonder Alonso walked to put men on at first and second with two out. Josh Reddick, who came into the game as a pinch-hitter in the eighth, singled to deep short to drive in Semien with the winning run.

Game Notes- The A’s have won four of their last five games since the resumption of play after the All-Star game break. The A’s announced that they recalled Dillon Overton and Daniel Coulombe from Nashville to replace Andrew Triggs and Tyler Ladendorf. Triggs was placed on the DL and Ladendorf was optioned back to Nashville.

The Line score for Oakland was four runs, eleven hits, and one error. Houston’s line was three runs, ten hits, and one error.

Game three will be played Wednesday afternoon at 12:30 pm at the Oakland Coliseum. Daniel Mengden will pitch for Oakland and the veteran righty Doug Fister will go for Houston.

Time of game was three hours and forty-one minutes, and 15,143 fans watched the A’s comeback to win.

 

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Good start right after the break A’s challenging opponents

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bigstory.ap.org file photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea was used as a reliever on Sunday he’ll get more looks as the A’s pitching staff is in need of healthy arms

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O, the All Star break was kind of good for the A’s the fact that they started off over last weekend and took two out three games from the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays are one of the best teams in the AL East. The A’s could have taken three out of three and had a sweep they had a chance they had that game on Sunday tied up 3-3 in what was a truly bizarre game.

In the top of the ninth with the game tied the Blue Jays got a couple of runners on and whose the guy that does them in? Oh Yeah Josh Donaldson their All Star third baseman comes to the plate and hits a strong double out down the left field line scores two runs the A’s lose 5-3. The A’s took the opener of the three game series with the Houston Astros on Tuesday night 7-4 and can keep this run going with a win on Tuesday night.

There’s more on the A’s podcast take a listen below for all the latest with Charlie O at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Graveman, bats show up in A’s 7-4 win over Astros

Published on by Eric HeLeave a comment
Kendall Graveman pitched seven strong innings in Monday's win over the Astros (Lance Iversen / USA Today Sports)
Kendall Graveman pitched seven strong innings in Monday’s win over the Astros (Lance Iversen / USA Today Sports)

By: Eric He

OAKLAND — Kendall Graveman’s year didn’t start out as planned. He lost six of his first eight starts and had an ERA well above 5.00. But in Monday night’s 7-4 win over the Astros, Graveman continued to flip the script on his 2016 season.

Graveman allowed three runs — two earned — in seven innings, throwing 112 pitches. He struck out five and walked just one as the A’s claimed the first game of a three-game set at the Coliseum. The 25-year-old righty has now won each of his last three starts, and the A’s have been victorious the last seven times he’s toed the rubber.

Manager Bob Melvin needed every one of Gravemen’s pitches, with the bullpen short on arms.

“We knew going out there we needed him to give us innings, pitches and keep the lead like we got for him early on,” Melvin said. “Significant outing for him today – it really was.”

Graveman said the key to his success was his sinker working at full force.

“Confidence in the sinker,” he said. “Confidence means that I’m locating it better. That’s been the biggest thing right now. It’s a little bit more velocity and it still has good movement. That’s been able to get me deep in ball games, early outs and get double plays when I needed to.”

A two-out rally in the fourth gave the A’s busted the game open and forced Astros starter Mike Fiers from the game. Trailing by a run, the A’s put a five spot on the board to take control. Yonder Alonso started the scoring with a two-run single up the middle.

Ryan Healy followed that up with a run-scoring double. After a walk to Coco Crisp, Fiers was replaced by Michael Feliz, who didn’t fare much better. Feliz walked the next three batters — two of which came with the bases loaded — to force in two more funs. By the time the long inning mercifully came to an end, the A’s led 6-2.

Melvin was happy to see his hitters be patient and force the opposing pitchers to throw strikes.

“When you see a guy come in and he has trouble finding the strike zone, you’re a little more patient trying to get a ball that you can handle,” he said. “Once he starts throwing multiple balls in a row, you’re going to make him throw the ball over the plate. It’s good to see we were patient.”

Khris Davis, who homered in the seventh to give the A’s a 7-3 lead, agreed.

“Just making them throw strikes is important, and not chasing,” Davis said. “When we chase, usually good things don’t happen. Those walks just turn the lineup over and get us more opportunities to get runs in.”

Up by four runs, Ryan Dull allowed a run in the eighth, but struck out Carlos Gomez to end the inning with the A’s up by three, and Ryan Madsen recorded the save in the ninth.

The Astros struck first in the second inning when Jose Valbuena led off the inning with a triple on a hit — that just missed the outstretched dive of Coco Crisp — and scored on a sacrifice fly by Colby Rasmus.

But the A’s evened the score the next inning. Alonso ripped a doubled to left center, scoring Marcus Semien all the way from first.

Alonso finished 2-for-4 on the night with 3 RBI.

“He’s swinging great,” Melvin said. “When you see him using the whole field, driving the ball to left center field, that means he’s tracking the ball really well. He’s in a really good place right now.”

Houston reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth inning on a questionable play. With runners on first and second and two out, Carlos Gomez hit a weak ground ball to third. But third baseman Ryan Healy’s path to the ball was delayed as Carlos Correa was running to third — Healy’s throw to first bounced off the glove of Alonso and rolled away, allowing Correa to keep going and score to put the Astros on top 2-1.

It was one of the few blemishes on the night, as the A’s bats showed up and Graveman held down the fort on the mound. In his second season with the A’s, Graveman feels like he has improved steadily this year.

“I feel like I’ve gotten stronger as the season’s gone on,” he said. “I’ve hit the weight room. I’ve kept my legs under me. That’s been a positive. Last year, I don’t know if I could say that.”

His quality stretch is also drawing admiration from teammates, who don’t have to stand out there on the field for long when he’s on the mound.

“He’s looking great,” Davis said. “It’s fun to play defense behind him when he’s throwing strikes. I’m enjoying it out there.”

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Donaldson visits the old haunt to haunt his old teammates over the weekend

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sportsinteraction.com file photo: Toronto Blue Jay Josh Donaldson who had two hits including a two run double and a run scored on Sunday is in the running for American League MVP

On the A’s podcast with Jerry a look at former Athletic Josh Donaldson, Donaldson is working on his MVP skills as he’s moved into a tie with the Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout for the battle of the MVP Award. Donaldson slugged a two out two run double to help move the Toronto Blue Jays ahead of the A’s for a 5-3 win on Sunday.

The win helps the Jays avoid getting swept in Oakland as the A’s took the first two games of the series. The pitching relief woes continue as A’s reliever Sean Manaea gave up a home run, three hits, two runs, with four strikeouts. A’s reliever Andrew Triggs in relief Sunday gave up a run on two hits, A’s reliever John Axford was rocked he was touched up for 1.1 innings, three hits, two runs, two walks, and a strikeout.

Jerry does the A’s podcast each week and is the A’s beat writer listen to Jerry below at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Blue Jays beat the A’s 5-3 in a strange game

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland Athletics
Marcus Semien hits his 20th home run of the season. Photo Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics lost the final game of the three-game series to the Toronto Blue Jays 5-3 on Sunday afternoon, but the A’s still won the series two games to one.

The Sunday game had “weird” painted all over it right from the beginning. Rich Hill started the game for Oakland and the speculation was that it would be his final start as an Athletic because of his trade value. Hill threw five pitches and called the trainer to the mound. A piece of skin came off where he had a blister that caused him to miss a start, and that was it for Hill. His day was over.

The A’s would use seven pitchers in the game but the real surprise was the appearance of starting pitcher Sean Manaea in the second inning of the game. The rookie left-hander was scheduled to start the game on Tuesday versus the Astros. After it was determined that reliever Andrew Triggs could not continue after being hit in the calf with a batted ball, manager Bob Melvin called on Manaea.

Melvin talked about how tough it was to ask Manaea to respond so quickly. “It’s tough to ask the kid to do something like that too. We were going to limit his pitches but we just didn’t have enough bullpen wise to get through the game if we didn’t use him. He responded really well. I’m sure he didn’t come to the ballpark thinking I might pitch today.”

Manaea worked five innings giving up two runs (both earned) on three hits. He struck out four Blue Jay hitters. Manaea did give up a two-run home run to Troy Tulowitzki in the top of the fourth inning. Tulowitzki hit his 16th home run of the season over the center field wall. Manaea did not figure in on the decision in Sunday’s game.

The Tulowitzki home run gave Toronto a 3-0 lead. The Jays scored a run in the that wild and confusing top of the first inning.

The A’s were having to battle the strong pitching of J.A. Happ who entered the game with a 12-3 record. Happ held the A’s hitless through the first three innings.

The A’s broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning when they sent nine men to the plate and scored three runs on four hits to tie the game at 3-3. Marcus Semien started the scoring for the A’s by hitting his 20th home run of the year.

The game remained tied until the top of the ninth when the Blue Jays put runners on base by virtue of back-to-back base hits. With two outs, former Athletic Josh Donaldson stepped in and hit a double to left field that drove in two runs giving Toronto a 5-3 lead. The A’s were unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth and the final score was Toronto 5 Oakland 3.

On the bump

Rich Hill showed reporters his finger and the skin that had come off that finger. It does not look like an injury that is going to heal quickly. Bob Melvin was clear in postgame press conference that Hill was not a candidate to start on Tuesday against Houston.

Andrew Triggs who was hit by a ball on his left calf has a serious contusion. Melvin said they will evaluate Triggs situation again on Monday.

Marc Rzepczynski worked 0.2 of an inning and struck out two batters. Liam Hendricks pitched 1.1 innings and walked one hitter while giving up no runs in relief.

John Axford (3-3) took the loss going 0.2 innings giving up two runs (earned) on three hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Patrick Schuster worked 0.1 inning to close out the game.

Happ worked 5.2 innings giving up 3 runs (all earned) on five hits for Toronto. He struck out five and walked one. Happ did not figure in on the decision.

Jason Grilli (3-1) was credited with the win. Grilli worked 1.0 inning giving up no runs and no hits in his time on the mound.

The save went to Roberto Osuna. It is his 19th save of the season.

In the batter’s box

Marcus Semien went 1-for-4 with a run scored, a home run and a RBI. He now has 20 home runs and 48 RBI both of which are career highs.

Danny Valencia had a 2-for-4 day that included scoring a run. Valencia is now hitting .307 in the 56 games since he came off the disabled list May 6th. There have to be some contending teams that want his bat in their lineup and are willing to part with prospects to get it.

Jed Lowrie went 2-for-4 on Sunday. Lowrie is 6-for-16 (.375) in his four starts as the leadoff batter this season.

Yonder Alonso came into the game as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and went 1-for-2 hitting a double that was good for two RBI.

Josh Donaldson has reached base safely in 22 straight games and is hitting .388 over that period. He went 2-for-5 on Sunday.

Russell Martin went 2-for-3 on Sunday and scored a run. He is hitting .324 over the last 10 games.

Edwin Encarnacion had a 1-for-4 day but is .394 over his last 20 games.

Notes:

The Athletics were involved in a minor transaction on Sunday as they acquired left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. Detwiler was pitching for Triple-A Columbus and will be assigned to Triple-A Nashville for the A’s. He will not be on the 40-man roster.

This move was made to shore up the pitching staff in Nashville which has seen so many changes as pitchers have been promoted to Oakland and others have been designated for assignment.

Toronto first baseman Justin Smoak signed a two-year contract extension worth $8.25 million on Saturday. The contract includes an option year that would pay Smoak $6 million if exercised.

“We love Toronto, me and my family, and we wanted to stay here as long as we can,” Smoak said. “So we just wanted to get something done.”

Smoak is currently a role player for the Blue Jays. His signing is seen as protection at first base in case free agent Edwin Encarnacion signs elsewhere.

Up next

Three-game series in Oakland with Houston:

Mon – RHP Kendall Graveman (5-6,4.37) vs. RHP Mike Fiers (6-3,4.35) 7:05 PM

Tue – To be announced vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel (6-9,4.90) 7:05 PM

Wed – RHP Daniel Mengden (1-4,5.54) vs. RHP Doug Fister (9-6,3.64) 12:35 PM

Toronto heads to Phoenix for two games with the Diamondbacks

Rookie homers in his second big-league game to lead the A’s over the Jays

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Healy homers

 

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–It’s buy or sell time for the Oakland A’s, an annual check of the temperature for an organization of constantly moving parts. So that brings us to Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, engineered by a guy who just got here, another who’s probably not going anywhere, and a third whose arrival was certainly unexpected, given that he figured to stay where he was at.

Khris Davis, the guy who was traded to Oakland after putting up decent numbers that would suggest he would remain with the Brewers, homered twice in the win. Ryon Healy, who made his major league debut on Friday night, hit a three-run homer off R.A. Dickey for his first big league hit. And Sonny Gray ended a streak of 12 consecutive appearances without a win by hanging around long enough to benefit from all three long balls hit by Davis and Healy.

“I don’t think it’s any secret things haven’t been as you would hope for the majority of the year” Gray said. “And then today was a little bit more of physical and mental together after the second inning. Like I said, ‘Mentally, just stop fighting yourself. Don’t try to be too perfect.’”

Gray hadn’t picked up a win since April 22 before Saturday, the longest drought of any starter in baseball. Along with the hold-your-breath back issues that cost Gray two weeks last month, it hasn’t been the Oakland ace’s best season, just one year after he finished third in the AL Cy Young race. Manager Bob Melvin has termed Gray’s struggles as just an off year. Consequently, it’s less likely that Gray’s traded before the August 1 deadline. Gray’s trade value has lessened to a degree, not the ideal circumstances for a Billy Beane trade executed for the purpose of bringing back a bushel of prospects.

The biggest reason—and there are several—the A’s are where they are lies with their tepid, inconsistent offense, especially at the Coliseum. Coming into Saturday’s tilt with Toronto, the A’s had lost 10 of their last 14 at home, and are hitting just .244 as a team in their own building, the third worst showing by an AL team at home. But that changed a bit with the three home runs, especially the bomb hit by Davis in the sixth that put the A’s up 5-3.

Davis’ blast to right center traveled 431 feet, power that Melvin termed a gift that only a handful of major leaguers possess. He also homered on Friday, and he leads the A’s with 22 on the season. While Coco Crisp and Danny Valencia will see their playing time reduced to make room for younger players to audition at the big league level, and Josh Reddick is likely to be traded, Davis is on track to stay, play and but up the biggest numbers of his four major-league seasons, hopefully somewhere north of 35 homers and 95 RBI.

After hitting 27 home runs in 121 games for the Brewers, Davis was thought to be establishing himself in Milwaukee. But the Brewers wanted to make room for a pair of younger outfielders, Domingo Santana and Rymer Liriano, and didn’t like the look of their outfield defense with Ryan Braun and the weak-armed Davis in the corners. So the 28-year old was shipped to Oakland in February after almost all the off-season deals had been consummated.

Davis hasn’t been a complete knockout, walking just 11 times while striking out 87, but he’s outdone Braun (13 home runs), Santana (4), Liriano (1) in the power department by quite a bit.

After allowing three home runs on Saturday, Dickey’s allowed 22 on the season, and he admitted the chemistry of his trademark knuckler was off on Saturday. The veteran pitcher has said in the past that the quality of the pitch varies with temperature, wind and velocity, and it was obvious that those factors weren’t meshing in the second inning when Healy and Davis both went deep.

“If you got the ball up in the air today, it was going to go,” Dickey said. “Unfortunately, I left one up, but that’s the first slow knuckleball I’ve thrown in four years that has gotten hit out, so I thought it was a safe pitch.”

Healy’s moon shot ended up just inside the left field foul pole, and elicited various reactions. His mom, Laurie, among a group of 10 family members and friends in the stands, shed a tear. The rookie was greeted enthusiastically at home plate by Stephen Vogt and Marcus Semien who scored ahead of him. And the A’s dugout ignored Healy just long enough to make it a lovable act.

Healy’s home run was the first of the 22 Dickey has allowed with as many as two baserunners aboard. It put the A’s up 4-2, and set the Steve Vucinich Ball Retrieval Machine in motion. The A’s equipment manager was successful in finding the rookie’s initial hit and home run ball, exchanging it for another ball and a signed bat.

“Much appreciation for him,” Healy said of fan David Thompson, who caught the ball and took the deal.

The A’s look for the sweep on Sunday with Rich Hill getting the start. He’ll face Toronto’s J.A. Happ, who has an exemplary 12-3 record, which includes an impressive shutout of the Giants at AT&T Park in May.

Heart of the Lineup At Heart of A’s Rally

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

AP photo: Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt waits for the toss in the third inning against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night as the Jays Josh Donaldson slide in for the score

OAKLAND, Calif. – The scene unfolded time in and time out in the first half of the season for the Oakland Athletics. The offense stakes the young starter to a small early lead only to see him squander it by giving up a ghastly amount of runs, ultimately falling in a blowout loss. Friday night, the A’s returned from the All-Star break by falling into old habits, jumping on the Toronto Blue Jays early at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum before giving up twice as many runs as they scored. But something was different Friday, thanks in large part to the three-through-five hitters in the A’s lineup.

The A’s (39-51) twice erased deficits Friday night, ultimately rallying back from a 7-3 fourth inning disadvantage by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings to win 8-7. Stephen Vogt knocked in two runs, including the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning and Josh Reddick reached base four times.

“It was a huge win,” said Vogt. “There was a lot of emotion tonight. There was a lot of fire in our dugout. What a way to start off the second half.”

The heart of the A’s order, Reddick, Khris Davis and Vogt went eight for ten with two walks knocked in seven runs. Ryan Madson picked up his 18th save of the season, while Ryan Dull (3-2, 1.94 ERA) picked up the win with his scoreless 1 2/3 innings.

Oakland jumped on Jays starter Marcus Stroman early, plating a pair of runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Davis and a run-scoring ground out by Marcus Semien, but Toronto scratched out a run off A’s starter Daniel Mengden in the bottom of the inning after Michael Saunders opened the inning on second base courtesy of a Stephen Vogt throwing error. Saunders would scamper home on after Russel Martin moved him to third on a ground out and Troy Tulowitzki pushed him home with a bounce-out to second.

Mengden scuffled in the third, allowing loading the bases with one out. The rookie, starting in place of Rich Hill who missed his start due to a blister, gave Toronto a run on a game-tying wild pitch. He then surrendered a pop out to Saunders that scored Josh Donaldson in the process for a 3-2 Jays lead.

Josh Reddick, ignoring the speculative grumblings on the trade rumor mill, stepped up to the plate to a “Careless Whisper” of his own. With WHAM!’s hit, a Reddick classic last season, blaring over the loud speaker the A’s outfielder stepped to the dish looking to make an impact.

“He gave me a heads up,” said Melvin. “He didn’t tell me which song but he said ‘You’re going to know it, and you’re going to like it.’ I know it, I like it. He should stick with it.”

He would do so, skying a Stroman offering over the wall in straightaway centerfield for his sixth homer of the season and a 3-3 tie ballgame.

“That’s one of the longest ones I’ve seen him hit,” said Vogt of Reddick.

“The three hitter is awfully important to a team,” said Melvin. “The season he’s having, before he got hurt, was probably an All-Star season for him. It took him a while to get his timing back. If he’s not in the lineup, we don’t win the game.”

The Jays jumped all over Mengden again in the top of the fourth after the first four batter reached base on three hits and a walk. By the time Mengden recorded the first out of the inning, three runs had already scored. Donaldson singled home Devon Travis for the fourth run of the frame, chasing Mengden after just 3 1/3 innings and seven runs (six earned) with six hits and a pair of wild pitches.

With a large lead built up, Jays manager John Gibbons gave his starter a long leash, perhaps a bit too long. The Athletics’ lone All-Star Vogt opened the bottom of a contentious fourth with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Semien and Yonder Alonso both struck out looking, both disagreeing with home plate umpire Chris Wegner. Alonso was ejected after tossing his helmet down in frustration and barking at Wegner. Melvin came out to discuss the pair of borderline pitches with Wegner and, like Alonso, was ejected for the first time all season.

“It was something that needed to happen,” said Vogt after the game perhaps alluding to the spark the A’s were lacking up to that point or to Wegner’s strike zone.

Once the debate ended, Jake Smolinski made up for an earlier double play by single the catcher home and cutting the Jays lead to 7-4. While the A’s wouldn’t score any more runs, they weren’t done just yet. With two outs Reddick would reach base for the third time in the game on a single. Davis Crushed Stroman’s 0-1 offering over the 388 foot sign in right center to bring the A’s within one. Vogt would clear out Stroman’s 2-1 delivery for a solo shot, the fourth set of back-to-back A’s homers of the year, to tie the game at 7-all. It was Davis’ 20th homer of the season, good for ninth in the American league, while Vogt hit his eight dinger of the campaign.

“He continues to amaze me,” said Vogt of Davis. “Then I got that heater up in the zone.”

The man who tied the game also put the A’s ahead in the bottom of the seventh. After reliever Brett Cecil picked up two quick outs, Reddick reached base for the fourth time on a walk, then Davis singled for his third hit of the game to put the leading run in scoring position. Vogt laced a single to center, but Kevin Pillar came up gunning and hit Martin in the air at the plate. Martin applied the tag at the plate on the knee as Reddick’s cleat touched home, with Wegner calling him out at the plate.

Bench coach Mark Kotsay, taking over for the ejected Melvin, called for a review. After a lengthy review, nearly three minutes, crew chief Wegner signaled safe for Reddick’s fourth run of the game and an 8-7 lead.

“That’s one of the closest ones I’ve seen,” said Vogt. “I thought he was safe, as objectively as I can see it.”

“We have to be aggressive there,” said Melvin. “It was the right call to send him. He was safe, made a good slide. It ended up a good outcome for us.”

The run put Cecil (0-6, 5.52) on the wrong end of the decision.The A’s Bullpen would hold on, pitching a total of 5 2/3 innings of scoreless ball to send the Jays (51-41) to defeat.

“All of our relievers came in today and did a nice job for us,” said Melvin. “They had to go a bit earlier. I had to go to Axford an inning earlier than we wanted to, but Rzepczynski and Dull gave us an inning-plus. That was huge and Madson made quick work in the ninth.

The A’s turn to Sonny Gray in Saturday’s matinee while former Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey gets the ball for the Jays.

 

 

 

A’s minor league spotlight: Franklin Barreto

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

 

Franklin_Barreto_5.23.16_for_6.2.16_eoii4i8c_3ee0o7ov

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics will be looking for prospects just like the one who is in out minor league spotlight this week as they move veteran players to playoff contenders between now and August 1st. Infielder Franklin Barreto is ranked the number one prospect in the A’s minor league system and he was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays as a part of the Josh Donaldson trade that also brought Kendall Graveman to the Athletics.

Barreto was originally signed by Toronto for $1.45 million in 2012. Barreto began to catch everyone’s attention in 2014 when he led the Northwest League in multiple categories. He had a .311 batting average and .384 on base percentage. Barreto was seen as a major piece of the Donaldson trade.

After joining the A’s organization, Barreto was assigned to Advanced Class-A Stockton in the California league. He immediately found success at the plate hitting .302 with an OBP of .333. Barreto had 13 home runs and 22 doubles in 90 games, but his season was cut short when he suffered a wrist contusion in late July that put him on the disabled list for the rest of the year.

The scouts rank Barreto as an above average hitter with average power but some see him with more than average power. He is rated as a average runner. Barreto is said to have an outstanding arm but is considered to be a below average fielder.

Barreto is currently assigned to Double-A Midland of the Texas League. He has appeared in 87 games and currently has a .258 batting average with a .321 on base percentage and a .387 slugging percentage. Barreto has 17 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 32 RBI. He 22-for-32 in the stolen base department. Based on his current hitting statistics, Barreto will probably be looking at spending at least the first half of the 2017 season back Midland.

Barreto has also struggled defensively. His original position was shortstop but there was a problem with to many errors being committed. At Midland this season, they have used Barreto at second base and at shortstop. He has committed three errors in 28 games at second and 14 errors in 56 games at short. With shortstop Marcus Semien in the majors and Triple-A All-Star shortstop Chad Pinder at Nashville, Barreto’s future may be at second base or at a corner spot in the outfield.

Barreto was selected to the Texas League South Division All-Star Team. He played second base and hit a double in the game that the South Division won 8-3.

 

 

A’s vs the Toronto Blue Jays preview

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Buster Posey, Troy Tulowitzki
Toronto Blue Jays’ Troy Tulowitzki slides safely into home plate to score against San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 10, 2016, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The second half of the 2016 baseball season resumes Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The Toronto Blue Jays, currently residing in a second place tie in the AL East with the Boston Red Sox, are just two games behind the Baltimore Orioles. The Jays have been surging as they have won eighteen of the last twenty-five and are 51-40 overall. The Jays have a strong offense, starting rotation and bullpen. Josh Donaldson, the reigning MVP, and former Oakland Athletic is having another strong year and could repeat as MVP. Donaldson is hitting .304 and has 23 homers and 64 RBIs. Donaldson, facing the A’s in Oakland, is five-for thirteen with a home run, two doubles, and five RBI. Many fans still rue the day that Oakland traded Donaldson to Toronto and view that move as one of the factors that have taken the A’s down to lower depths of the AL West. Michael Saunders, an All-Star this year, is having a career year for Toronto. Edwin Encarnacion leads the AL with eighty RBIs and has twenty-three dingers to his credit. Catcher Russell Martin started slowly but has been performing better lately. Other key offensive threats are shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and center fielder Kevin Pillar. Right fielder Joey Bautista will not play this weekend as he is on the DL with a turf toe. As you can see, the Blue Jays are loaded, and the A’s pitchers will have to be sharp to contain the Toronto Offense.

The Blue Jays’ starters are Marcus Strom, Aaron Sanchez, R.A.Dickey, and J.A. Happ Stroman (7-4, 4.89 ERA) will pitch Friday night for Toronto. Sanchez (9-1 2.97 ERA) is pitching well and made the AL All-Star squad this year. Happ is 12-3. Jesse Chavez, another former Athletic, Drew Storen, Jason Grilli Brett Cecil and Roberto Osuna headline the bullpen. Osuna has eighteen saves in twenty chances so far this year.

The A’s will send Daniel Mengden to the hill Friday night. Mengden is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.54. Mengden has pitched well enough to have a better record, but the A’s offense has not given him enough run support. Hopefully, that will change Friday night. The A’s, since May 1st, are 25-39 and are 37-51 overall. There is a lot of speculation regarding players that might be traded before the July 31st deadline. Contending teams are looking at Rich Hill and Sonny Gray as well as Josh Reddick, Danny Valencia, and Stephen Vogt. The A’s are not going anywhere this year. The front office will be making decisions soon about the future of these players. What do the A’s have to do to become contenders? Do they trade away their assets for prospects? How many times will the A’s rebuild the team? The phone lines are ringing in the A’s offices now. Hopefully, the trades the A’s make will get them back on the road to respectability.

MLB Podcast with Tony Renteria: Tenor rightfully suspended but made bold statement about current events during All Star anthem

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AP photo: The Tenors who performed Oh Canada and statement from “lone wolf” tenor “all lives matter to the brave” sang before the All Star game in San Diego on Tuesday

On the MLB podcast, concerning the Tenors who sang the Canadian national anthem the one tenor who held up the sign that said “all lives matter to the brave” and was suspended from the group for being disrespectful. On the other hand there were a number of fans on talk radio and on line that said that the one tenor who was brave to do what he did and that was a bold statement he made.

Tony is baseball traditionalist but believes that things have to change and that society is going through some tough times right now and what’s great about being an American you can open your mouth up and there’s freedom of speech. There are people say something should happen to the tenor. The freedom part means you don’t go to jail and though he was rightfully suspended he made a bold statement about today’s current events.

Tony has a lot more on baseball on the podcast click below to take a listen and each at http://www.sportsradioservice.com