AP photo: Oakland A’s Jake Smolinski attempt to score on Coco Crisp’s single was stopped when Smolinski was thrown out at the plate at Target Field on Tuesday night
The Minnesota Twins beat the A’s Tuesday night 11-4 at Target Field. The Twins lefty, veteran Tommy Milone, bested the A’s rookie lefty Sean Manaea. Milone was making his third start since being recalled from the minors and won his first game of the year after two not-so-good outings. Sean Manaea, who won his last start against San Francisco last week, took the loss. Manaea pitched five innings and allowed seven hits, six runs, walked three, struck out five and two home runs.
The A’s for the fourth time in the last five games scored first. Shortstop Marcus Semien hit his eighteenth home run of the season in the second to take a 1-0 lead. The A’s, by the way, have lost the last four games that they have scored first. Tonight was no exception. The Twins tied the game in the bottom of the second. They scored two more times in the fourth and three more in the fifth to send Manaea to the showers. The Twins’ Kennys Vargas hit a two-run blast, and Max Kepler followed with a solo shot to put the Twins ahead 6-1. The Twins added a run in the sixth to up the lead to 7-1.
The A’s third baseman, Danny Valencia, hit a three-run shot in the top of the eighth, but the Twins countered with four to win 11-4.
Game notes- Sean Manaea’s record is now 3-5 and the A’s drop twelve games under .500 with a record of 36-48. The A’s currently reside in fourth place in the AL West to games ahead of the LA Angels.
The A’s and Twins conclude the three-game series Wednesday morning at 10 am PT from Target Field in Minneapolis. Sonny Gray goes for Oakland. Gray has been struggling all year and hopes to win his first game since April. The Twins Ervin Santana, who is also struggling, will go for Minnesota.
Rain delayed the start of the game Tuesday for two hours and forty minutes.
The A’s Steven Vogt made the All-Star team for the second year in a row. Vogt will be the only Athletic going to San Diego for the mid-year classic.
AP photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Kendall Graveman 49 who pitched vs. the Minnesota Twins on Monday at Target Field
On the A’s podcast with Jerry, A’s pitcher Kendall Graveman pitched beautifully on Monday July 4th at Minnesota. It was probably Graveman’s best game of the year. He went 6.2/3 innings, allowed one run and gave up just three hits. It was a very impressive outing for Graveman. Graveman did not start the season well he was 2-6 at one point. Now he’s 4-6 for the year and in his last seven games he’s 3-0 and has an ERA 3.60.
Graveman has been very good for a starting pitcher and he’s been showing in his last seven games that he’s got his game on track. His location is much better he’s keeping the ball down in the zone. If he does that he gets a lot of ground balls he’s not elevating his pitches when he does that he gets into trouble.
AP photo: Oakland A’s Stephen Vogt 21 and Billy Butler 16 score as Jed Lowrie 8 cheers them on in the seventh inning at Target Field Monday
On the A’s podcast with Charlie O, the A’s had another Jekyll and Hyde week because since we talked last week they had a couple of interleague series they had an interleague series with the Giants and they took both games at AT&T Park on Jun 27 & 28 then they crossed over the bridge and they had the two games at the Coliseum they split those on the 29th & 30th. You had to think “wow the Giants with the best record in all of baseball and the A’s took three out of four” fantastic you would think.
The A’s are on their way there’s this weekend series where the Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to town, Bucs not that good, certainly not as good as the Giants so you think this is a series that they could win in every game with the Pirates the A’s take the lead and what happens in every game? The Pirates come back in every game and retake the lead and win and sweep the three game series.
AP photo: The Minnesota Twins pitcher Tyler Rogers leaps over catcher Juan Centeno after tagging out Oakland A’s baserunner Khris Davis in game three of the series at Target Field on Monday
The A’s ended their four-game losing streak on Monday, the 4th of July, in Minneapolis by beating the Minnesota Twins 3-1. The Twins sent Ricky Nolasco (3-6, 5.31) to the hill and the A’s countered with Kendall Graveman (3-6,4.84). For the first six innings of the game, it was a pitching duel. They have struggled this year but on Monday they looked like Dave Stewart vs. Roger Clemens in 1988 or Tim Hudson vs. Pedro Martinez in 2002. Graveman pitched his best game of the year in picking up his fourth win of the season. He went six and two-thirds innings and allowed just three hits and one run. Graveman has improved his game in his last several starts and on Monday he kept the ball “down in the zone” and recorded many outs on ground balls. He threw 102 pitches before leaving the game in the seventh inning.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning. Twins designated hitter, Joe Maurer, led off the frame with a single. Graveman walked the next hitter, Miguel Sano, to put men on at first and second with no out. The Twins All-Star second baseman, Brian Dozier, smoked a ground ball down the third baseline that was heading into the left-field corner that, fortunately for the A’s and Graveman, was stabbed by Danny Valencia. Valencia threw to second for the force out on Sano but the relay to first was late, and the Twins still had men on at first and third with one out. Graveman issued his second walk of the inning to Kennys Vargas to load the bases. The Twins’ Max Kepler hit into a force out, and the Twins had their first and only run of the game.
Nolasco continued to pitch well until the fateful top of the seventh. Third baseman Danny Valencia, mired in a 0-for-17 slump, doubled to right center. The next batter, Marcus Semien, hit a ground ball to short. Valencia, ignoring the rule of not trying to advance to third when the ball is in front of you, made it there safely, beating the throw. The third base umpire called Valencia out but after a review, he was ruled safe. The replay showed his right foot on the bag before the tag. Stephen Vogt singled to drive in Valencia with the tying run.Twins’ manager, Paul Molitor, removed Nolasco from the game and brought in LHP Taylor Rogers to pitch. Billy Butler greeted Rogers with a bloop single to load the bases. Coco Crisp singled to drive in two more and give the A’s the lead 3-1. The Twins threatened in their half of the seventh With two out, Graveman walked Centeno and Santana followed with a single. Bob Melvin went to the bullpen and brought in Ru=yan Dull to quell the uprising. Dull, who entered the game not allowing an inherited runner to score yet this year, continued to do his thing. He retired Eduardo Nunez for the final out and is now 36-for36 to start a season since the start of the expansion era in 1961.
Dull retired the Twins in order in the eighth and Ryan Madson finished off the Twins in the ninth. The Twins, with two out, threatened when Rosario tripled to center and Madson walked pinch-hitter Robbie Grossman to put the tying runs on base. Madson, however, retired the next hitter to preserve the win for Oakland.
Game Notes- The A’s announced the RHP Fernando Rodriguez, who left the game on Sunday against Pittsburgh, had suffered a shoulder strain and was placed on the 15 day-DL. The A’s recalled Andrew Triggs and Patrick Schuster from Nashville. Schuster is left-handed and has a record of 1-0 and a 1.30 ERA at Nashville. To make room for Schuster, the A’s sent Daniel Coulombe back to the Sounders.
The A’s made news as they announced that they had signed Lazaro “Lazarito” Armenteros. Armenteros is from Cuba and is sixteen years old and is a very highly-rated prospect. The A’s also signed three players from the Dominican Republic. They signed shortstop George Bell, who is the son of former Major League player and MVP George Bell. In addition, they inked shortstops Marcus Brito and Yerdel Vargas. Brito is the thirteenth ranked prospect and Vargas is twenty-fourth.
The A’s play Game Two of the three-game set Tuesday night at Target Field. Gane Time is at 5:05 PM. The game will feature two lefties. Sean Manaea will go for Oakland, and the Twins will send Tommy Milone to the mound. Milone is a former Athletic, and he owns a record of 0-2 with an ERA of 6.23.
salon.com: Former Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams was passed up by Red Sox DH David Ortiz last Friday on the all time hits list
On the MLB podcast with Daniel Dullum the Los Angeles Angels saw some strange things on their trip to Boston this weekend. The Bean Town Dudes David Ortiz got in the record books with his 522nd homer and 2000th hit of his career passing up three players including Ted Williams for 19th on the all time hit list. Later in the series on Saturday the Angels CJ Cron went 6-6 with two homers, six RBIs, five runs scored and teammate Carlos Perez went 5-6 with a home run, five RBIs, putting together the largest offensive production from two players since the 1936 Boston Braves did it 80 years ago.
Also the Oakland A’s hosted the mighty Pittsburgh Pirates and were swept by scores of 7-3, 4-2, and 6-3. The A’s who looked like they were going toward the light at the end of the tunnel when they took three out four from the Angels and Giants but quickly lost four straight a streak that started on June 30th.
OAKLAND–The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics on Sunday with a 6-3 victory. The A’s finished their five-game homestand with a record of 1-4. Their record at home dropped to 17-26 for the year.
The A’s took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning of the game. Daniel Mengden was pitching well and it appeared that A’s might be on their way to breaking the losing streak. The Pirates came back and tied the game in the top of the fifth inning.
The Athletics scored a run and regained the lead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning raising the hopes of the fans that a win was coming on Sunday. The Pirates brought eight men to the plate in the sixth inning and scored two more runs to go back in front of the A’s 4-3.
The Pirates tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning when David Freese hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to make the final score 6-3 in favor of Pittsburgh.
Francisco Liriano (5-8) was the winning pitcher. The loss was charged to Daniel Mengden (1-4). Mark Melancon picked up his 24th save of the season.
In the Batter’s Box
Coco Crisp went 2-for-5 for A’s with a RBI. The two hits extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Both of his hits were singles. Crisp’s average is now .247.
Khris Davis had a good afternoon working as the Designated Hitter. Davis went 2-for-4 including a double and a run scored. Davis now has 11 doubles for the year.
Billy Butler got the start at first base today and had some success at the plate. Butler hit a double that was good for a RBI in second inning. In that same inning, Butler scored a run for the A’s.
The A’s scored three runs on 10 hits. They left seven men on base and were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The A’s had four extra base hits – all doubles.
DH Gregory Polanco was the man at the plate for the Pirates on Sunday. Polanco went 2-for-4 with two RBI. He leads the Pirates with 47 RBI.
David Freese who came into the game a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and remained in the game hit his eighth home run of the year in the eighth inning. It was a two-run shot into the right field stands.
Adam Frazier had a 2-for-4 game that featured a double and a triple. Frazier had two RBI and scored a run for the Bucs.
The Pirates scored six runs on 11 hits. They left nine men on base and were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
On the Bump
Daniel Mengden – one of the A’s rookie young guns – started the game on Sunday looking for his second victory of the season. Things started off well for the man with the classic mustache. He did give up a hit in each of the first three innings but he also struck out three batters while allowing no runs. The A’s staked Mengden to a two-run lead and it looked like Oakland might be on their way to breaking their three-game losing streak.
Things fell apart for Mengden in the fifth inning as he gave up two runs on two hits. The Pirates were aided by a walk, a hit batsman and fielder’s choice that turned into a run.
Things continued to go downhill for Mengden in the sixth inning as the Pittsburgh scored two more runs on just two hits including a RBI triple by Adam Frazier. Mengden also issued two more walks in the inning and did not finish the frame. Marc Rzepczynski and Liam Hendriks came in to close out the inning.
Mengden worked 5.1 innings giving up four runs (all earned) on seven hits. He struck out five batters and walked four. Mengden threw 99 pitches (65 strikes).
As if things are not going bad enough for the A’s, relief pitcher Fernando Rodriguez took the mound in the top of the eighth inning and had to exit the game after facing one batter. Manager Bob Melvin said it appears to be a shoulder strain. Rodriguez will have a MRI done on the shoulder. Melvin indicated that a trip to the disabled list is a possibility.
Francisco Liriano had one of his better outings of his recent starts. Liriano sat the side down in order in the first inning before giving up two runs on three hits in the second inning. He then settled down and had another one, two, three-inning in the third. After giving up a run on three hits in the fifth, Liriano’s day was over for the Pirates.
Liriano gave up three runs (all earned) on six hits in 5.0 innings on the mound. He struck out two and walked one batter. Liriano threw a total of 88 pitches (53 strikes).
In the Field
The A’s did not commit an error in the game on Sunday. That extends the A’s errorless streak to nine games.
Coco Crisp had a busy day in center field as he recorded four put outs.
Tyler Ladendorf made a very nice play on ground ball off the bat of Adam Frazier in the eighth inning. Ladendorf had to slide to his right on the outfield grass to field the ball and threw the ball from a seated position to throw Frazier out at first.
Game Notes
The A’s have placed catcher Josh Phegley on the 15-day disabled list for a strained right knee. Oakland now has nine players on the disabled list. The team has used the DL 18 times this season … Catcher Matt McBride has been called up from Triple-A Nashville to take Phegley’s place on the roster. This is McBride’s third call-up to Oakland this season. He has appeared in eight games for the big club and is batting .222.
The A’s challenged a call at first in the top of the fourth inning. Starling Marte hit a ground ball on the right side of the infield that was fielded by A’s first baseman Billy Butler. Butler underhanded the ball to pitcher Daniel Mengden covering the bag. First base umpire Gerry Davis called Marte safe. The fan who had six beers and had only one eye opened sitting in the upper deck jumped out of his seat in disbelief. It took the replay officials in New York only 54-seconds to overturn the Davis call and declare Marte out.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was ejected from the game in bottom of the sixth inning of the game by home plate umpire Sam Holbrook. It appeared the ejection was for arguing ball and strike calls.
Up Next
The A’s will close out the unofficial first-half of the season with a seven-game road trip. They will travel tonight to Minneapolis where they will play three games with the Twins. Oakland then travels to Houston where they will open a four-game series on Thursday with the Astros before heading home for the All-Star Break.
Rich Hill was solid in his return to the mound for the A’s on Saturday night, but his efforts were for naught as the A’s were beaten 4-2 in 10 innings by the Pirates at the Coliseum.
Pittsburgh scored twice in the top of the 10th, with the game-winning hit courtesy of David Freese, who singled to left to score Erik Kratz and give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Gregory Polanco added an insurance run with an RBI single of his own.
Hill pitched six innings, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out six. John Axford, Ryan Dull and Ryan Madson each pitched a scoreless inning in relief, but Daniel Coulombe took the loss after struggling in the 10th frame.
The A’s struck first with two runs in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Jed Lowrie and an RBI hit by Josh Reddick. But the Pirates responded immediately in the next half inning. With two outs, Starling Marte singled in their first run, and Josh Harrison doubled in the tying run.
The game would remain tied until the extra-inning heroics by the Pirates.
The A’s fall to 35-46 and have lost three in a row, including the first two games of this series. They will try to salvage a game tomorrow afternoon at the Coliseum.
sfgate.com photo: Oakland A’s pitcher Sonny Gray who was racked up for seven runs and hits by the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum
OAKLAND, Calif. – One of Sonny Gray’s most memorable career moments came against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Unfortunately for the A’s, the night wasn’t Friday night, but three years ago when he made his major league debut in relief against the Buccos. His most recent outing against the Steel City swingers was one the hurler will hope to forget.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (39-41) erased a 3-0 deficit, roughing Gray up to the tune of seven runs in a 7-3 come-from-behind win Friday night at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Entering the game winless since April 22nd, Gray (3-7, 5.42 ERA) scattered seven hits and runs over six innings to take the loss. Marcus Semien hit a two-run homerun for the A’s (35-45) and Jed Lowrie knocked in a run, but Oakland only mustered one hit in the final seven innings against starter Jeff Locke and the Bucs bullpen.
“We’re going to have to try a little harder to get him the win when he pitches well,” said A’s Manager Bob Melvin. “A lot of times, if you’re pitching in close games, you’re not getting the win. It’s about keeping your team in it to win the game.”
The 26-year-old appeared to be turning a corner after returning from a disabled list stint June 5th. Over his last two starts he had allowed three runs over 12 innings. The young star lowered his earned run average .54 points during that span, starting to turn around an otherwise forgettable season. In the five starts since coming off the DL, Gray had allowed two runs or less in four entering Friday.
“This hasn’t been his best year,” said Melvin. “He’ll figure it out. He’ll get better as the year goes on. But there’s always going to be a year that’s not as good as other years. So far this is the one. He’s been good for us.”
The game opened on a similarly promising vein for Gray, with the righty mowing the Pirates down in order to open the game. Marcus Semien continued his All-Star worthy season in the bottom of the frame, staking Gray to a 2-0 lead after taking Pirates starter Jeff Locke deep with leadoff man Jed Lowrie on base. Semien fought back from a 1-2 count, fouling off six pitches before launching his 17th homer, marking 10 straight games with at least one homer for the Athletics.
“He keeps getting better and better,” said Melvin of Semien. “His production keeps going up and up. Hopefully that merits some (All-Star) consideration going forward. You can’t ignore the numbers.”
After another perfect inning for Gray, the A’s added another run in the bottom of the inning on a pair of two-out hits. Yonder Alonso beat the shift, bunting down the first base line, then came home from first on Lowrie’s double for a 3-0 lead.
After two flawless innings, the floor suddenly fell out from underneath Gray. Jody Mercer hit a solo home run on a 94 mile-per-hour fastball high and tight in the third, then an inning later Andrew McCutchen scored after doubling and coming around on a wild pitch. The wild pitch was Gray’s 13th of the season, the most in the league.
“He gets chases on hard breaking balls down,” said Melvin. “He’s going to have his share of wild pitches. He’s going to be tough to block. His breaking ball looks like his fastball hard and down. He’ll bounce a few.”
The Pirates major damage came in the fifth and sixth innings, with Pittsburgh plating five runs between the two frames. Matt Joyce and Josh Harrison opened the fifth up with back-to-back singles, then Mercer picked up his second RBI of the game with a third single bagger. Chris Stewart bounced into a fielder’s choice that brought in a run and added to Pittsburgh’s advantage 5-3.
“The ball crept up in the zone,” said Melvin of Gray’s struggles. “Early on the ball was down. There’s a lot of movement when the ball is down.”
Gray returned to form to open the sixth, inducing ground outs from Gregory Polanco and McCutchen for two quick outs. He slipped against Gray. Starling Marte, plunking the Pirates left fielder for the free bag then issued another free pass to David Freese. Joyce brought Marte around on a two-out single, then was brought home himself along with Freese on Harrison’s two-run double. Gray got Mercer to end the inning, but found himself in a 7-3 hole after six innings. He would depart the game, exiting with seven earned runs allowed on seven hits.
“This was obviously not a very good start,” said Gray. “There in the sixth I got two quick outs, I have to be able to shut that inning down and get back out there for the seventh.”
While Gray started out strong, Locke (8-5, 5.13 ERA) looked to be the one on his way to an early shower Friday. He reversed his fortunes after allowing the three runs over the first six outs, allowing only two A’s base runners on no hits over the next three innings.
“He wasn’t throwing many strikes early on with his fastball,” said Melvin. “With his changeup he was. Then he started to locate his fastball a little better. It was basically fastball-changeup with a few breaking balls.”
The Pirates bullpen yielded just one hit, a single to Jake Smolinski over the next four innings to close the door and take game one of the series.
While Gray’s struggles have been at the top of the list for the A’s rotation issues along with a spattering of injuries, Rich Hill was the bright spot early in the season. He leads the team in wins above replacement with 2.0 even after not making an appearance since May 29th and sports a 2.25 ERA. The veteran southpaw returns to the mound Saturday night, squaring off against righty Chad Kuhl, a rookie making just his second appearance (both starts) in his major league career.
Dillon Overton allowed eight earned runs in a loss to the Giants on Thursday. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
By: Eric He
OAKLAND – The A’s were denied a sweep in the Bay Bridge Series in convincing fashion, as the Giants rocked Dillon Overton in his second career start to salvage a game by the final of 12-6 on Thursday night.
Oakland was on a roll coming into the game at the Coliseum. The A’s had won six of seven and notched three straight impressive wins over the Giants, one of the best teams in the baseball.
But their winning ways came to streaking halt as Overton allowed 8 runs in just three innings pitched. A 6-run second inning was his undoing, and it started with a double by Madison Bumgarner — the first pitcher to bat for himself as a designated hitter since 1976 — to center field.
Though the other team was essentially giving up its designated hitter, Overton couldn’t just slide meatballs past Bumgarner.
“Yeah, for sure,” he said when asked if he treated Bumgarner just like another hitter. “He swings the bat like he’s an everyday position player. He swings with passion, he swings with heart. He’s trying to hit a home run every time he gets up there.”
Bumgarner’s hit set up a big inning. Later on, with the bases loaded and nobody out, Brandon Belt hit a ground-rule double to knock in a pair of runs. Buster Posey followed that with a 3-run homer, and for good measure, Brandon Crawford went back-to-back with a big fly to right field.
Overton struggled with commanding his changeup — his specialty pitch — and the Giants jumped all over it.
“His changeup’s his pitch,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Looks like he was just missing with some pitches that inning and got into some bad counts. Wasn’t really able to establish that pitch. He threw it over the plate and they hit them.”
Overton concurred: “When you’re behind in counts, usually I can throw the changeup anytime, anyplace. But tonight I didn’t have a good feel for it. It was hard to throw it in for a strike, and when I did, I left it up.”
The A’s, who led 1-0 heading into the inning after Marcus Semien homered in the first, managed to cut the deficit to four in the seventh inning on a 3-run blast by Yonder Alonso.
In relief of Overton, Andrew Triggs and Daniel Coulombe pitched four scoreless innings, but Fernando Rodriguez walked in two runs in the top of the ninth and Belt singled in two more off Marc Rzepczynski to extend the Giants’ lead to 12-4.
The A’s scored twice in the ninth inning off Giants’ reliever Derek Law to alter the final score.
In his Major League debut last week, Overton beat the Angels throwing 108 pitches and allowing three runs. On Thursday, he got a rough “welcome to the big leagues” by the Giants’ bats.
“This is only my second start up at this level,” Overton said. “Everything was moving pretty fast. Usually, I can do a pretty good job of making adjustments as the game goes on, but tonight, it just didn’t really work out that way.”
Up next, the A’s will finish their brief five-game homestand when the Pirates come to the Coliseum for a three-game set starting Friday.
The Oakland A’s beat the San Francisco Giants again Wednesday night in Oakland. The Final score was 7-1 and the A’s have scored twenty-eight runs in three games and Giants must be perplexed at what has happened in the last three days. The A’s Sean Manaea, in his first start since coming off the DL, pitched very well. Manaea went five and two-thirds innings and allowed just six hits and no runs. He threw just Eighty-three pitches, but since he hadn’t pitched in a while, A’s manager Bob Melvin decided to take him out of the game. With the win, Manaea’s now own a record of three wins against four losses, and his ERA dropped from 6.02 to 5.40. Jake Peavy lost his seventh game of the year, and his record is 4-7.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Marcus Semien hit a high fly to short right field that normally would be an out. However, Second baseman Ramiro Pena collided with right fielder Mac Williamson, and the ball dropped for an error as Semien made it to third safely. A’s center fielder Bily Burns laid down a beautiful bunt, and he almost made it to first safely. The play was ruled a sacrifice 3-4 and Burns earned an RBI as Alonso scored from third on the play. Coco Crisp kept the rally going when he tripled to left field. Jed Lowrie followed with a home run to right to give the A’s a 3-0 lead. The Giants’ right fielder made a valiant effort to catch the ball but the ball hit in the webbing of his glove but he collided with the wall and h was unable to finish the catch as the ball bounced over the fence. All three runs scored by the A’s were unearned.
The Giants missed a golden opportunity to get on the board in the fourth. With one out, Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Trevor Brown all singled to load the bases. Mac Williamson worked the count to 3-2 and when Manaea threw a changeup. Williamson hit a long fly that just missed being a Grand Slam. The A’s fans breathed a sigh of relief. Williamson then hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, The A’s scored four more in their half of the inning and sent Peavy to an early shower. Peavy retired the first batter he faced in the fourth, but he could not retire another hitter. He walked Billy Butler. Yonder Alonso hit his second home run of the year on the very first pitch from Peavy. It was a monster blast that landed about ten or fifteen rows in the right field seats. Marcus Semien reached on another three-base error and scored on a double by Billy Burns. Coco singled to drive in Burns and end the night for Peavy. Peavy’s went just three and one-third innings, and he allowed seven runs on five hits. Four of the runs were unearned but as Bob Melvin said the other night” they all count.” Peavy also gave up two two-run dingers. The A’s are enjoying a 7-0 lead after four complete.
The Giants put a run on the board in the eighth. Bob Melvin brought in the beleaguered John Axford to pitch. Axford has been shaky in his last three or four appearances. He retired the first batter to start the inning. He walked Brandon Belt and gave up a single to Buster Posey to put men on at first and second. Axford then uncorked a wild pitch to advance the runners. Was Axford about ready to implode? No, as he retired Brandon Crawford on a sacrifice fly to center and then struck out Trevor Brown to end the inning. Ryan Dull retired the Giants 1-2-3 to close out the game.
Game Notes- The A’s will be going for the sweep Thursday night. Young Dillon Overton will be making his second start for Oakland, and the Giants’ ace, Madison Bumgarner will pitch for San Francisco. The Giants announced that they would not be using the DH Thursday as Bumgarner will be hitting for himself. First time since 1976 that a team will relinquish the DH in favor of a pitcher hitting for himself. The A’s are now eight games under .500 and have a record of 35-43. The Giants drop to 49-31 but are still in first place in the NLWest and lead the Dodgers by six games.
There is an adage in baseball that ” you never know what you will see at a game tonight.” That was so Wednesday night as Marcus Semien reached third on two three-base errors in the same game. The A’s have won three in a row and six of their last seven games. Coco Crisp had two hits and now owns a seven-game hitting streak. Khris Davis was a late scratch due to a left shoulder contusion. The Giants have lost three in a row and are 5-6 in interleague play this season.
Time of game was two hours and forty-four minutes, and a crowd of 32,810 watched the A’s trounce the Giants again. Game Four will be Thursday night at the Oakland Coliseum, and the game will start at 7:05 PM.
