Category: Oakland Athletics

The Mariners Squeak by the A’s, win 4-3.

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s played another one-run game Monday night. This time, it was against the Seattle Mariners and the outcome was not a happy one as they lost 4-3. Kendall Graveman started for the A’s and went six and one-third innings. He gave up four runs on ten hits and saw his record drop to 1-3. Nate Karns pitched for Seattle, and he won his third game of the year for the Mariners. Karns allowed three runs on six hits. The A’s Khris Davis hit two dingers to drive in all three runs they A’s scored.

The A’s jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. A’s left fielder Khris Davis lined a home run to left over the 367-foot sign. For Davis, it was his fourth home run of the year and his first at the Coliseum.

The Mariners tied the game in the top of the fourth. Robinson Cano doubled to start the frame. Nelson Cruz singled to right center. Cano did not score as he had to hold up to make sure the ball dropped safely for a hit. Mariner first baseman, Adam Lind, followed with a single to drive in Cano. Graveman threw four pitches and three were whacked for hits. Graveman retired Kyle Seager on a fly to left for the first out of the inning, and Chris Iannetta’s fly out to center was turned into a double play as Billy Burns’ throw to third nailed Cruz for the final out of the inning.

The Mariners scored two runs on four hits in the top of the sixth. Cano singled to start the Mariners’ rally. Nelson Cruz followed with his third hit of the night to put men on at first and second with no out. Adam Lind hit into a double play. Cano advanced to third on the play and scored when Kyle Seager doubled to right. Chris Iannetta singled to drive in Seager to put Seattle ahead 3-1 in the middle of the sixth. Seattle added another run in the top of the seventh. Nori Aoki doubled with one out. He stole third and scored when Stephen Vogt’s throw to third went for an error.  In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored twice in their half of the seventh. Josh Reddick led off with a single. He scored when Khris Davis hit a monster home run to deep left centerfield. The ball landed near the TV cameras. For Davis, it was his second home run of the night and fifth of the year. Stephen Vogt followed with a double, but the A’s failed to get a hit to drive him in to tie the score. Seattle leads 4-3 after seven.

The A’s bullpen kept Seattle off the board in the eighth and ninth. The A’s rally in the ninth fell short when Mariner closer Steve Cishek struck out Jed Lowrie to end the game.

Game Notes- The A’s record is now 13-14 while Seattle improves to 14-11. Texas won again to remain in first place. Seattle currently resides in second place, and the A’s are still in third as the Angels and Astros lost their games Monday night.

The A’s will send their ace, Sonny Gray, to the mound Tuesday night. Seattle will counter with Hisashi Iwakuma. Gray will be trying to win his fourth of the year, and Iwakuma will be seeking his first.

Time of game was two hours and forty-five minutes, and there were 10,535 devoted A’s fans in the stands to watch the game. Game time Tuesday night will be at 7:05 pm PT and fans should get here early as the Warriors are playing the Portland Trail Blazers next door at the Oracle Arena at 7:30.

 

 

 

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: A’s shored up bullpen can be a relief for finishing up A’s games

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Amaruy Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg take a look at the MLB news. On the Angels they have a staff of pitchers that can hold the runs. The Angels reliever Matt Shoemaker was sent down to the minors after giving up seven runs in his last outing and the Angels just swept in their last home series in Anaheim. The Mariners are doing well and they A’s and M’s opened up a three game series on Monday night and it was a close affair.

For the Oakland A’s they look like they’ve strengthen their bullpen Fernando Rodriguez, Ryan Dull, Marc Rzepczynski, John Axford, and Sean Doolittle. The A’s are very strong in the bullpen and they can get stronger. A’s starter Eric Surkamp went down and they brought up Sean Manaea and he looks like the real deal.

Amaruy Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s Spanish radio voice and is the Spanish voice for the Los Angeles Angels and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s just didn’t get the run production against Houston on Sunday

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On the A’s podcast the Houston Astros who came to the Oakland Coliseum shut down the A’s 2-1 behind the pitching of starter Doug Fister on Sunday. The A’s had their chances and they didn’t cash in on any of them they left eight men on base. They were one for seven with runners in scoring position. The A’s have on one to blame but themselves. A’s starter Rich Hill pitched well enough to get a victory but didn’t get the run support.

That’s the magic of baseball the Astros gave up two runs a couple of hits in six innings of work and he took a loss. Conversely the Boston Red Sox starter David Price coughed up six runs and won his game when the Sox played the Yankees 8-7. So you just never know in baseball.

Jerry Feitelberg does the A’s podcasts each week and is the A’s beat writer for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Too many men left on base – A’s lose 2-1

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
MLB: Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics
Photo Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Oakland – There is no such thing as a pretty loss. By their very nature, all losses all are ugly. But, some losses are “uglier” than others.

The Oakland Athletics had one of those very ugly losses on Sunday afternoon as they dropped a one-run game to the Houston Astros 2-1 in the series finale. The A’s did take the series two games to one.

It looked like it was going to be a high scoring, power game the way things began. All-star second baseman Jose Altuve took a one-one curveball over the left-center field fence for a home run to lead off the game for the Astros. Since the ball carries very well in the Coliseum during the day, everyone settled in for a “slug fest” that never happened. Instead, a pitching duel broke out in Oakland.

When the smoked cleared, the day belonged to the Houston Astros.

On the hill

LHP Rich Hill (3-3, 2.53) started the game for Oakland. After giving up the home run to Altuve, he settled down and got himself out of the first inning.

Hill set the side down in order in the second inning but struggled with the Astros in the third.

Houston managed to load the bases and Colby Rasmus hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field that allowed catcher Jason Castro to score from third. The Astros took a 2-0 lead and their scoring was over for the day.

Hill pitched 6.0 innings giving up just two hits (one home run) and allowing just two runs (both earned). He walked four and struck out four batters. Hill threw 106 pitches (61 strikes). It was the type of performance that would result in a win on many days.

The A’s bullpen did their job on Sunday. Liam Hendriks, Fernando Rodriquez and Mark Rzepczynski worked a combined 3.0 innings giving up no hits and no runs.

Hill was charged with the loss.

Veteran RHP Doug Fister (2-3, 4.60) started the game for the Astros. Fister was not overpowering or mystifying. He simply pitched to contact and the A’s kept hitting ground balls right at the defense.

Fister did allow the A’s to get seven hits but he kept them from being able to string them together until the seventh inning when Oakland would score its only run.

Fister pitched 6.2 innings giving up seven hits and one run (earned). He walked just one batter and struck out five. He threw 95 pitches (66 strikes).

The Houston relief corps worked 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

In the batter’s box

In the batter’s box is where it was ugly for the A’s today. They were facing a starting pitcher who came into the game with a 5.56 ERA. As a team, you have to take advantage of that situation. An ERA that high screams of a pitcher who is struggling. As Don Henley says, “You kick ‘em when they’re down.”

Oakland had a pitching performance from their starter and relievers that was worthy of a victory. A win was not achieved for one simple reason – men left on base.

The A’s left eight men on base in the game. Even more disturbing was the fact they were just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. That is an ugly stat that make this an ugly loss.

The Astros struggled as well. They picked up seven base-on-balls in game and were unable to really capitalize on them. Houston left seven men on base and was 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

On offense in general, this was a very strange game.

Defense

Just a note on defense. The Astros employed the defensive shift more than any team I have seen use it before in a game. They seem willing to play the percentage game and take their lumps if the opposition is able to beat them at their game.

The A’s were able to beat the shift several on several occasions but the Astros were successful using the defensive ploy. We will do some statistical follow up to see how successful the defensive scheme is over the long haul.

Up next

The Athletics open a 3-game home series with the Seattle Mariners on Monday night. Kendall Graveman will take the mound for the A’s facing the Mariners Nathan Karns.

The Astros return home to begin a 3-game series with the Twins.

 

 

Injury replacement Hahn and two relievers lead the A’s to a shutout of the Astros

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Hahn hot

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Jesse Hahn, step right up. There’s no line, and no reason to wait.

Closing a rocky stretch in which seven different pitchers started the last seven games, Jesse Hahn came out of nowhere to register the most impressive turn, shutting out the Astros on Saturday along with two relievers in the A’s 2-0 win at the Coliseum.

While Hahn figuratively came out of nowhere, literally he’s a replacement for injured starters Felix Doubront and Chris Bassitt, and was the odd man out in spring training, a guy who made 16 starts for Oakland in 2015, and was as up and down as an elevator in a high rise building.

After posting a 6-6 record with a 3.35 ERA, forearm issues struck in July, sidelining Hahn for the remainder of the season, then after some disappointing outings this spring, he wasn’t seen or heard of in these part until Saturday.

With a fastball registering as swift as 97 mph, and plenty of bite on his breaking pitches, Hahn was simply a revelation on Saturday. The powerful right hander pitched into the seventh inning, allowing three hits and two walks, while striking out four. Bob Melvin, a most interested observer given the unsettled nature of his rotation, said as much in his comments following the game.

“Velocity, movement, mixed his pitches, throwing his curveball for a strike, mixing in a changeup, and you’re throwing 96, 97 mph and throwing strikes,” Melvin recounted. “About as good as we’ve seen him.”

Hahn worked fast, a huge advantage for the A’s error-prone defenders, starting 18 of 23 batters with a strike. His ball-strike ratio wasn’t great, so he did fall into some deep counts, but needed just 81 pitches to get the A’s into the seventh inning. By any measure this was the best outing an A’s starter has posted in 2016.

“I was throwing strikes,” Hahn said. “That was the most important thing: strike one and being able to put hitters away.”

One major qualifier in Hahn’s seamless appearance is the current state of the Astros, now tied for the worst record in the American League after winning just seven of 24 in April, and failing to win consecutive games even once. Last April, the Astros shot out of the gate at 15-7 and went from there to a first playoff appearance in 10 seasons.

“We all know we’re capable of playing a lot better,” Houston’s Scott Feldman said. “With May, hopefully something magical happens. We’ll get this thing turned around and start playing to our capabilities.

Feldman threw three innings of scoreless relief, after Chris Devenski went five innings, allowed both Oakland runs and took the loss. It was an exchange of roles as Devenski, a reliever, replaced the struggling Feldman in Houston’s rotation. Devenski pitched well, but pitched tentatively in the second, according to manager A.J. Hinch, when he allowed Billy Burns’ two-run single scoring Yonder Alonso and Josh Phegley.

Against Hahn, Carlos Correia’s one-out, double in the seventh qualified as Houston’s biggest—and only—blow. After Hahn departed, John Axford and Ryan Madson finished the job. Madson walked a couple of batters, giving Houston a sliver of light, but cleanup hitter Evan Gattis grounded into a game-ending double play with two baserunners aboard.

The A’s finished 13-12 in April, the third time in four years, excluding last April, that the A’s have posted a winning record in the opening month. Texas defeated the Angels Saturday night, 7-2, to maintain their 1 ½ game lead over Oakland in the AL West with Seattle in second, a game ahead of the A’s.

On Sunday, Rich Hill starts for Oakland, and Doug Fister gets the ball for Houston, with the Astros looking to avoid a three-game sweep. The 32-year old Fister has lost three consecutive starts, and his 5.56 ERA is more than two runs higher than his career mark.

The Tigers pounce on the A’s again.

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Detroit Tigers pitcher Francisco Rodriguez 57 congratulated Anthony Gose right after defeating the Oakland A’s 7-3 on Thursday at Comerica Park

The Tigers beat the A’s again Thursday afternoon in Detroit by a score of 7-3. The A’s were hoping to get a win so that they would return home with a record of 6-4 on the ten-game road trip. They ended up 5-5 which is not bad considering the teams the had to play. They started off well beating the Yankees four straight. They took the first game from Toronto but lost the last two games as the Toronto’s hitters came to life. Then the four-game series with Detroit. The A’s split the first two games, but the starting pitchers could not hold down the big boys in the Detroit Lineup. J.D.Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton and Anthony Gose punished Sonny Gray, Chris Bassitt, and Kendall Graveman. Bassitt went three and 2/3rds inning giving up ten hits, seven earned runs, one home run. His ERA zoomed up to 6.11.

Josh Reddick drove in the first run of the game in the top of the third. The Tigers scored four times in the bottom of the third. Anthony Gose doubled to start the rally. Ian Kinsler doubled to drive in Gose. J.D.Martinez, batting second in front of Miguel Cabrera, walked. Cabrera singled to drive in Kinsler. Martinez scored when Cabrera tagged up and tried to reach second on the play. The throw to second was cut off. Martinez took off for home and beat the throw to the catcher.  Justin Upton flew out, and Cabrera took third after tagging up. Nick Castellanos doubled to drive in Cabrera with the fourth run of the inning.

Stephen Vogt homered leading off the fourth to cut the deficit to two. However, the Tigers scored three more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach. The big blow was a two-run homer off the bat of Anthony Gose. The A’s scored a run in the ninth, but it was not enough as they lose 7-3.

Game Notes- The A’s fall to one game under .500 with a record of 11-12.  Chris Bassitt took the loss. Anibal Sanchez recorded his third win of the year for Detroit. Sanchez went five and two-thirds innings. He gave up two runs on three hits, walked seven and struck out nine. The A’s won the first four games of the road trip but lost five of the last six. A’s manager Bob Melvin may be making some additional changes to the starting rotation. The first change will occur Friday night when the big lefty, Sean Manaea, makes his Major League debut against the Houston Astros. Jesse Hahn’s recall was delayed due to a blister on his pitching hand, and Henderson Alvarez should be ready to return to the Big Leagues in mid-May.

 

The Tigers use the long ball to beat the A’s.

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Detroit Tigers designated hitter Vic Martinez goes yard for a three run shot in the Detroit half of the sixth against the Oakland A’s on Wednesday night at CoAmerica

The A’s sent their ace, Sonny Gray, to the hill Wednesday night in Detroit hoping to send the Tigers down to defeat. The Tigers’ Justin Verlander, who beat Gray in Game Five of the ALDS in 2013, was very effective as he and the Tigers drubbed the A’s 9-4.

Gray left the game after just two innings of work.He gave up four runs in the bottom of the second. The big hit was J.D.Martinez’s three-run homer to put the Tigers in the lead 4-0. For Gray, it was the quickest exit of his career and left A’s manager Bob Melvin having to go to the bullpen early. The A’s Khris Davis made it a 4-1 game in the top of the fourth when he hit a monster home run to deep center field that almost hit the statue of Tiger legend Al Kaline. The Tigers scored in the bottom of the fourth when the A’s made two errors that allowed an unearned run. Tigers in the lead 5-1 after four.

The Tigers put the game away in the bottom of the sixth when the other Martinez(Victor) hit a three-run dinger off Liam Hendricks to make it 8-1. The A’s scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth. It was not enough as Detroit won 9-4.

Game Notes- Sonny Gray’s record dropped to 3-2 while Verlander’s improved to 2-2.  The pitching line for Gray was two innings pitched, two hits, four runs, four walks, one home run and sixty-four pitches. The A’s are now 11-11 for the year and are 5-4 on the ten-game road trip. The Series finale will be at 10 am PT Thursday morning. Chris Bassitt will go for Oakland, and he will be opposed by Anibal Sanchez. The A’s return to Oakland to face the Houston Astros Friday night. Lefty Sean Manaea was recalled from Nashville and may make his MLB debut in that game.

 

 

 

Rich Hill tames the Tigers, A’s snap 3-game losing streak

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: Rich Hill Oakland starter on Tuesday night

The Oakland A’s, behind a terrific performance by lefty Rich Hill, defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-1 Tuesday night in Detroit. Hill, without doubt, had his best game of the young season. He went seven innings allowed just four hits, no runs and struck out eight. The veteran lefty gave up two singles in the first inning and then retired eighteen of the last twenty hitters he faced. His record is now 3-2 for 2016.

The A’s scored three times in the top of the fourth. Mike Pelfrey was trying to win his first of the year for the Tigers, but the A’s took advantage of a couple of defensive lapses in the inning to go ahead 3-0. Josh Reddick started the rally with a single. Reddick stole second. The Tiger second baseman couldn’t hang on to the throw from the catcher. Jed Lowrie continued his clutch hitting. Lowrie singled to drive in Reddick. Stephen Vogt doubled to put men on at second and third with no out. Lowrie scored on a sac fly off Coco Crisp’s bat to put the A’s up 2-0. Kris Davis singled to drive in Vogt. A’s lead 3-0.

There was no more scoring until the top of the seventh. With two out and a man on first, Marcus Semien hit his fifth dinger of the season and finished the night for Pelfrey. Rich Hill pitched the seventh and Bob Melvin brought in Sean Doolittle for the eighth. Doolittle did his job, and John Axford closed out the game for the win. Axford gave up his first run of the year, but it was too little, too late for Detroit. The A’s improve to 11-10 and are tied with the Texas Rangers for second place in the AL west just two percentage points behind the Seattle Mariners.

Game Notes- Rich Hill’s ERA dropped to 2.42 after his magnificent outing Tuesday night. Game three of the series will feature an outstanding matchup between the A’s ace Sonny Gray and the former Cy Young winner and MVP, Justin Verlander.

Here is some news regarding Tyler Collins  The report is from the Detroit Free Press regarding Collins’ possible suspension for the improper gesture. The report is as follows:

” The Detroit Free Press is reporting that MLB has concluded review of Tyler Collins incident. He will not be suspended, 

Major League Baseball is reviewing Collins’ improper gesture to fans during Monday night’s win over the Athletics. Collins lost a fly ball in the lights Monday Night and did not react well when he was booed by the fans.

A league spokesperson told the Free Press today the league has opened an investigation regarding the incident, in which the Tigers centerfielder flashed his middle finger to fans.

“If anything needs to be done, we’ll handle it internally,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “And if Major League Baseball has a reaction, then we’ll see what their reaction is.”

“Nobody wants that ball to get lost less than me,” Collins said. “That hurts. And to be at home and to hear boos after that play, it hit a trigger inside of me, and I lashed out, completely inappropriately.

“I’m embarrassed that happened and I’m very sorry to everybody in Detroit. I just want you guys to understand that I love this team, and I want to win so when we come home and get booed, it’s tough to swallow. But like I said, I apologize completely, and I’m embarrassed at myself, and I know my family is embarrassed at me and I’m sure these guys are, too, so I’m sorry that happened.”

MLB previously suspended right-handed reliever Jonathan Papelbon for seven games while with the Phillies in 2014 after making an inappropriate gesture to fans while getting booed after blowing a save.

The Tigers’ Joe Nathan wasn’t disciplined by the league in 2014 after giving a chin flick to fans following a win.

If Collins is suspended while on the 25-man roster, the Tigers would not be able to fill that spot, having to play one man short. If he is optioned to Triple-A Toledo – which could be on the horizon, given Cameron Maybin’s recovery from a shoulder injury – any potential suspension would take place if he returns to the big leagues. He can appeal any suspension.

Time of game was two hours and thirty-six minutes and 22,256 people watch Rich Hill make magic with his curve ball in the win for Oakland.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: A look at the pitching matchups in Detroit and the Astros coming to Oakland

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en.wikipedia.org photo: Bob Melvin replacing A’s starter Kendall Graveman on Monday night in Detroit

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O over the past week it’s been about streaks for the A’s, also Charlie takes a look at the pitching match up in this A’s-Tigers series in Detroit. Also a look at the A’s offense and defense. Also how the pitching staff has been contributing to the A’s success. Also a look at the Houston Astros series coming up this weekend and a look at what’s happening with the A’s development in their Triple A farm system in Nashville.

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com take a listen below

 

The Tigers send the A’s down to their third straight loss.

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by Jerry Feitelberg

photo credit abcnews.com: After a fly that was miscued in the outfield lights Detroit outfielder Tyler Collins heard a rain of criticism from the Tiger fans in which Collins reciprocated by flipping off the fans in a game the Tigers were leading the Oakland A’s at the time 6-0 at CoAmerica Park in Detroit on Monday night

It was not a good night for the A’s as the lost 7-3 to the Detroit Tigers in the first game of a four-game series. The loss was the third in a row for the A’s and evened their season mark at 10-10. They are still in first place in the AL West, but they have company sharing the lead with the Texas Rangers also at 10-10 and the Seattle Mariners, who are at 9-9.

Kendall Graveman was hoping to repeat his outstanding performance last time out as he beat the Yankees in New York. Things did not go well for Kendall. He gave up a solo home run to Miguel Cabrera. Miggy came into the game hitting just .206 and was in a 0-for-13 slump. The Tigers scored the second run of the game in the second inning. Graveman did not make it out of the fifth. With one out, he gave up back-to-back singles. Cabrera made him walk the plank as he blasted his second home run of the night. Victor Martinez followed with a solo homer, and the Tigers led 6-0. Bob Melvin lifted him with two out and two on. The Tigers added another run and the A’s reached Zimmerman for three runs. Only one of the runs was earned. The Tigers win 7-3.

Jordan Zimmerman, the price free agent acquisition, improved his record to 4-0. Zimmerman pitched 24 1/3rd scoreless innings to start the season.  This was the best start ever by a Tiger pitcher. The A’s runs were driven in bu Billy Burns, Yonder Alonso and Mark Canha.

Game two of the series will see Rich Hill on the mound for Oakland and he will be opposed by the Tigers’ Mike Pelfrey. Hill will be seeking his third win of the year.

Game time will be 4:10 PM PT in Detroit.