Oakland Athletics – Page 308 – Sports Radio Service

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Zito-Hudson match will pack the house this Saturday plus Mark Mulder will be attending

Published on September 23, 2015September 23, 2015 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Charlie O Mallanee

photo of Barry Zito and Tim Hudson by CBS.com

OAKLAND–It will be a moment that everybody is anticipating on the meeting between two old teammates one who pitches for the San Francisco Giants (Tim Hudson) and the other Oakland A’s starter (Barry Zito). On Sunday there is a scheduled pre game ceremony at the Oakland Coliseum that is going to be an tribute to Zito, Hudson and former Athletic Mark Mulder. Hudson and Zito will be facing each other on Saturday.

A’s assistant general manager Grady Fuson was an A’s scout director when Hudson, Mulder, and Zito were selected and brought up through the minor league system will be doing the presentation. All of the Big Three will be throwing out the first ball before Sunday’s game at the Coliseum. “The fans deserve something like that, some closure from those early years and all that fun we had you know?” Zito said on Tuesday before the game with Texas.

The reality is this is it for Barry and the reality is this is probably it for Hudson and Mulder has already hung it up his last team being the St. Louis Cardinals. It’s one of those situations where at this point it’s more tribute than probably less important then recognizing what they’ve done.

Let’s face reality even though the Giants are technically still into it they’re not going anywhere, the A’s have been eliminated they have the terrible E besides their team now because they’ve been eliminated from playoff contention. It’s meaningful and a match up between Hudson and Zito it doesn’t get that much better than that.

The A’s had to do something to make it worth the fans time to come out and for long time A’s fans and for Giants fans who appreciated what Hudson and Zito before him had done who was a Giant for seven years it would be a fitting way to pay tribute and send those guys off into retirement with a good feeling about their fans.

Final Charlie O notes: Dick Callahan the A’s PA Announcer gets the lucky draw of the schedule as this final meeting between the two clubs in September will be at the Coliseum. This was not expected to turn out to be a tribute to the Big Three when the schedule first came out but what a fine way to finish up at the Coliseum. Renal Brookes Moon the Giants PA Announcer would have like to have called the Big Three series had it been at AT&T Park but with the Giants coming to Oakland were sure she and Callahan will share PA notes.

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcast for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

The Texas Rangers come from behind to send the A’s down to defeat

Published on September 22, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

Mitch Moreland

The Texas Rangers beat the A’s Tuesday night at the O.co Coliseum by a score of 8-6. The Rangers gained a game on the Houston Astros to increase their lead in the AL West to two games. Lefty Sean Nolin started for Oakland and he was opposed by lefty Martin Perez. Neither pitcher did well and neither was involved in the decision. Nolin pitched five-plus innings allowing 5 runs and giving up seven hits. Perez went four-plus and he was touched for four runs and six hits. The A’s had a 4-1 lead after three innings of but Texas kept coming back and took the lead in the sixth when they put three runs on the board. They scored two more in the eighth and held on as the A’s rally fell short in the ninth.

Texas took a 1-0 advantage in the first inning. Adrian Beltre singled to eight to drive in Delino DeShields from second. The A’s regained the lead in the bottom of the second when they scored three times. Josh Reddick walked with one out. Jake Smolinski tripled to left center to drive in Reddick. Marcus Semien also tripled to drive in Smolinski. Semien was thrown out at home when Billy Burns tried to surprise the Rangers with a bunt. Mark Canha followed with a single to drive in Burns.

The A’s added a run in the fourth The A’s put together a walk, single and two ground outs to record their fourth run of the game. Texas came back in the top of the fifth scoring twice. Ranger catcher Chris Gimenez walked to start the frame. He went to third on a single by DeShields. Gimenez scored on a sac fly and DeShields tagged and took third on the throw. DeShields then scored on another sac fly to male it a 4-3 game.

The A’s got a run back in their half of the fifth. A single and two errors, one by Beltre and one by left fielder Mike Napoli, allowed Oakland to have the lead 5-3 after five. Texas scored three runs in the sixth. Mike Nolin gave up a big fly to Mitch Moreland with a man on that tied the game. A’s manager removed Nolin and Drew Pomeranz took over. Pomeranz gave up a single to Elvis Andrus. Rougned Odor laid down a bunt that first baseman Mark Canha couldn’t handle. The Rangers used another sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Andrus scored on a sac fly to put them up 6-5.

The Rangers scored two more times in the eighth. Andrus doubled with one out. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Odor. Gimenez hit a ball to right that bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double to put men on at second and third. Odor scored on a fly ball to second baseman Brett Lawrie. Lawrie made a sensational over the shoulder catch but Odor was ready and he tagged up and sprinted home with the score. The A’s rallied to score one in the ninth, but it was not enough as the fall to Texas.

Notes- The A’s tied a club record when they had two triples in the game to give the forty for the season. The record for triples was set in 1968, the first year the A’s played here in Oakland. Also, it was the first time since 1992 that the A’s had back-to back-triples in a game. The Rangers recorded four sacrifice flies in the game.

Chi Chi Gonzalez was the winning pitcher and Drew Pomeranz took the loss.

The line score for Texas was 8runs on 12 hits and two errors. The line for Oakland was six runs on nine hits and two errors.

Felix Doubront will go for Oakland and Colby Lewis will pitch for Texas. Lewis will be looking for his seventeenth win of the year.

Time of game was three hours and thirty-eight minutes and 16,524 people paid to see the game.

A short preview of the upcoming A’s- Rangers series starting Tuesday in Oakland

Published on September 21, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

Well, folks, the A’s have just twelve games left to play this year. They arrive home after a 4-6 road trip to Texas, Chicago, and Houston. The A’s have six games left in Oakland and then end the season on the road. The next three home games will be against the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants. The A’s then go to Anaheim for three and Seattle for three more.

The A’s, while having a dismal season, still can play a spoiler role. While the A’s have a record of 64-86 overall, they are 10-6 against the Rangers. The Rangers are 80-69 and lead the Houston Astros by a game and 1/2 in the race for the AL West crown while the Astros hold down the second Wild Card slot leading the Angels and Twins by two and 1/2 games. The A’s would love nothing better than to sweep the Rangers and upset their plans. The A’s also play the Angels next week and beating them could possibly keep the Angels out of the playoffs.

The Rangers have overcome a ton of injuries to their pitching staff and have a potential Manager of the Year candidate, Jeff Bannister, running the club. The Rangers did not start the season well but have been playing much better since the return of Derek Holland and the acquisition of lefty hurler, Cole Hamels. Prince Fielder, who missed most of last year due to a neck injury, has been on fire while being used as the designated hitter.

The pitching matchups for Tuesday’s game will be Left Sean Nolin pitching for the A’s against lefty Martin Perez of the Rangers. Nolin has a 3.24 ERA in his three starts with Oakland while Perez is 3-4 with a 5.59ERA in his last seven games.

On Wednesday, Felix Doubront goes for the A’s and the Rangers will counter with righty Colby Lewis. Lewis has a record of 1608. The sixteen wins are the most that Lewis has ever had in a season.

The A’s, under Bob Melvin, always play hard and will not go through the motions. They play to win and the Rangers will have to figure out a way to keep the A’s from beating them. Should be a good three-game series.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Local Bay Area Radio icons make it to Hall of Fame

Published on September 20, 2015September 20, 2015 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo of Terry McGovern courtesy google images

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO–On Saturday Bay Area radio personalities were introduced at the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame by former great DJ formerly with KSAN and KSFO Terry McGovern the former morning personality and voice actor. McGovern served as this year’s master of ceremonies and introductions at the BARHOF. McGovern a well known film actor, television broadcaster, radio personality, voice over specialist, and acting instructor.

The Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame, the California Historical Society and Broadcast Legends inducted nine of their own to the Hall of Fame. In the Sports Category former Raiders head coach, television analyst, and KCBS Sports personality John Madden started his introduction on former morning personality from the former flagship station of the A’s and Giants KSFO 560 Gene Nelson (BARHOF 2006).

Then Madden switched his attention and introduced former morning personality from KNBR Frank Dill (BARHOF 2006) who called it a day in 1988, coach Madden also worked with former news anchor at KCBS Al Hart (BARHOF 2006) and current KCBS morning anchor Stan Bunger (BARHOF 2010). Madden who was not there to present but he sent his most heartfelt thanks via video to introduce the personalities.

News Categories: Former KFRC and KCBS newsman from the South Bay Bureau Mike Colgan was introduced by former KGO ABC 7 reporter from the South Bay Bureau Rigo Chacon who is now retired. Colgan has been on the Bay Area radio news scene now for over 40 years. Colgan was part of that legendary 610 KFRC, the Big 610, 20/20 news team, and part of those Billboard Station Of The Year Award years when KFRC won consecutive Billboard awards in the 70s.

Colgan also worked at KPEN Los Altos before working at KCBS in 1988. Colgan’s current assignment is with the KCBS South Bay Bureau. I have personally known Rigo for along time, he does a lot of stuff for the community and told me his dad used to love to listen to me when I first started doing the A’s on the radio in the mid 70s.

Former KYUU great Gil Haar was brought in from Denver to work at KOBY as a DJ in 1958, then Haar worked at KYA and KEWB then moved to KMJ Fresno for five years, and came back to the Bay Area in 1966. He spent the next ten years as news director at KNEW. For those of you who knew him from his work in the 80s he worked with Don Bleu morning disc jockey, Vicky Jenkins news anchor, Whitey Gleason Sports Director at the formerly NBC owned 99.7 KYUU. Haar was famous for ending his news casts by saying “so now you know” he was also there to accept his Hall of Fame induction.

Pioneer: Elma Greer from KSFO radio which was called for many years “the world’s greatest radio station” where Greer was music director who started her 28 year tenure in 1961. Greer won numerous awards during her career as music director. Kathy Antsey Elma’s daughter accepted on behalf of Elma.

Engineering and Education: Ken Nielson a true radio and TV pioneer. He came to the Bay Area from Denver in 1941 and convinced the San Francisco United School District to apply for an FM license and purchase an RCA demonstration FM transmitter used in the 1939 Treasure Island Expo. The end result was that of KALW radio which became the first FM station on the West Coast. Later Ken convinced the school district to purchase TV cameras and related equipment for classes. The equipment was used after school hours to help start KQED TV. Yes, same KQED 9 as we well know it today.

Specialty: Peter Scott came to KSFO after several years at KSJO in San Jose. Peter worked his way up from production coordinator to assistant program director and then onto program director in the mid 70s. After his KSFO days he owned his own recording studio in San Francisco and did voice overs until his passing in 2008. McGovern inducted Scott with the Hall of Fame award.

Personality: Dusty Street got her start in Bay Area radio as one of the fabled “chick engineers” at KMPX in 1967. Street later became a DJ when she moved over to KSAN after the KMPX strike. Street later moved to the LA market from 1979-1995. She spent the last ten years at Sirius XM radio as radio host of classic vinyl.

Program host: Lisa Kreisler started his career at KLOK in the news department after graduation from San Jose State. When her station switched formats she jumped over to KBAY doing news before becoming co host of the morning show with fellow BARHOF 2015 and former K101 disc jockey Sam Van Zandt. The Lissa-Sam show put KBAY on top of the San Jose ratings. Van Zandt presented Lissa with the plaque.

Executive Harvey Stone originally from Cleveland served 33 years as General Manager/President of KBLX “The Quiet Storm”. He guided “The Quiet Storm” against the giant corporate stations to be rated in the top three on a consistent basis through the 1990s. Harvey is also the CHRS godfather. In 2003 he invited and allowed CHRS to use the historic KRE building in Berkeley as the first home of the CHRS Radio Museum.

Priceless stories about radio, when radio was really radio, when station had news, sports and weather staffs along with their music and program directors. I’m proud to be a part of the BARHOF (2010) preserving history of radio in the Bay Area, mixing with some of these people I have know for years and some that I used to listen to when I first arrived from New York City to San Francisco in 1969 it is always a thrill and a privilege.

A great afternoon was had by all and lunch at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco with an attendance of 140 people on Saturday. For more information please visit http://www.broadcastlegends.com.

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

Valencia Continues To Impress In Oaklands 4-3 Victory Over Houston

Published on September 19, 2015 by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Oakland Athletics celebrate their 4-3 win over the Houston Astros in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 18, 2015, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

By Kahlil Najar

A pair of Danny Valencia homers doomed the Astro’s to their fifth straight loss and make the gap for the AL West championship between Houston and Texas even bigger.

The Astros scored one run in the each of the first three innings but in the fourth the A’s finally got on the board. Josh Reddick lead off the inning with his 19th homer of the year on a line drive shot to right field and Danny Valencia followed that up with his 15th homer of the year with a shot down the left field and cut the lead down to one.

Both teams went scoreless for the next three innings until Valencia continued his offensive proweness of the night as he hit his 16th of the year with Mark Canha on board and give the A’s a 4-3 lead.

“I was capitalizing on mistakes, just like any guy in our lineup would have done,” said Valencia. “Fortunately for me, I got some hitter’s counts. It just felt good that we won and that I came through for the team.”

Ryan Dull earned his first save of the year as he went two innings and struck out a pair of Astros.

Oakland outfielder Billy Burns entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning after being out for the past eight games.

The A’s send up Sonny Gray (13-7, 2.56) against former teammate Scott Kazmir (7-10, 2.63) on Saturday afternoon in Houston.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Legendary Astro broadcaster Milo Hamilton dead at 88

Published on September 18, 2015September 18, 2015 by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

photo of Milo Hamilton courtesy of google images

LOS ANGELES–It was Milo Hamilton who was at the microphone calling the play by play for WSB Radio in Atlanta when baseball home run king Hank Aaron swatted his 715th home run to surpass former king of ding the late New York Yankee Babe Ruth. Hamilton made the call on April 8, 1974. Hamilton passed away at the age of 88 and the cause of illness was not disclosed.

Aaron’s 715th home run was anxiously anticipated during the off season as he was held to 713 homers at the end of the 1973 season. It was on opening day 1974 in Cincinnati that Aaron faced the Reds starter Jack Billingham when Hammering Hank belted the home run that would tie Ruth’s all time mark at 714. For the rest of that three game series Aaron wouldn’t go yard.

The Braves wanted to sit Aaron until he got back to Fulton County Stadium to face the LA Dodgers but MLB Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn ordered Aaron to play in every game of the Red series. The Braves wanted to save Aaron for the home games in Atlanta.

It was Hamilton who was on WSB calling the most famous call in baseball when Aaron broke baseball’s all time home run record and it was the mantle of Hamilton’s legendary career. Hamilton called Major League Baseball for 60 years and he always said that Aaron told him when he travels all over the world people refer to Hamilton’s call of Aaron’s home run on radio that night.

The way Hamilton would tell it “were kind of joined at the hip with home run number 715” of Aaron and the home run call. Aaron said of the call, “Your voice goes with me all over the world, everywhere I go when people start talking about that home run, your voice comes back, and I want to say how much I appreciate that.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNZl6HN5c-0 (link for Milo Hamilton call on Aaron’s 715th home run courtesy of You Tube)

Oakland scores three in the ninth to beat the White Sox

Published on September 17, 2015September 17, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s scored three times in the top of the ninth to rally from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Whites Sox 4-2 Thursday in Chicago. It was a warm and breezy day in the Windy City but after three games of high scores, it turned out to be a pitcher’s duel. Lefty Sean Nolin went for Oakland and he pitched very well. He went 5 innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. The White Sox lefty, Jose Quintana was up to the task and he restricted the A’s to just one run and four hits in seven innings of work.

The A’s put one run on the board in the top of the third. Catcher Josh Phegley doubled to left field leading off the inning. Phegley scored on a single to right by Marcus Semien. The White Sox tied the game in the bottom of the fourth. Third baseman Mike Olt blasted a monster shot to deep left center. Olt has homered in his last two games against the A’s. Olt is the only player in Major League history to homer for both the Cubs and White Sox in the same season.

The White Sox added another run in the fifth. Nolin walked Micah Johnson and Alexi Ramirez to start the inning. Left fielder Melky Cabrera singled to drive in Johnson to give the Chisox a 2-1 lead.
Fernando Rodriguez pitched two scoreless innings for the A’s and Sean Doolittle came through big time as he shut the White Sox down in the eighth and ninth innings. Chicago’s Matt Albers pitched a strong eighth inning to keep Oakland from getting even. The turning point came in the ninth inning. White Sox closer David Robertson was now pitching. Robertson, still in shock from his disastrous ninth inning Monday night, had another rough outing. A’s second baseman Brett Lawrie led off the ninth with a double to left. With one out, third baseman Danny Valencia singled to left. Lawrie made sure the ball went for a hit and was not able to score. Third base coach, Ron Washington, wisely put up the stop sign. Runners are at third and first with just one out. The designated hitter, Billy Butler, hit a long fly to right field. Chicago right fielder Avasail Garcia leaped high for the ball and appeared to have made the catch but coming down his wrist hit the top of the fence and the ball dropped out of glove for a home run. Oakland is in front 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. As mentioned earlier Doolittle pitched the ninth inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin decided to let Doolittle pitch as he threw just fifteen pitches in the eighth. Doolittle did the job and
retired the side to secure the win.

Notes- The A’s split the four-game series with the White Sox. The A’s are on their way to Houston to play the Astros. Houston is now longer in first place in the AL West and trails the Texas Rangers by 1 and 1/2 games. The Astros are now the second Wild Card team and lead the Minnesota Twins by a game and a half.

Felix Doubront will pitch for Oakland on Friday and Mike Fiers will fo for Houston. On Saturday, it will be Sonny Gray going against his good friend Scott Kazmir. Gray beat the Astros and Kazmir last week when the Astros were in town. Game time will be at 5:10 pm PT.

The White Sox turn the tables, pound the A’s

Published on September 16, 2015September 16, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

The Chicago White Sox rebounded from a pounding on Tuesday to defeat the A’s 9-4 Wednesday night in game three of the four-game series. Cody Martin called up from Nashville, started for Oakland in place of the injured Jesse Chavez. Martin lasted just three-plus inning allowing six runs and six hits. Eric Johnson, who is from the Bay Area, recorded his second win in three starts for the Sox. Johnson went six innings, threw 110 pitches and allowed three runs and six hits.

The White Sox hit three home runs in the game. Carlos Sanchez hit a two-run job in the first. Jose Abreu hit a solo homer in the third and Mike Olt hit a two -run tater in the fourth. The White Sox scored four more times in the fourth to take a 9-1 lead. The A’s offense scored one in the second, two in the sixth on the strength of home run off the bat of Billy Butler and one in the ninth on a solo blast by Jake Smolinski.
Final score- Chicago wins 9-4.

Notes- Pat Venditte relieved Martin in the sixth allowed one hit and three runs and could not retire a single batter. Dan Otero pitched two scoreless innings and reliever Arnold Leon, Fernando Abad, and R.J.Alvarez each pitched one scoreless inning.

Prior to the game. The Oakland A’s recalled right-handed pitcher Cody Martin from Triple-A Nashville and selected left-handed pitcher Barry Zito from Nashville. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s placed right-handed pitcher Jesse Chavez on the 60-day disabled list with a fractured rib.

Martin joins the A’s for the second time this year and is scheduled to start tonight at Chicago (AL). He was called up for the first time Sept. 1 and made his first Major League start and his A’s debut that day against Los Angeles (AL), allowing five runs on six hits in 3.0 innings for the loss. The 26-year old right-hander began the season with Atlanta and made his ML debut, going 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA in 21 relief appearances over two stints with the Braves.

Zito signed a minor league contract with the A’s with an invite to Spring Training on Feb. 17. He spent the entire season at Nashville where he went 8-7 with a 3.46 ERA in 24 games, including 22 starts. After going 0-2 with a 5.96 ERA in five starts in April, Zito went 8-5 with a 2.88 ERA over his final 19 games. He last pitched in the majors on Sept. 29, 2013 with the Giants against the Padres and has not pitched in an A’s uniform since Oct. 10, 2006 in Game 1 of the ALCS against Detroit.

Zito was drafted by Oakland in the 1^st round of the June, 1999 draft and has pitched 14 seasons in the majors with Oakland (2000-06) and San Francisco (2007-13). He won the American League Cy Young Award with the A’s in 2002 and is a three-time AL All-Star (2002-03, 2006). Zito went 102-63 with a 3.55 ERA in 222 starts in seven seasons with Oakland before signing a seven-year contract with San Francisco Dec. 29, 2006. He compiled a 63-80 record and a 4.62 ERA in 208 games, including 197 starts, in seven seasons with the Giants. Zito ranks fourth on the Oakland career list in wins (102), strikeouts (1096) and games started (222), fifth in innings pitched (1430.1) and sixth in winning percentage (102-63, .618).

Chavez was 7-15 with a 4.18 ERA in 30 games, including 26 starts, with Oakland. He went 3-9 with a 5.65 ERA and .295 opponents batting average over his final 14 starts after going 4-6 with a 3.16 ERA and .246 opponents average over his first 12 starts. Chavez is currently tied for the Major League lead with 15 losses.

The fourth and final game of the series will be played Thursday morning at 11:10am PT.

Attendance was 13,005 human beings and 823 dogs.

The A’s trounce the White Sox, win 17-6

Published on September 15, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s and the White Sox squared off Tuesday night in game two of the four-game series. It was no contest as the A’s routed their former ace, Jeff Samardzija and won going away 17-6. The A’s jumped on Samardzija for five runs in the first inning. Oakland sent ten men to the plate in the inning and had six hits. Samardzija just didn’t have anything working for him as he lost his thirteenth game of the year, and his record stands at 9-13. He has pitched poorly in the second half, and his negotiating value is compromised as he will be a free agent after the season’s end. The White Sox showed a little life in the bottom of the first. Brooks allowed three singles and a walk as Chicago plated two to close the gap to 5-2.

Oakland added a run in the third. Josh Phegley walked with one out. Eric Sogard lined a ball down into the right field corner to drive in Phegley. Sogard had a triple. In the fourth, the A’s blew the game wide open. They sent fifteen men to the plate and scored ten runs. One of the key hits was a Josh Reddick two-run dinger. Samardzija was done for the night. He went three-plus innings allowing eleven hits and ten runs. The score in the middle of the fourth had Oakland in the lead 16-2.

Chicago scored a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to trail 16-5. In the sixth, former White Sox player, Marcus Semien, homered to right off Nate Jones. That ended the scoring for the A’s but the White Sox scored one more on a solo home run by Alexi Ramirez in the seventh. A’s win 17-6.

Notes- after the game Bob Melvin had this to say about Samardzija “The at-bats were great all the way around,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s a pretty tough pitcher we’re facing. He’s a quality pitcher, and I know he’s having some struggles, but no one looks forward to facing him. To get him out of the game early on and to keep adding on was big for us.”
The A’s did not take batting practice before the game, and they rapped out eighteen hits. Worked wonders. They may not take batting practice ever again.
A’s pitcher Aaron Brooks won his second game of the year, and his record is now 2-3. The A’s had home runs by Josh Reddick and Marcus Semien. Melky Cabrera and Alexi Ramirez homered for Chicago.
The A’s announced that Jesse Chavez is out for the rest of the year due to a fractured rib. Right-hander Cody Martin will take his place and will start for Oakland Wednesday night. Eric Johnson will pitch for Chicago. Johnson has a record of 2-1. Chicago used seven pitchers including two position players, Leury Garcia in the eighth and Alexi Ramirez in the ninth.

Game three will be played in Chicago at 5:10 pm. PT
Time of game was 3:31 minutes and 12,446 watched their beloved Chisox get routed.

The White Sox outlast the A’s, beat them in the fourteenth inning

Published on September 14, 2015 by rxsluggerLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s lost their fourth game in the last fives, going down to the Chicago White Sox 8-7 in a fourteen inning marathon. Time of game was five hours and nineteen minutes. Dan Jennings won the game in relief for Chicago, and Arnold Leon took the loss for Oakland.

Sonny Gray started for the A’s and had the shortest outing of his career. Sonny lasted just three-plus innings and allowed seven runs before departing the game. White Sox starter John Danks pitched giving up just three hits. All the hits were solo home runs and the A’s trailed the White Sox 7-3 after seven innings of play.The A’s, however, came back in the ninth to score four times on just two hits to tie the game at 7. The game dragged on until the bottom of the fourteenth when Melky Cabrera singled to right to drive in the winning run.

The A’s took the lead in the top of the third. Jake Smolinski hit a solo home run to give the A’s the lead 1-0. The Chisox scored four times in the bottom of the inning. Gray gave up two two-run dingers. The first one was home run number twenty-eight for Jose Abreu and came with a man aboard. Trace Thompson also homered with a man on to put the A’s down 4-1 after three.

Brett Lawrie homered leading off the fourth inning to make it a 4-2 game but the White Sox scored three times to send Gray to the showers. The A’s picked up a run in the seventh on a Josh Reddick. The A’s loaded the bases in the ninth in a very strange inning. The A’s loaded the bases on a double, Danny Valencia struck out but reached as the pitch went wild, and he reached first safely. Josh Reddick reached on catcher’s interference after it looked like his grounder to second was a double-play ball that would have ended the inning. Coco Crisp walked to drive in a run and another run scored on a Tyler Flowers passed ball. The pitch hit Flowers in the masked and that allowed the run to score. Sam Fuld came through with a single to drive in two more to tie the game.

Both bullpens kept the other team from scoring until the fateful fourteenth inning. White Sox catcher Geovany Soto singled to lead off the inning. Adam Eaton bunted him to second. Leon struck out Alexi Ramirez, but Bob Melvin walked Abreu to take the bat out of hands. Leon faced Melky Cabrera. Cabrera, batting left-handed, singled to right. Reddick’s throw home was not in time as Soto beat the throw to end the game Game two of the four-game series continues Tuesday in Chicago. Game time will be at 5:10 pm PT.