Category: Oakland Athletics

The Bullpen comes through, the A’s down the Twins

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by Jerry Feitelberg

What a difference a day makes. Monday night, the bullpen failed and the A’s lost the game, but the A’s defeated the Twins  2-1 Tuesday night in Minnesota behind the great pitching of Jesse Chavez and Tyler Clippard. Chavez was making his third start of the year and he was terrific. He went 7 and 1/3rd innings and allowed just four hits and one run and that run was unearned. Evan Scribner faced one hitter and he was replaced by Tyler Clippard who was able to get five outs to win the game for the A’s. Chavez came into the game with a record of 0-2 and an ERA of 2.55.  Trevor May (2-1, 4.43 ERA)  started for the Twins.

The A’s jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff hitter, Billy Burns singled to start the inning. He stole second to get into scoring position and was driven in when designated hitter, Billy Butler singled to right. 1-0 A’s

There was no more scoring until the top of the sixth as Mays and Chavez engaged in an old-fashioned pitchers duel. The A’s scored again when Stephen Vogt walked with two out. Ike Davis singled and Vogt scored on a single by Brett Lawrie. May went 5 &2/3rds innings giving up five hits and two runs.

The Twins were held scoreless until the bottom of the eighth. Jesse Chavez gave up a single to Jordan Schafer. With one out, Danny Salazar hit a rocket that was fielded by Ike Davis. Davis should have stepped on first for the force out, but he elected to throw to second in the hopes of starting a double play, but his throw went past Marcus Semien who was covering second on the play. Schafer went to third on the error. Bob Melvin brought in Evan Scribner to pitch to Brian Dozier. Dozier hit a soft line drive to center to drive in Schafer with the Twins’ first run. Melvin replaced Scribner with Tyler Clippard. Clippard had to face two dangerous Twins’ hitters, Torii Hunter, and Joe Maurer. He retired both of them to end the inning. Clippard retired the side in order in the ninth to secure the win for Chavez and the A’s. Final score 2-1 in favor of Oakland.

Game notes- Jesse Chavez and Tyler Clippard’s performances gave the A’s what they desperately needed. Solid starting pitching and a great performance from the bullpen was exactly the A’s needed and Chavez and Clippard came through in a big way. Chavez went deep into the game and Clippard shut the Twins down. Clippard earned his third save of the year and the A’s won their first one-run game of the season. The A’s are 3-2 on the road trip and 12-16 overall.

Game 3 of the series will be Wednesday night at Target Field in Minneapolis at 5:05pm. Scott Kazmir will pitch for Oakland.

The Twins rally to beat Oakland

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s started a four-game set in Minnesota with the Twins Monday night. The game was a battle of right-handed pitchers. Jesse Hahn was looking for his second win of the season and he was opposed by Phil Hughes. Hughes was 0-4 entering the game and looking for his first win. The A’s had a chance to chase Hughes in the first inning, but could not get the key hit they needed to break the game open.  The Twins, who are playing well, came from behind twice and were able to keep the A’s at bay as they won the game 8-7.

The A’s scored four times in the first. They loaded the bases for Stephen Vogt and Vogt put the ball into the right-field stands to give the A’s an early 4-0 lead. The A’s continued to hit Hughes well. Ike Davis singled and Brett Lawrie doubled to put men on at 2nd and 3rd with one out, but Hughes was able to get the next two hitters and get out of the jam.

The Twins came back in the bottom of the second and tied the score at 4. The bottom of the Twins order caused the A’s fits all night. The rally was started by the Twins’ designated hitter, Kennys Vargas, who singled to right/Left-fielder Eduardo Escobar also singled to put two on with no out. Jordan Schafer doubled to drive in Vargas. Shortstop Danny Santana reached on an infield hit driving in Escobar with the Twins’ second run of the inning. Leadoff hitter, Brian Dozier, doubled to drive in two more runs to tie the game.

The A’s took the lead again in the top of the sixth. Big Mark Canha hit a tape-measure home run into the second deck in left field to make it a 5-4 game. The Twins scored four times in their half of the sixth to take the lead for good. Jesse Hahn gave up two hits to start the sixth and A’s manager Bob Melvin decided that Hahn was done for the night and he replaced by R.J.Alvarez. Alvarez gave up a single to Schafer to tie the game, but he managed to get two out before he had to face the ever dangerous Torii Hunter. Hunter responded by turning on a fastball and hit a line shot down the leftfield line for a three-run homer. Twins lead 8-5 after six.

The A’s scored a run in the top of the eighth to make it a 2 run deficit and they scored a run in the ninth.The Twins had the closer, Glen Perkins on the mound to end the game, but the A’s did not go down easy. Josh Reddick singled and took second on defensive indifference. Reddick scored on a double by Vogt that just missed going out of the park. The A’s needed a hit to tie, but Perkins struck out Craig Gentry to win it for Minnesota.

Game notes- The A’s are now 2-2 on the 10 game road trip and their record for the year is 11-16. The Twins, on the other hand, are hot. They have won five in a row and are at 14-12 and in third place in the very tough central division just behind the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers.

The A’s hitting stars were Stephen Vogt who went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and five Rbi, Billy Burns and Brett Lawrie with two hits each. Josh Reddick singled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.  The Twins hitting stars were  Vargas, Escobar, Schafer, Santana and Hunter. Hunter had the big three-run homer and the other four hitters went 9-for14 in winning the game for the Twins.

Phil Hughes went six innings won his first game of the year. The A’s touched him for 5 runs and 9 hits but their starter, Jesse Hahn, did not have a good outing. Hahn went 5 plus innings allowing 6 runs on 10 hits and took the loss. His record for the year is 1-2. The A’s bullpen allowed 2 runs or more for the 12th time in the last 18 games. Part of the problem is that the starters, other than Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir, are not going deep into the game and the bullpen is becoming overworked and, perhaps, tired. The A’s need the starters to go six, seven and eight innings and allow the bullpen to regroup.  A’s closer, Sean Doolittle, will be back soon, but the other members of the ‘pen have to pitch better if the A’s want to make the playoffs.

Game 2  will be played at Target Field in Minneapolis on Tuesday at 5:05pm

A’s leave Texas with a 7-1 win

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram
Richard W. Rodriguez/Star-Telegram

by Charlie O. Mallonee

The A’s got a charge out of their starting battery to defeat the Rangers 7-1 in Texas on Sunday. Sonny Gray pitched 6.2 shutout innings and catcher Stephen Vogt provided the punch at the plate to lead Oakland to victory.

The win gave the A’s the series win 2 games to one. Oakland is now 11-15 on the season and the Rangers drop to 8-16.

On the Bump

Sonny Gray had to give it his all as the starter on Sunday. Gray worked 6.2 scoreless innings but they were not easy innings. Gray struck out 10, but he walked seven batters. He threw 119 pitches (69 strikes) giving up just two hits. That is the most pitches Gray has thrown in a game this season.

Gray had good control of his fastball and his slider in the game. His slider to left-handed hitters was particularly effective.

Dan Otero – who was pitching for the fifth consecutive day – relieved Gray. Otero faced just one hitter inducing him to fly out.

Chad Smith – just called up from Triple-A Nashville – pitched a scoreless eighth inning but struggled in the ninth. Smith loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth. R.J. Alvarez was brought in to close out the game.

Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo (2-4) was tagged with the loss. He gave up four runs (three earned) in his 6.2-innings of work.

In the Batter’s Box

Stephen Vogt led the offense for the Athletics on Sunday. He went two for three. Both of his hits were home runs which brings his total to six round trippers for the year. Yogt scored two runs, had four RBI and walked twice.

Josh Reddick continued his hot streak. He hit his fourth home run of the season – a two-run shot in the ninth. Reddick went two for four with two runs scored and two RBI.

Marcus Semien was two for five with a run scored while Brett Lawrie went two for four at the plate. Billy Burns and Eric Sogard also added one hit each.

The A’s scored their seven runs on 10 hits. Oakland left eight men on base and were two for seven with runners in scoring position.

Texas hitters struck out 13 times and left 14 men on base. The Rangers were one for 13 with runners in scoring position.

In the Field

The A’s defense was better in Texas,but they could not get out of the Lone Star state without committing a miscue. Sam Fuld dropped a fly ball in left field in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fortunately, the error did not cost the A’s a run.

The A’s did not turn a double play in the contest.

Up Next

The A’s left Texas and headed to Minnesota where they will play a four-game series with the Twins.

The A’s will send RHP Jesse Hahn (1-1, 2.86 ERA) to the hill to face the Twins’ RHP Phil Hughes (0-4, 4.55 ERA). Game time is 5:10 PDT.

One night after Texas’ bullpen melts down, the A’s relievers implode in a 7-6 loss

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By Morris Phillips

This time, the Rangers’ porous bullpen survived, while the A’s erratic bullpen did not.

Saturday night in Arlington, Texas, the A’s saw their 7-3 lead disappear in a wild seventh inning in which the A’s and Rangers combined to hit a pair of three-run homers and score 10 runs.

But when the smoke cleared and the inning ended, the game was tied.  When another brushfire broke out in the tenth, the A’s Ryan Cook and R.J. Alvarez could put it out, as the A’s fell 7-6 to Texas.

With the loss, the A’s have yet to win a one-run ballgame in 2015, falling to 0-6, and they’re 0-4 in extra inning decisions.  Incredibly, the A’s bullpen has suffered eight losses in the last two weeks alone.

Can injured closer Sean Doolittle get healthy fast enough?  For manager Bob Melvin, Doolittle represents a small piece of the puzzle.  Until the rest of the group improves, it may not matter how good Doolittle is if the rest of the group can’t do their part.

“Obviously, we’ve gone through a horrible stretch here,” Melvin admitted.  “We’ve just got to get better.”

On Friday, the Texas bullpen allowed all seven Oakland runs in a nightmare, eighth inning that led to a 7-5 loss.  Saturday, Texas starter Nick Martinez fell into trouble in the seventh, and the Rangers’ bullpen faltered again as Anthony Bass allowed a three-run shot to Josh Reddick to cap the A’s six run rally that overcame a 3-1 deficit.

But then the trio of Chris Bassitt, Dan Otero and Fernando Abad couldn’t get the A’s through the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Rangers four runs, capped by Shin-Soo Choo’s homer with a pair of baserunners aboard.  Choo came into the at-bat hitting .101 with one hit in his last 27 at-bats.  But Abad, the A’s lefty specialist, couldn’t retire the slumping, left-hand hitting Choo, and that quickly, the game was tied.

In the tenth, Choo found more success against Cook, leading off the inning with a double.  Then Cook walked the next two batters to load the bases, and Melvin had seen enough.

But that brought the seldom-used Alvarez into an almost impossible no-out bases-loaded situation that didn’t work out when Rougned Odor—the Rangers’ ninth-place hitter—delivered a game-winning single that scored Choo.

Thought to be a strength, the A’s bullpen has been a mess thus far starting with newly-acquired Tyler Clippard struggling in place of Doolittle.  Then 2010 All-Star Ryan Cook began the season at AAA Memphis in an attempt to regain his control.  But since his promotion, he’s failed to regain his command as his ERA ballooned to 10.38 after Saturday’s loss.  Falling behind in the count has been Cook’s big issue, and on Saturday he started just one of the seven batters he faced with a strike.

The A’s look to grab the rubber game of the series on Sunday with ace Sonny Gray facing Yovani Gallardo.  It’s the same matchup that went to Oakland on Opening Night, an 8-0 win.

Seven-Run Eighth Propels Oakland To Victory Over Texas 7-5

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Oakland Athletics' Mark Canha (20) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout following his solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. The Athletics won 7-5. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) is congratulated by teammates in the dugout following his solo home run against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. The Athletics won 7-5. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)

By Kahlil Najar

The A’s played possum all night until the top of the eighth inning when they exploded for seven runs including Mark Canha’s third homer of the year to beat the Texas Rangers 7-5.

Rangers starting pitcher Colby Lewis had a great game as he went six innings with eight strike outs and only walked a pair of batters. The Rangers offense was even hitting on all cylinders. At the end of seven innings, the Rangers were in the lead 5-0 thanks to home runs from Blanks and a towering 440 foot shot by Prince Fielder.

It was that top of the eighth that the Rangers wish they could have back.

The Rangers replaced reliever Alex Claudio with Shawn Tolleson and he promptly gave up a homer to Canha to give Oakland their first run of the evening. After a Sogard single and a Marcus Semien walk, Stephen Vogt smacked a single to right field that scored Sogard and brought the lead down to three.

After a Billy Butler strike out and a new reliever from Texas, Max Muncy walked and red hot Josh Reddick hit a single to center field that scored both Semien and Vogt to make it a one run lead. The Rangers figured they’d need another change at pitcher so they sent in Roman Mendez who served up a nice pitch to Brett Lawrie who hit a line drive double to right field and score Muncy and Reddick to put the A’s in the lead for the first time tonight 6-5.

Canha came up for the second time this inning and hit a ground ball single to center field and scored Lawrie to make it a 7-5 game.

Scriber came in to handle the bottom of the eighth and able to handle the inning perfectly except for one walk to Carlos Peguero. Tyler Clippard came in for the save in the bottom of the ninth and retired the side in order to end the game.

On the seventh inning Oakland Head Coach Bob Melvin said, “There were just so many key at-bats in that inning. You could say Muncy’s walk. Lawrie had a fighting at-bat. He wasn’t going to be denied there.”

Melvin continued, “Any time you win a game that looked like you were going to lose, it gives you some confidence.”

 

Oakland hopes to continue that confidence tomorrow when they send Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 4.50) against Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.35), game time 5:05pm.

The A’s rally falls short, lose to the Angels again

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s squared off against the LA Angels Thursday afternoon in the rubber match of the three-game series.  The A’s Jesse Chavez was making his second start of the year and he was opposed by the Angels’ Garrett Richards who was coming back from a knee injury that put him on the DL for the last two months of 2014. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for the Angels as they were ahead 6-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. The A’s scored twice in the seventh and three more times in the ninth and only a sensational catch in center field by Mike Trout prevented the A’s from a walk-off win and the Angels held on to win 6-5.

Chavez went five innings allowing four runs and seven hits and he was charged with the loss. The A’s bullpen problems continued. Eric O’Flaherty gave up a run in the sixth and Ryan Cook did the same in the seventh. Garrett Richards pitched extremely well going six-plus innings and allowing just four hits. Angels’manager, Mike Scioscia, took him out of the game after he gave up a hit to Josh Reddick to start the seventh inning. Garrett was replaced by Mike Morin who gave up a home run to Mark Canha that put the A’s on the board.

Joe Smith set the A’s down 1-2-3 in the eighth. The A’s, however, did not quit and they sent nine men to the plate in the ninth and had the bases loaded with two but Angels closer, Huston Street, who did not have his best stuff going for him Thursday, got Ike Davis to fly out to deep centerfield to end the game. The game summary follows below.

The Angels put a run on the board in the top of the third. Angel catcher Drew Butera singled to lead off the frame. Third base man, Taylor Featherston, put down a sacrifice bunt that moved Butera to second.

The next batter, Erick Aybar, ground out to the right side to advance Butera to third and Butera scored on a single off the bat of Angel second baseman, Johnny Gaviotella.

The Angels added three more runs in the top of the fifth. Taylor Featherston singled to leadoff the inning. It was Featherston’s first Major League hit. Aybar singled to put two men on. After a sacrifice bunt that advanced the runners. the A’s elected to walk Mike Trout to load the bases and create the opportunity for a double play to end the inning. Kole Calhoun foiled the strategy with a single to drive in two runs.

Trout made it to  third on the play. David Freese hit a slow grounder to second. The A’s tried for the double play but Freese beat the throw and that allowed Trout to score the third run of the inning. Angels pitcher Garrett Richards kept the A’s off the board in their half of the fifth. 4-0 after five.

Bob Melvin ended Jesse Chavez’ day when he brought in Eric O’Flaherty in to start the sixth. The left-handed O’Flaherty retired the first two Angel hitters that he faced. He then walked Featherston and was tagged for a double by Erick Aybar that drove in Featherston to give the Angels a 5-0 lead. Melvin brought in Dan Otero to close out the inning. Ryan Cook came in to pitch the seventh and he gave up a double to Trout and a single to Freese to make it 6-0. The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Mark Canha Sent a Mike Morin pitch into the seats in left field to make it a 6-2 game.

The A’s refused to quit and they came roaring back in the ninth. Billy Butler, mired in a one-for-twenty slump, walked after Angels’ first baseman, C.J.Cron failed to catch a popup in foul territory. Josh Reddick singled sending Butler to third and driving Angels reliever Vinnie Pestno to the showers. The Angels brought their closer, former Athletic Huston Street, in to finish off the A’s. Brett Lawrie greeted him with a single driving in Butler with the A’s third run of the game. Matk Canha singled to drive in Reddick. The Angels walked Stephen Vogt, who was pinch-hitting for Eric Sogard, to load the bases. Max Muncy, pinch-hitting for Josh Phegley, popped up to short. Sam singled to center driving in Lawrie with the fifth run of the game. Mike Trout made a terrific throw to third base that prevented Canha from scoring. The A’s still had two outs left but they could not get the key hit that would have won the game for them. Final score Angels win 6-5

Game Notes- Jesse Chavez took the loss and his record is now 0-2. The A’s record for the year is 9-14and they lost five of the games played on the homestand. Sam Fuld was o-for-18 before his single in the ninth inning. Mark Canha was the hitting star for the A’s witha home run and three RBI. The Angels’ Garrett Richard won his econd game of the year and the Angels improved to 11-11. Erick Aybar, Mike Trout, David Freese were the hitting stars for the Angels.

After the game, A’s manager Bob Melvin commented that the A’s had an “awful homestand’ and that we “have to do better than that.” and , while the team rallied late in the game, “it was still not a win.”

The A’s travel to Texas to start the second 10 game road trip of the young season. They play the Rangers for three this weekend then fly of to Minnesota for four with the Twins then off to Seattle for three with the Mariners before returning home. Scott Kazmir, Drew Pomeranz and Sonny Gray will

face the Rangers and they will be opposed by Colby Lewis, Nick Martinez and Yovani Gallardo.

The Bullpen fails again, A’s lose

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by Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s fell to the Angels Wednesday night 6-3. The A’s  starter Jesse Hahn went five innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits. He did not take the loss as the A’s rallied from a three-run deficit to tie the score in the sixth and got him off the hook.

Angels’ starter, Matt Shoemaker, was not involved in the decision either. Shoemaker left after 5 23rds inning allowing six hits and three runs.  The bullpen failed the A’s once again. Ryan Cook, in his second appearance since being called up from Nashville, took the loss. Cook went just 1/3rd of an inning allowing 2 hits and 3 runs. The A’s drop to 9-13 while LA is now 10-11 for 2015.

For the second night in a row, the Angels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Angels’ right fielder, Kole Calhoun led off the inning with a single. Mike Trout walked to put men on at first and second with no out. The advanced to second and third on an Albert Pujols ground out. Hahn struck out David Freese for the second out but A’s nemesis, Erick Aybar, singled sharply to center field to drive in Calhoun and Trout.

In the top of the third, Mike Trout hit a blast into the left field seats to increase the Angel lead to 3-0. For Trout, it was his fifth home run of the year. In the bottom of the fourth, Oakland shortstop, Marcus Semien, doubled off the left-field wall to put the A’s in business. Stephen Vogt singled to left field driving in Semien with the run. Billy Butler hit into a double play and Ike Davis struck out to end the inning. A’s trail 3-1 after four.

The A’s rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth. Marcus Semien led off the inning with an infield single. It was Semien’s third hit of the game. Ike David doubled down the right field line driving in Semien with the A’s second run of the game. Davis advanced to third on an a throwing by the Angels’ second baseman, Johnny Gaviotella. The Angels brought in the left-handed reliever, Cesar Ramos, to pitch to Josh Reddick. The strategy backfired as Reddick singled up the middle driving in Davis with the tying run.Game tied at 3 at the end of six.

The Angels broke the tie in the top of the sixth. Ryan Cook was brought in to pitch for the A’s.  Cook walked Matt Joyce to start the frame. C.J. Cron singled to right. Gaviotella singled driving in Joyce. Calhoun walked to load the bases and a Mike Trout double drove in two more runs to give the Angels a 6-3 lead in the middle of the seventh.

There was no more scoring as the Angel bullpen shut down the A’s attack. Final score 6-3 in favor of the Angels.

Notes- Angel first baseman, Albert Pujols injured his leg running to first on a single to center to start the sixth inning. He was taken out of the game due to tightness in his left hamstring. Each manager

used six pitchers in the game. Marcus Semien was the hitting star for the A’s as he had two doubles and a single.

The rubber game of the series will be played Thursday afternoon at 12:35 pm at the O.co Coliseum.

Jesse Chavez will go for Oakland and Garrett Richards will handle the pitching chores for the Angels.

Time of game was 3 hours and 1 minute and 16,212 paid to watch the game.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Can an anti arena alliance put a halt to Warriors new arena?

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by Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–Anti arena opponents Mission Bay Alliance is gearing up to stop two towers from being built at the UCSF location where the Golden State Warriors intend to build their new arena. The Warriors with the new arena plan to include the two towers the Alliance are considering putting a measure on the ballot blocking the Warriors from starting construction.

The opposition bill would be similar to that of the “No Wall on the Waterfront” campaign that stopped the 8 Washington condo plan. A ballot proposal would delay the W’s ground breaking which is planned for next year and could be pushed back until the election is decided on the arena project.

I remember the Oakland A’s trying to move to Fremont and there was opposition in stopping the A’s from moving there. Fremont had 210,000 living there. The space is there for the A’s, the stadium was supposed to be built on the west side of Fremont and BART doesn’t go to that location. The infrastructure is there but my point is there is always going to opposition.

Eventually the Warriors will end up playing in San Francisco, it might take awhile we’ll see what happens. When the Warriors wanted to build on Piers 30-32 there was significant opposition in the waterfront neighborhood because it was going to block the view of the Embarcadero. Mission Bay is the second choice for the Warriors to build in the City to find a site right near UCSF.

Their also building the street car line from Union Square to Mission Bay which is being added onto the existing transportation. They’ll have public transportation BART, Muni and light rail. The big problem that the arena project is going to face is parking because when they had the preliminary meetings on the structure they would have only 750 parking spots at the arena that would house the parking which inadequate for 18,000 people.

Using AT&T Park for example it’s an open air stadium with a beautiful view of the bay, when you build a basketball arena it’s indoors so there is going to be opposition because it’s indoor. I don’t remember much opposition to AT&T Park and we remember how many times the people of San Francisco voted on a new downtown stadium for the Giants and it was voted down.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Jerry Feitelberg talk about the opposition to the new Warriors arena on tonight’s podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Giants and A’s podcast with Michael Duca: Tues night’s game was the best 6-2 pitchers duel;

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by Michael Duca

OAKLAND–There was no earthly way at the end the first inning of the first game with the Angels and A’s on Tuesday that you were going to be watching a pitchers duel. It was 5-2 A’s the Anegls were kind of limping along in the first inning on two consecutive pitches they gave up five runs and after that they seem to retire everybody they faced.

Meanwhile A’s pitcher Sonny Gray coughed up two in the top of the first but retired 16 straight after that it was pretty amazing. The next time the Angels got a base runner was in the second inning and then later in the seventh. So somebody asked if it were possible to watch a 6-2 pitchers duel and the answer is yes. Jared Weaver the Angels starter threw 91-92 MPH and got more control over his pitches and was able to command part of the strike zone.

On the A’s offense there’s four guys in the middle of that batting order that are hitting over .330, Josh Reddick (.360), Stephen Vogt (.355), Ike Davis (.328), and Billy Butler (.313). You should be able to score that way and you should be able to win some games. The relief staff needs to hold the lead and the defense has to have gloves with no holes in them. The A’s have made errors in 21 games. The A’s simply cannot afford to do that in this series with the Angels.

San Francisco Giants update: Giants catcher Buster Posey hit a two run homer for the gamer in the 2-1 win over the Dodgers on Tuesday night. An awful lot of credit has to go to Giants starter Madison Baumgarner he entered the game with an ERA up around 4.00 plus. Mad Bum basically said that enough was enough and that the Giants weren’t going to allow any more runs.

The Giants want to make hay and make some moves since the Dodgers are an extraordinary team, This reminds me a lot of a few years ago when the Dodgers got off to a poor start but later picked up Henley Ramirez with Yesiel Puig in the line up together and went out and played .700 ball for the last two thirds of the season.

This year this Dodgers team is missing pitcher Brandon McCarthy for the rest of the year, Hyun Jin Ryu is out for quite awhile, their closer Kenly Jansen is out for quite awhile, Puig is out right now. The Dodgers have five or six players on the DL and when they get healthy their going to be tough to make up ground on.

Michael Duca does Giants and A’s commentary each week listen to his podcast below at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Astros have A’s number with sweep over weekend but A’s will regroup

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by Charlie O Mallonee

OAKLAND–The A’s who were swept by the first place Houston Astros over the weekend ended up with a record of 8-12 and their 3-7 in their last ten games and they’ve lost four in a row. Part of that four in a row were the sweep to the Houston Astros. Something that I did pick up on that I found very interesting is that the A’s home record right now is just 3-7 because of that sweep.

Their not going to get it done with that record, traditionally they say you got to win two out of three at home and .500 on the road to finish well enough to get in to the playoffs. Obviously looking at that 3-7 home record that’s not going to get it done. If we’ve learned anything over the weekend this is not your father’s Houston Astros.

They might be your grandfather’s Houston Astros because the Astros were a pretty good ball club a couple of generations ago. What we’ve seen over the last few years the Astros were a team that languished at the bottom of the National League where they made the transition into the American League. They hadn’t done much better we knew they were a team that was a in major rebuild when they came into the A.L.

The Astros who are in first place with that rebuilding program is starting to payoff and they are currently in first place in the A.L. West with a record 12-7. They’ve won four games in a row and their 8-2 over their last ten. If you look at the games over the weekend you have to focus on pitching. Particularly for the A’s on Friday night that game went 11 innings.

The Astros won the game by a score of 5-4 it was a real pitchers duel in that game and the A’s starter Scott Kazmir went seven innings he gave up five hits, no runs, struck out seven, walked three. Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel pitched nine innings gave up two hits, no runs, struck four and walked just two. You pitch nine innings and no hits your going to come away with a victory and neither one of the starting pitchers figured in the final decision.

Charlie O does an A’s commentary podcast each week on http://www.sportsradioservice.com