Category: Oakland Athletics

A’s clear favorites for the AL Pennant after big trade nets two starters

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

The A’s want to win now. And nothing states that desire more clearly than the acquisition of a pitcher with a losing record and a tough-to-pronounce last name.

According to multiple media outlets, the A’s have acquired starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for top prospect Addison Russell, pitcher Dan Straily, 2013 first round pick Billy McKinney and a player to be named later.

With the trade, the A’s acquire a pair of top line starters without losing anyone off their big league roster which has surged over the last month to claim the best record in baseball (53-33). Also, the trade comes nearly four weeks before the July 31 trade deadline, giving the A’s a likely six or seven starts from the former Cubs that they wouldn’t have enjoyed had the trade been consummated at the deadline.

The A’s lose Russell, their top minor league prospect and a guy considered to be among the five best minor leaguers in any organization. The 22-year old Russell participated in the 2013 Futures Game in New York and projects as a middle infielder with pop that would have likely made his big league debut with Oakland in 2015 had he not been traded.

Samardzija stands as the jewel of the trade, a 29-year old power pitcher who is enjoying the best season of his career, despite his 2-7 record for the struggling Cubs. On May 26, Samardzija and the Cubs played at Pac Bell Park against the Giants, and the Chicago ace picked up his first win of the season in his 11th start. A victim of a notoriously unsupportive Cubs attack, Samardzjia claimed the statistical oddity of having the lowest ERA in the history of the game (1.46) after 10 starts of a season without having at least one win.

The former Notre Dame All-American as a wide receiver in football and a NFL prospect has a mid- 90’s fastball and a nasty slider that has allowed him to post a healthy 3-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and allow just 7 home runs in 108 innings pitched this season.

Hammel has eight victories for the Cubs this season with an ERA (2.98) a full run lower than his career mark. The 31-year old Hammel has post-season pitching experience with the Rockies and Orioles. As with Samardzija, Hammel is on track for a career-best season.

The pair stood as the most sought after pitchers on the trade market this summer along with the Rays’ David Price and the Phillies’ Cole Hamels. Both pitchers have extensive experience as relievers before turning into full-time starters.

The A’s needed to make a deal to sure up a rotation that’s missing injured Drew Pomeranz and started the season without Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin. Also current starters Sonny Gray and Jesse Chavez have never pitched over 100 innings in a big league season and they figured to have some drop off in performance at some point.

With the trade, the A’s rotation figures to feature Samardzija, Gray, Scott Kazmir, Hammel and Tommy Milone with Chavez a guy who can clearly be an effective starter but no current spot to ply his trade.

Along with the AL’s best record, the A’s have their statistical dominance featuring a run differential through 86 games (+129) that stands as the biggest in the big leagues prior to the All-Star break since the 2001 Mariners. The A’s lead the majors in runs scored, steal bases at the highest percentage of any club. and they rank fourth in team ERA which also highlights their outstanding bullpen that saw six relievers throw one scoreless inning in Friday’s 1-0, 12 inning win over the Blue Jays.

And now the biggest trade of the season to date has the A’s poised to improve and give them equal footing with playoff nemesis Detroit, who knocked Oakland out of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

A’s get a new lease on life, pressure came from Selig for city council to act

Published on by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland City Council had a change of heart in mnatter of 24 hours, after learning that the council was about to deadlock on approving the Oakland A’s new lease on Wednesday night Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said that the A’s were free to leave Oakland immdediately. The council then voted 6-2 to approve a ten year lease for the A’s to continue playing at the Oakland Coliseum.

If the Oakland Joint Powers Authority voted to deadlock the council drew concern that the team would in fact leave forthwith. Upon hearing the news two councilmen who were prepared to vote no on the new lease changed their votes.

Wolff was of the understanding that the city council had reached an agreement to approve a new ten year lease for the team. The A’s will have their payment for the second year of the lease lowered and that the A’s if they want to leave the City of Oakland must give the city at least two years notice. The A’s still would have to pay the remainder of the ten year lease agreement.

If the A’s move to San Jose or outside of Oakland they would have to give a two year notice before vacating and pay the difference on the ten year lease. If the A’s decided to stay in Oakland or build at the Jack London Square’s Howard Terminal the city would void the two year notice and the A’s would be free to leave the Coliseum without paying the remainder of the lease.

The council learned of Selig’s permission to the A’s to leave Oakland at anytime to seek permanent or temporary digs outside of Oakland 10’O Clock on Wednesday night. Theoretically the team could have left during the current homestand with the Toronto Blue Jays this week and played at another field or stadium until the city got it together, Wolf said that over the past 14 months when the lease was negotiated it was his impression that the council agreed upon all the talking points of the agreement and that there would be no reversal due to politics or finance whatsoever especially at the 11th hour.

Wolf said of the reversal of the city council before hearing of their change of heart, “We believe we have an agreed lease that we were informed would be voted by the JPA, and if passed would be submitted to the city and county. No other lease negotiation entity was noted to us or MLB for 14 months. To characterize not looking beyond the fully negotiated lease as a negative of our 14 months of discussion is unacceptable to us and MLB.

We now find out that the city had some rule that causes even a city JPA representative that wishes to vote their beliefs that such a decision can be altered to translate a positive vote into a negative vote. At no time over 14 months was this use of some rule ever mentioned to us. We do not wish to be involved in any aspect of local city political maneuvering. To try and suddenly try and involve us in a direction that was never once noted is absolutely unacceptable.”

Jerry Feitelberg does sports commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Big Inning Paces Tigers to Sweep of A’s

Published on by Matthew HarringtonLeave a comment

By Matthew Harrington

For the second time in the three-game series at Detroit, a big inning doomed the Oakland Athletics hopes of exacting revenge on the team that bounced them from both the 2012 and 2013 playoffs. Wednesday afternoon, the Detroit Tigers pounced on A’s pitching for a six-run sixth inning to seal up a 9-3 win and a series sweep in a matinee game at Comerica Park. Detroit (47-34)used a four-run bottom of the ninth Monday to walk off winners then shut the A’s out 3-0 Tuesday night.

A’s starter Jesse Chavez (6-5, 3.23 ERA) turned in his second-consecutive forgettable performance, taking the loss after surrendering four runs to the potent Detroit offense. In his last start on Friday against the Marlins, Chavez went only five innings in a six-hit, four-run no decision. His opponent Justin Verlander (7-7, 4.71), entrenched in a forgettable season, pitched well enough to be tabbed the winning pitcher after striking out four in his six inning, two-run performance to nail down the three-game sweep.

The A’s (51-33) did take some positives from Wednesday’s loss. Derek went 2-for-4 in his return from back stiffness that saw him sidelined since June 27. Yoenis Cespedes found himself penciled in as designated hitter after missing Tuesday’s game with tightness in his hamstring.

Coco Crisp and Brandon Moss accounted for the trio of A’s runs. Both hit solo home runs to right field off 2011 AL Cy Young winner Verlander in the first inning. Later, with the game well out of Oakland’s reach, Crisp scored on Moss’s seventh inning single off reliever Al Alburquerque. The Oakland first baseman’s performance Wednesday pushed him past an inactive Josh Donaldson (recipient of an off day from A’s Manager Bob Melvin) for the team lead in homers (19) and runs batted in (62).

Though the A’s struck early to stake Jesse Chavez to a 2-0 lead before he even took the mound, the Tigers struck often against the right-hander. Torii Hunter hit an RBI single off Chavez in the bottom of the first, then tied the game up on his run scoring base hit in the bottom of the third. Austin Jackson put Detroit ahead 3-2 in the home half of the fourth, plating Andrew Romine on a two-out single

The real damage came in six-run, three-pitcher sixth inning that saw the Motor City kitties score six runs. Chavez was lifted by Melvin in favor of Jim Johnson after walking the first two batters he faced. After retiring the first batter, Romine, on a sacrifice bunt, Johnson failed to record another out. Monday night’s hero Rajai Davis knocked a two-run single, Ian Kinsler singled in a run then 2013 American League Most Valuable Player Miguel Cabrera doubled in a pair to knock the 2012 All-Star from the game for Ryan Cook. In total, the beleaguered Johnson was responsible for four runs on four hits in his 1/3 of an inning.

Cook got the first batter he faced, J.D. Martinez, to ground out for the second out, but yielded a single to Torii Hunter that scored the inherited runner Cabrera. He then finished Nick Castellanos off with a pop-out, but by then the damage was done with Detroit sitting out front 9-2.

After facing the AL Central leaders Monday to Wednesday, the A’s head home to welcome the AL East’s top dogs. Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey and the Toronto Blue Jays flutter into town Thursday to open a four-game weekend series at O.Co Coliseum. Melvin has tabbed Sonny Gray to open the series in hopes of snapping the current three-game losing skid.

Feitelberg report: City council to vote on A’s ten year lease Thursday;Bonds obstruction count up for review hearing

Published on by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–Members of the Oakland City Council will vote on Thursday to approve a ten year lease for the Oaklnad Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum. Last week four members of the board did not vote on the lease and did not show up at City Hall for the scheduled vote which forced a forfeit because their were not enough coucilmen for a quorum.

The reason for the sit out was city officials were concerned there was not enough protections and incentives in the lease agreement. The A’s last lease allowed them to give one year’s notice if they wanted to leave the Coliseum. Under the new agreement the A’s would have to give the city two years notice if they were going to leave Oakland and they would be on the hook for the remainder of the entire ten year agreement if they left the Coliseum.

If the A’s however considered building a new stadium inside Oakland city limits then the A’s would be free of the ten year obligation and the two year notice wouldn’t matter because it would take that much time to build a new stadium.

With that in mind the discussion of a waterfront stadium was brought up at Howard Terminal at Jack London Square. 15 business leaders in Oakland last March had been in discussions with the Port of Oakland about constructing a 38,000 seat waterfront stadium, the business leaders which consist of CEOs from Dryer’s Ice Cream, Clorox, the son of Senator Barbara Boxer Doug Boxer who is a Oakland business consultant, Mike Ghielmetti of the Signature Development Group.

Lew Wolf the A’s co-owner has expressed in past discussions that he has no intentions to move the team to Jack London Square and his only thoughts on any new stadium plans for the A’s were in two choices, choice number one move to San Jose or number two build a new stadium at the current Coliseum location.

The San Jose idea is still in limbo as the city of San Jose is suing Major League Baseball for the A’s rights to move San Jose.The San Francisco Giants who hold territorial rights in San Jose would more than likely sue baseball if the A’s are allowed to move to San Jose. MLB is waiting for the judges decision on how the San Jose suit against them would proceed. If the judge says the team would be allowed to move to San Jose the Giants most likely would file suit in a higher court to appeal the ruling.

28 judges vote to allow Bonds to appeal obstruction charge: The Federal appeals court said on Tuesday that a majority of it’s judges (28) have voted to allow former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds a new hearing to remove the obstruction charge that a San Francisco jury voted Bonds guilty of in 2011. Bonds because he gave evaded a question as to if his trainer Greg Anderson injected Bonds with steroids.

Rather than answer the question Bonds became evasive and talked about being the child of a celebrity (his late father and former Giant Bobby Bonds), asked about his friendship with Anderson and if he injected him with steroids Bonds said to a federal prosecuting attorney, “I don’t get into other people’s business.”

Bonds lawyers at the time said that Bonds answered the prosecutions questions truthfully and that Bonds answered all the questions flatly, that Anderson never injected him with steroids. Bonds lawyers later appealed the obstruction charge which was upheld by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston who heard the case. Illston at the appeals hearing said that Bonds answer was not relevant to the question prosecutors were asking and indeed it was obstruction.

A hearing to proceed with the appeal and also based on the 28 judge vote to proceed will be heard in mid September. The Babo/BALCO steroid case now has a new life to it and if Bonds wins his appeal he could be back in the good graces of the Giants again. There is a good chance that MLB and the court of popular opinion may still reject Bonds and think of him as a cheater.

Jerry Feitelberg does sports commentary for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s Blanked By Tigers 3-0

Published on by kahlilnajar7Leave a comment
DETROIT, MI - JULY 01: Nick Punto #1 of the Oakland Athletics wacthes the action from the dugout during the ninth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 1, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 6-4. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JULY 01: Nick Punto #1 of the Oakland Athletics wacthes the action from the dugout during the ninth inning of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 1, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 6-4. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

By Kahlil Najar

DETROIT – The A’s can’t find a break against the Tigers. Yesterday it was the slam and today it was a pitcher making franchise history.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello became just the fourth pitcher in Tigers franchise history to throw a shutout without walking or striking out a batter, and the first since Dizzy Trout in 1944. He also had 17 groundball outs and 10 in the fly outs to become the first major-leaguer to accomplish that feat since Baltimore’s Jeff Ballard on Aug. 21, 1989.

“Our guys were swinging at strikes, but everything was moving,” said Oakland head coach Bob Melvin. “He’s got a good sinker and a good change-up, and now he’s mixing in a good breaking ball to keep you off balance. That’s just a very well-pitched game by him.”

Brandon Moss echoed Melvin’s sentiments, “I don’t think he was overpowering. He just went out and pitched a great ballgame. He threw a ton of strikes, ahead of almost everyone, mixing it up with offspeed pitches and kept the ball on the ground. He pitched his game, and it was a great game.”

Brad Mills who started for Oakland pitched a great game and went six innings and gave up six hits and struck out six. His only mistakes were in the bottom of the fourth and sixth when the Tigers were able to score three runs total and give them all they needed to secure the victory.

In the fourth after a Cabrera walk and a Martinez double, Torii Hunter was able to hit a grounder to short and drove in Cabrera to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead. In the sixth, Martinez hit his 10th homer of the year with Kinsier on base and made it a 3-0 game.

The A’s never sent more than four batters up to the plate in any inning and were only able to squeeze out three singles and a double the entire game.

Both teams head back at it tomorrow when the Tigers send up the most hated man in Oakland Justin Verlander against Oakland prodigal son Jesse Chavez, game time 10:08 am PST.

Michael Duca on A’s and Giants: At this point Bochy is mixing and matching relief pitchers;Young and Chili two A’s coaches who go unsung

Published on by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Michael Duca

SAN FRANCISCO–The reason why the Giants manager Bruce Bochy has gone to committee in his bullpen is because he demoted his closer Sergio Romo and it’s a move to insure that you don’t have any hurt feelings for the rest of your staff because somebody didn’t get an opportunity.

As long as your experiencing failure you might as well let everybody try out for the job. Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt got his shot on Sunday and Santiago Casilla will get the next shot in this week’s series against St.Louis. It wouldn’t even surprise me at some point if Jean Machi would get a shot.

However, when this is all said and done and September rolls around the closer is going to be Sergio Romo. Until then the team is going to do what they have to do and Romo is going to be moved to an eighth inning reliever. Bochy is trying to get him a little confidence built up.

Bochy would like to get Romo into situations where he can face three hitters and it could be done. Closer by committee in general does not work and when your saying your doing it what your really doing is putting a happy face on “were hosting an open try out.”

Oakland A’s update:Before A’s reliever Sean Doolittle gave up a walk off grand slam to former Athletic Rajai Davis of the Detroit Tigers on Monday night for a 5-4 win Doolittle had a 56-1 strikeout to walk ratio which is unheard of. Doolittle is the first pitcher since 1900 to strikeout 45 guys before walking his second batter.

Doolittle still has not walked that second batter, I’m reminded of one of the glory years that former Athletic reliever Dennis Eckersly had and he actually allowed more home runs than bases on balls, he only allowed four home runs that year and he walked three guys the whole season.

Sometimes you get in that groove the best thing that I can say there is nothing from watching Doolittle pitch that makes you expect this to happen he doesn’t throw 100 MPH. He doesn’t have a slider that disappears or has no dot. He doesn’t throw a curve ball that falls off the table.

Doolittle basically comes out and says “I’m going to throw the ball 94 MPH up under your hands and you can’t do anything about it” and he proceeds to do that pitch after pitch after pitch. Also here’s a kid like A’s pitcher Jesse Chavez whose coming in and doing the job.

The A’s bullpen is doing very good and has confidence and nobody talks about A’s pitching coach Curt Young and hitting coach Chili Davis and Davis does a terrific job with that team and he doesn’t get any media coverage. Young is one of the brainest and quietest pitching coaches in baseball and doesn’t get any credit. But look at the success of he A’s bullpen.

Michael Duca was joined by SRS writers Jeremy Kahn, Amaury Pi Gonzalez, and Morris Phillips for this week’s A’s and Giants commentary on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tigers Stun Athletics in Grand Fashion

Published on by Matthew Harrington1 Comment

By Matthew Harrington

The Detroit Tigers may not always beat the Oakland Athletics, but the motor city kitties tend to find the most excruciating ways to do it. After bouncing Swingin’ A’s from the postseason in the last two campaigns, the American League Central leaders added another chapter of success against their West Coast foes Monday night at Comerica Park, converting a 4-1 deficit in the ninth inning into a walk-off grand slam for Rajai Davis and the Tigers (45-34).

With a decent lead in the ninth, Oakland A’s Manager Bob Melvin tabbed bullpen backend stalwart Sean Doolittle (1-3, 2.97) to sit the Tigers down for three final outs. Instead the A’s bench boss saw a surefire victory turned into a stunning defeat. Detroit came to the plate in attack mode against Doolittle, with Nick Castellanos and Alex Avila reaching base with no outs three pitches in to the left-hander’s night.

Doolittle found his footing, striking out Eugenio Suarez but failed to put Austin Jackson away on a full-count pitch. Instead Doolittle nibbled outside the strike zone to bring former Athletic Rajai Davis to the plate representing the winning run. Davis patiently took the first-pitch delivery from Doolittle for a ball, then crushed a belt-high breaking ball deep to left field about ten feet from foul pole for his sixth home run of the season. Davis made reliever Blaine Hardy (101, 2.89 ERA) the winner, handing the 27-year-old his first Major League win

Doolittle saw his scoreless inning streak snapped at 26 1/3 innings Saturday in Miami, blowing his second save of the season after allowing a Casey McGehee single to tie the game at 6-6. With a second blown save Monday night, he now has failed to shut the door in two-straight games after going the first 38 games of the season with only one missed opportunity. Since taking over the closer’s role for a struggling Jim Johnson, the first baseman-turned-reliever has collected 11 saves in 2014.

The A’s (51-31) looked securely en route to their fifth-straight win after taking a commanding 4-1 lead in the eighth inning. Oakland and Detroit entered the inning tied 1-1 after strong performances from A’s starter Scott Kazmir and his counterpart Anibal Sanchez. Sanchez opened the frame getting Yoenis Cespedes to bounce a grounder to short, but Suarez threw the ball away on the play. Brandon Moss made Detroit pay for the mistake by lacing an RBI double to left, chasing Sanchez from the game with no outs in the seventh. The 2013 ERA leader allowed the two earned runs on eight hits with only a pair of strikeouts (including the 1,000th of his career) but exited in line for the loss.

Joba Chamberlain fared far worse in relief of Sanchez, allowing the first two batters he faced to reach base, walking Josh Donaldson before yielding a single to Stephen Vogt to load the bases. A visit to the mound by Tigers Pitching coach Jeff Jones proved only a brief respite for Chamberlain, as Lowrie took the fifth pitch of the next at-bat to left for a two-run single to stake the A’s to a commanding 4-1 lead.

Lowrie knocked in the A’s first run of the game on an RBI single of Sanchez in the top of the sixth, but 2012 Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera responded in the home half of the inning by ripping a solo home run off Kazmir to left field, the 14th long ball of the season for the back-to-back American League Most Valuable Player.

Kazmir would then walk J.D. Martinez before exiting the game two pitches in to the next batter. Kazmir appeared to suffer tightness in his lead leg after bouncing the first pitch to Nick Castellanos well in front of the plate. After a brief visit from Melvin and trainer, the southpaw stayed in the game for one last pitch. After seeing his pitcher grimace on the pitch, Melvin instantly jumped up to pull his ace from the game.

After the game, Melvin stated that Kazmir was fine and the quick trigger was precautionary. Kazmir also departed his last start against the New York Mets on Tuesday earlier than expected, surrendering seven earned runs over three innings of a 10-1 shelling in Flushing Meadows. Aside from the one blip, Kazmir has been rock solid as the anchor of the A’s rotation, potentially in line to make this season’s All-Star team after going 9-3 with a 2.66 ERA in his first 16 starts for the green and gold.

The A’s won’t have an easy road bouncing back, as they’ll face the Tigers’ surpise of 2014 Rick Porcello (10-4, 3.41) in the second game of the three-game series. Oakland sends lefty Brad Mills to the mound in his first start since getting his first win since 2012, outdueling Zack Wheeler and the Mets last Wednesday.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Is Athletics 2014 season commanded by a higher power?

Published on by lleonardbwLeave a comment

by Amaury Pi Gonzalez

MIAMI–It seems the Oakland Athletics, who today have the best record in baseball with 51 wins, cannot do much wrong this season. Case in point, they just brought up from Sacramento Nate Freiman, who flew all night from Sacramento, California, to Miami, Florida and on Sunday, with just a few hours of sleep, hits a 3-run home run, which proves to be the decisive blow in their 4-3 victory and a sweep over the Miami Marlins.

How many teams today, could lose two of their five starting pitchers on their rotation (the A’s lost pitchers Jarrod Parker and A.J Griffin) plus their closer Jim Johnson, who during the past two seasons saved 101 games for the Orioles in relief, and still have this record?(Johnson is not hurt, but early lost his job as closer)
Baseball is a funny game.

The way this season has developed so far(and I say so far, because the Giants were also flying high and just lost a 9.5. game lead to the Dodgers in the past 21 days). Definitely it looks like there is some celestial influence going on here.

Now, I do not mean to take away any credit from A’s manager Bob Melvin, who could win his second Manager of the Year honors with the Athletics, and his third overall, but let’s get real here.

The A’s have been playing with three catchers, Norris behind the plate, Vogt in right field and Jaso as the DH and still winning, their the only team today that has used three catchers regularly in the same lineups.

The A’s open a three game series in Detroit Monday, the last time they will play the Tigers during the regular season, and a very possible preview of what it could be another clash between these two teams during this postseason.

Here is a surprise to a lot of people. When people think about the Oakland Athletics, they think of a team filled with rookies. Well, did you know the A’s are the only team in the majors this season that to this date they have not used a rookie on their roster?

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

A’s sweep the Fish in Miami

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Image

 

By Charlie O. Mallonee

Nate Freiman flew all night from Sacramento, drank some coffee and hit the game winning three-run home run in the sixth-inning of the final game in Miami. The A’s beat the Marlins 4-3 to take the final game and sweep the series in South Florida. It was the seventh time the A’s have swept a series this season.

Tommy Milone recorded a quality start going seven-innings giving up three-runs (2 earned) on four-hits. Milone struck out three, walked two and gave up one home run en route to his sixth win of the season. Ryan Cook worked 1.1-innings and posted his first save of the year.

The game started off with what appeared to be a bad omen for the Athletics. In the bottom of the first-inning, the Marlins lead-off man Christian Yelich hit a triple to center field and came home to score on a throwing error by Callaspo trying to erase the runner at third. Yelich scampered home to score the first run of the game for Miami. It was Yelich’s first at bat since coming off the Disabled List on Sunday. Tommy Milone was not shaken and stopped the Marlins from scoring any additional runs until the sixth-inning.

Oakland needed Milone to go deep into the game as the bullpen was depleted following Saturday’s 14-inning 7-6 win over the Marlins. The A’s had only four relievers available at the start of the game without taking a chance of using one of their overworked relief pitchers. Milone did not disappoint and manager Bob Melvin was pleased with his starter’s effort.

The big inning for the A’s was the top of the sixth-inning. Tommy Milone led off the inning by striking out. Craig Gentry lined out to right field. Callaspo then singled to left. Yoenis Cespedes singled to right and Callaspo moved up to third. Josh Donaldson singled to left allowing Callaspo to score. Nate Freiman hit the first pitch from Andrew Heaney over the left center field wall for a three-run home run. The A’s would not trail again in the game.

Freiman was called up from Triple-A Sacramento to take Josh Reddick’s place on the roster. Reddick reinjured his right knee on throw to the infield on Saturday night. A MRI was taken of Reddick’s knee but the results have not been made public.

Freiman took a “red eye” flight to Miami and arrived in South Florida at 6:30 AM. After several cups of strong coffee, he was ready to play the game. After the game, Freiman credited Sacramento hitting coach Greg Sparks with his new found power. Freiman says that Sparks lowered his hands and that has helped his hitting and power. Freiman was hitting .277 with 14 home runs for the River Cats.

The A’s scored four-runs on eight-hits. Freiman’s homer was the A’s only extra-base hit.  Freiman had three-RBI and Donaldson posted one-RBI. Both Freiman’s and Donaldson’s RBI came with two-outs in the inning.

As a team, Oakland was two for three with Runners In Scoring Position. The A’s left just two men on base.

Sunday’s game marked the official halfway mark of the season for the A’s. Oakland’s record is 51-30 after 81 games in 2014. The 51-wins match Milwaukee’s 51-wins in the National League. The Brewers have played two more games.

After the game, the A’s headed for Detroit where they will open up a three-game series on Monday night. LHP Scott Kazmir will start for Oakland and RHP Anibal Sanchez will pitch for the Tigers.

A’s win a marathon 14-inning affair in the Miami heat and humidity

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

After more than five hours on the field in the heat and humidity of Miami grinding out a truly hard-earned win—their 50th in 2014—the A’s more than earned a reprieve.

That reprieve from contemplating all the pressing personnel issues facing the nicked up AL West leaders won’t last long though.  Catcher Derek Norris wasn’t available Saturday and won’t be able to play in Sunday’s series finale, Josh Reddick could be on his way back to the disabled list just days after he came off it, and all those concerned, discerning eyes focused on Sonny Gray go back on watch Thursday when the A’s welcome the first-place Blue Jays to the Coliseum.

Meanwhile, this 7-6 win for Oakland in 14 innings was a nail biter, a marathon, and an odd job all rolled up into one.  The A’s blew a 4-0 lead for the second night in a row, rebounded to lead again in the eighth only to surrender a game-tying run in the ninth.  In extra innings little drama played out until the 14th inning when the A’s broke through with a run, and then Jeff Francis had to come in and clean up Jim Johnson’s mess.   But in the end 25 guys—some personally proud of their contribution, others just wishing they could have performed better—got it done.

“If someone has a bad day, there’s a lot of other guys that can step up and make a pitch, make a play or get a hit or something,” Gray said in defining the secret of the A’s success.

“It’s frustrating when you give up a run and that leads to something like that, guys having to get extended, but the way they picked me up—the way it was a team effort—just unbelievable,” closer Sean Doolittle said.

Gray returned to the mound after a nine-day break mandated by the Oakland brass in order to preserve the young pitcher who projects to pitch more than 100 innings in a season for the first time.  The right hander was granted a 4-0 lead, then cruised through the first inning, but ran into trouble in the second.

Included in a three-run Marlins’ rally were four hits and an uncharacteristic throwing error on Gray who one-hopped first basemen Brandon Moss after a come-backer.  That gaffe preceded Russ Johnson’s two-run double and Gray’s return to the mound was officially a rocky one.

Gray would give up a pair of runs in the fourth and he was gone in the fifth after throwing 93 pitches.  The Vanderbilt product’s ERA sits at 3.20 on the season which is plenty respectable, but well off where he was earlier before his ERA soared above five in his last six appearances.  Afterwards, manager Bob Melvin didn’t seem to concerned, and felt his pitcher is experiencing a predictable falloff from his torrid, early pace.

Gray’s departure would set the stage for seven other A’s pitchers to get in the game not including starter Tommy Milone who pinch-hit for Dan Otero in the 12th.  Melvin’s hand was stretched thin not only by the length of the game but the departure of Reddick when he reinjured his knee playing the outfield in the fourth inning.  Norris also wasn’t available due to his balky back.  But the A’s battled on short-handed in the heat, through extra innings brought upon when Doolittle allowed a run in the ninth that got the Marlins even at 6.

The A’s got the go-ahead run in extras when Josh Donaldson singled up the middle off Jacob Turner with a pair of runners aboard in the 14th.

The embattled Jim Johnson pitched the 12th and 13th flawlessly, but when given the opportunity to close out the game, he ran into trouble in the 14th.  After Johnson loaded the bases, Melvin turned to long man Jeff Francis who struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia looking and got Donovan Solano to fly out to end it.

The A’s are 20 games over .500 for the first time this season and on pace to win 100 games.  The Angels won in Kansas City Saturday to remain 4 ½ games behind Oakland in the AL West.

On Sunday, the A’s attempt to sweep the Marlins with Milone facing Miami’s Andrew Heaney at 10:10am PST.