Category: Oakland Athletics

It was bombs away as A’s homer five times to beat White Sox 8-5

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Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. robs Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker of a home run during the fourth inning  at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Thu Aug 24, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s won a slugfest Thursday night as they downed the Chicago White Sox 8-5 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago. The A’s won for the third time in their last four games. The A’s hope the turmoil in Chicago will help them get a couple of wins in the Windy City this weekend.

The White Sox, expected to win the AL Central crown, have been floundering this season. The Sox fired team president Ken Williams and General Manager Rick Hahn. Skipper Pedro Grifol may be the next to be fired. 

The A’s sent lefty Ken Waldichuk to the hill to face the Sox. Waldichuk did well for the first four innings. His only mistake in those innings was serving up a gopher ball to the second batter he faced, Andrew Benintendi. It was Benintendi’s fourth dinger of the year. The rest of the game summary follows below.

The A’s put three on the board in the top of the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. With one out, Seth Brown singled to get the rally started. Luis Robert snagged Brent Rooker’s drive to centerfield as the ball was headed over the wall.

Rooker had flown out to deep left field in his first at-bat. Left fielder Tony Kemp doubles to send Brown to third. A’s catcher Shea Langeliers continued his hot homer streak by blasting a line drive over the fence in left field. 

The White Sox scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. Former Oakland A’s shortstop Elvis Andrus led off the frame with his fifth bomb of the year. Waldichuk retired Trayce Thompson for the first out. On the next play, Waldichuk threw the ball past first base.

The batter, Sox catcher Korey Lee, motored to the second base. Waldichuk struck out Tim Anderson for the second out. Andrew Benintendi singled to drive in his second run of the game.

Waldichuk now had to deal with the Sox’s best hitter, Luis Robert. Robert led the Sox with 33 homers. He now has 34. Robert’s home run gave the Sox a 5-3 lead after five innings.

The A’s homered twice in the sixth inning to send White Sox starter Jesse Scholtens to the showers. With one out, Brent Rooker, denied in his first two at-bats, homered for the 22nd time this year. Schotens retired Tony Kemp for the second out. The next hitter, Shea Langeliers, homered for the second time to tie the game 5-5. 

The A’s added two runs in the top of the seventh. With two out, Ryan Noda singled and then stole second. The A’s sensational rookie second baseman, Zack Gelof, homered for the tenth time this season. The A’s led 7-5

It was now up to the A’s bullpen to preserve the win. Before we get to what the bullpen did, the A’s added another run in the top of the eight. Tony Kemp hit a solo homer to give the A’s a three-run cushion midway through the eighth,

The A’s bullpen allowed the White Sox four hits and kept them scoreless in the last four innings of the game. Lucas Erceg, Danny Jimenez, Spencer Patton, Kirby Snead, and Trevor May came through for the A’s. Oakland won the first game of the four-game series 8-5.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s are now 37-91. The White Sox dropped to 50-78. 

The line score for Oakland was eight runs, nine hits, and one error. Ken Waldichuk worked five innings and allowed eight hits and five runs. The White Sox hit three home runs off of Waldichuk’s offerings. Lucas Erceg was the winning pitcher.

The line score for Chicago was five runs, 12 hits, and one error. 

The A’s hit five home runs in the game. Tony Kemp had a double and a home run. Shea Langeliers had two dingers and four RBIs. Brent Rooker hit his 22nd of the year. He was robbed by Luis Robert earlier in the game. Two other drives were very long outs. He seems to be back in the groove. 

Game two of the series will be played Friday night. The A’s starter will be Zach Neal (0-0 ERA 8.25). Neal probably will be an opener. The White Sox will counter with Dylan Cease (5-6 ERA 4.50). The game will start at 5:10 p.m.

There was a sparse crowd 13,247 at the park on Chicago’s southside. Reports surfaced that the White Sox are not happy with their park. Reports say the team is looking at relocating to Nashville. The White Sox, for years, have been the second banana in the Windy City. The fans love the Cubs, who went 108 years before winning a World Series Championship. The Cubs can do no wrong. It would be sad for the White Sox fans to lose their team.

Royals beat A’s 4-0 for two hitter avoid getting swept at Coliseum; KC uses four pitchers for shutout

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Oakland Athletics’ Lawrence Butler breaks his bat while grounding into a force out during the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Aug 23, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Kansas City Royals shut down the A’s offense, as the guys from Kansas City shut out the A’s 4-0

The Royals starter Cole Ragans was the winning pitcher. Ragans allowed the A’s two singles in his six innings of work Wednesday afternoon. The A’s used an opener, Adrian Martinez, to start. Martinez went two and 1/3rd innings and allowed three hits and one run. It was not a bad performance, but the A’s offense went to sleep and could not put any runs on the board.

The Royals drew first blood in the top of the third. Royals’ Right-fielder hit his first Major League home run to give the Royals an early 1-0 advantage halfway through the inning. The A’s failed to score in their half of the inning.

The Royals put two more on the board in the fourth. A’s reliever Francisco Perez hit the Royals’ DH Matt Beaty. Perez struck out Royals’ catcher Freddy Fernin for the first out. Drew Waters tripled over Brent Rooker’s glove to drive in Beaty.

The Royals’ third baseman Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly plated Waters with the game’s third run for Kansas City. The A’s went down in order in their half of the fourth. Kansas City leads 3-0.

The Royals added a run in the fifth. The Royals’ best player, shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr., led off the inning with his 26th bomb of the year. Witt also had a single in the game. 

Kagans left the game after the sixth. Three Royals’ relievers did not allow a hit and kept the A’s scoreless. The A’s mounted a threat in the eighth when Royals’ reliever Jackson Kower walked three A’s hitters to lopas the bases.

The Royals brought in Carlos Hernandez to pitch. Hernandez retired pinch-hitter Seth Brown for the second out, and Zack Gelof grounded out to end the inning. The A’s failed to score in the ninth. The A’s lost 4-0.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 36-91. The Royals are 41-88.

The A’s used four pitchers: Adrian Martinez, Francisco Perez, Kyle Muller, and Sean Newcomb. Muller went four innings and allowed one run, Bobby Witt’s homer.

The A’s will be in Chicago on Thursday to start a four-game series against the White Sox. Lefty Ken Waldichul will go for Oakland. Chicago will counter with Jesse Scholtens. The game will start at 5:10 p.m.

MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Chicago owner Reinsdorf fires VP and GM, might move team; 7 MLB teams to possibly relocate; plus more news

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On his last day as Chicago White Sox, vice president Ken Williams (pictured) along with general manager Rick Hahn were both fired after the game at Guarantee Rate Field in Chicago on Tue Aug 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the MLB with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 Stephen talk about the housecleaning that’s been going on over at the Chicago White Sox as owner Jerry Reinsdorf has fired his top brass starting with longtime vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn. Reinsdorf said that this season has been disappointing and that was the one of the big reasons the for firing. Also infielder Tim Anderson says he want Tony LaRussa to return as manager.

#2 Relocation has been the newest thing in MLB first the Oakland A’s now the White Sox are considering relocation they have their eye on moving to Nashville but not so fast the Baltimore Orioles are considering Nashville as well.

#3 There are seven big league teams considering relocation do you think that’s why Commissioner Manfred is not charging a relocation to the A’s or are the exception?

#4 Stephen, talk about Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora going onto the field and telling Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander to hurry up and pitch in the second inning when Verlander’s pitchcom earpiece malfunctioned. Verlander was later swore at Cora for telling him to hurry up.

#5 A’s owner John Fisher said that the team is not for sale, Fisher in an interview today with the Las Vegsas Independent Journal said the A’s have lost significant amounts of money this season. Fisher added that his goal is to build and find a new home for the team.

Join Stephen Ruderman for the MLB podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Interview with Nancy Finley daughter of former A’s GM and niece of former A’s owner and author of the book Finley Ball

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The book Finley Ball a look at two outsiders Charlie O Finley and Carl Finley who guided the Oakland A’s to three consecutive championships from 1972-74 written by Nancy Finley (photo of book from Nancy Finley

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1Nancy Finley is the daughter of former Oakland A’s general manager Carl Finley and the niece of former A’s owner Charles O Finley. Nancy is the author of the book Finley Ball by Nancy Finley. Nancy was on the scene when the Oakland A’s won three straight Championships from 1972-74.

#2Nancy also was welcomed to Cooperstown for a Hall of Fame celebration and talked about her book Finley Ball on how two outsiders on her father Carl and Charlie O changed the franchise forever and made them baseball’s world champions.

#3 Talk about Charlie he started out as an insurance salesman and with his cousin Carl moved the team from Kansas City to Oakland in 1968 and later built the club up with the likes of Sal Bando, Jim Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson, Vida Blue, Bert Campaneris, Joe Rudi, Gene Tenace and many others.

#4 Talk about when MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn who stopped the deal that sold Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi to Boston and Vida Blue to the Yankees. It was a trade that had no players coming to Oakland so it was in essence a sale.

#5 Talk about the Nancy appearing at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame and promoting her book Finley Ball. With the relocation of the A’s it seems like it’s drumming up lots of interest in regards of Oakland baseball history which might be gone as soon as next season.

Join Jerry Feitelberg does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s hire same managing construction company as the Raiders

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This rendering is a illustration sample that the Nevada Legislation had to work with before approving the $390 million in public money for the Las Vegas A’s new Tropicana ballpark but is not the real rendering. Which will later be presented by an architect company to be named later. The A’s named Mortensen-McCarthy as the managing contractor for the Tropicana ballpark project (rendering from the Oakland A’s)

A’s hire same construction company as the Raiders

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The same company that was hired by the Oakland Raiders to build Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will serve as construction manager for the new Oakland A’s ballpark in Las Vegas. Mortensen McCarthy completed the Las Vegas Raiders new home in the summer of 2020.

The Oakland A’s Press Release says the company will be responsible for overseeing the construction, like scheduling, coordination and the management of employees, as well as labor relations and community engagement. This construction outfit also was hired for the construction of the spectacular Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.

Mortenson McCarthy, additionally, is also the same construction outfit that built Target Field in Minnesota the home of the Twins, on a 8.5 acres or land, the smallest in Major League Baseball, only 8.5 acres but it covers a total of 10.5-acres because portions extend over surrounding roadways.

The A’s land at Tropicana is nine acres. The ballpark is scheduled to be built on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Tropicana Las Vegas casino resort sits. Aside from the Raider’s Allegiant Stadium, Mortenson McCarthy was responsible for the Atlanta Braves Truist Park, the Seattle Kraken’s Climate Pledge Arena and the Minnesota Vikings U.S. Bank Stadium.

“If I were awarding this contract, I would say I want someone with a track record, and a good track record, in an industry where there are constant cost overruns.” Jerald Podair, who wrote the 2017 book “City of Dreams: Dodger Stadium and the Birth of a Modern Los Angeles, (FOX5 Las Vegas)

Podair (many consider him a reputable expert) added he is impressed with Mortenson McCarthy’s portfolio, especially with Allegiant Stadium, which was completed on time without any cost overruns, and Target Field in Minneapolis, which (like mentioned above) is the only Major League Baseball stadium built on less acreage than the nine at Bally’s has given the A’s for their new ballpark project on the site of the Tropicana Hotel and Casino.

Construction for the Las Vegas A’s project will have to wait until at least part of the Tropicana is demolished. MLB owners are expected to vote on the approval of the ballpark next December. On this vote 75% of the baseball owners will have to vote Yes. If all goes well, the A’s hope to put ‘shovel in ground’ by early 2024 and Play Ball at their new facility Opening Day 2028.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice for the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s win in the battle of the titans 5-4; Oakland hands Kansas City their second loss of series

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Oakland Athletics Aledmys Diaz watches his RBI sacrifice fly during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Aug 22, 2023 (AP News photo)

Kansas City (40-88) 020 020 000. – 4. 6. 1

Oakland (36-90). 212 000 00x – 5. 6. 2

Time: 2:37

Attendance: 4,021

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–It’s not often that we get to see the A’s play a game that’s not a mismatch. Their current three game series against the Kansas City Royals affords us the rare opportunity to experience an exception to that unfortunate rule. Monday night’s walk off win over the Royals was an example of how exciting triple A baseball (well, maybe four A ball) can be, even if played by two major league teams. Tuesday’s 5-4 A’s win was another.

Both teams went the bullpen route.The Athletics picked Dany Jiménez, whose major league experience had consisted of 1-1/3 innings with the 2020 Giants before he signed with Oakland as a free agent after the ’21 season, for their opener.

He went 3-4, 3.41 over 34-1/3 frames last year. He made a cameo appearance in last night’s thriller against the Royals, throwing a third of an inning. He brought an 0-1, 6.75 record to the mound with him. Tuesday night, he retired the side in order in his one inning on the mound and then yielded to the just called up from Las Vegas Hogan Harris.

Harris had not been sharp in his last big league start; he gave up eight runs on nine hits, three of which were home runs, in three innings., which gave him a 2-6, 6.98 record for the season. He was a lot better tonight, but still not the type of pitcher you’d want to pin your hopes on. He gave up all of KC’s runs and did it in 3-2/3 innings.

KC used 23 year old Angel Zerpa as a prologue to the entry of 20 year veteran and 2009 Cy Young Award winner, Zack Greinke, fresh off the 15 day injured list He’s approaching his 3,000th career strikeout, but would have been mathematically impossible for him to have reached that milestone tonight. He came to work needing 45 more Ks to do that.

His record on entering the game in the bottom of the fourth was 1-12, 5.53, a sign that this year probably will be the last chance he has to become the 20th member of the 3,000 K Club. If the right elbow soreness that had sidelined him for two weeks still bothered him, his performance tonight didn’t reflect it.

He added five strikeouts to his total in his four inning stint as the bulk pitcher; he now has 2,960, Greinke held the A’s to two hits, one of them of the infield variety, and didn’t walk anyone. He did this on 53 pitches, 38 of them considered strikes.

He wasn’t involved in the decision because the A’s were ahead when he entered the game, and the Royals never caught up with them. John McMillon relieved him and set the A’s down 1-2-3 in the eighth.

Jiménez threw the game’s first pitch at 6:40. The “SELL THE TEAM” chants began at 6:42.

Oakland opened the scoring early, loading the bases with one out in the first when Zerpa hit Jonah Bride with a pitch, walked Zack Gelof, and, after Carlos Pérez flew out to left, Brent Rooker singled Bride home and Aledmys García’s sac fly brought Gelof home.

That 2-0 lead disappeared when Harris entered the fray and Kansas City imitated Oakland by loading the bases with one out; Number nine hitter Kyle Isbel drove in Salvador Pérez and MJ Meléndez with a two out single to center that knotted the score at two all.

Shea Langeliers’ 13th home run, a definitive 412 foot blast to left, to lead off the home second untied the knot. An inning later, Oakland tacked on another pair of runs. With one down, Carlos Pérez smacked a hard shot down the left field foul line that got by third sacker Maikel García. It was scored as an error. Rooker followed with a single to left and Aledmys García doubled to left.

The Royals mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth. Maikel García drew a leadoff base on balls and stole second. After Bobby Witt, Jr., fanned, Michael Massey sent a fly to deep left center that Ruíz caught up with while colliding with the wall.

The wall won; the ball was dislodged from Ruíz’s glove. García advanced to, but had to hold at, third. Salvador Pérez singled both runners home, closing the gap between the teams to 5-4. Meléndez went down swinging, and Spencer Patton, just promoted from the AAA Aviators, replaced Harris on the mound.

Harris retired Nelson Velázquez on a fly to right, retired the side in the sixth, and left with one away in the top of the seventh after a video review showed that Witt had beaten out a throw that otherwise would have resulted in a 6-4-3 double play. Kirby Snead was Patton’s replacement, and the score remained 5-4 in favor of Oakland at the seventh inning stretch.

Trevor May began the KC half of the ninth on the mound, facing the 9,1, and 2 Royal batters. They went down 1,2,3. It was Mays’ 13th save of the season. Harris got the win and now is 3-6, 7.14.

Tonight’s squeaker of a win brings Oakland’s record to W 36-90, .288. The Cleveland Spiders of August 22, 1899 were 18-92, .164, after having been obliterated, 15-6, at Eclipse Park by their hosts, the Louisville Colonels. 63 years later, the infamous and belovèd New York Mets enjoyed a rare victory. They defeated Don Larsen and the Giants, 5-4, at Candlestick. That raised the Amazin’s record to 32-95, 2.52.

The last game of the series will start tomorrow, Thursday, at 12:37. Kansas City intends to send southpaw Cole Ragens (2-1, 2.51). Oakland still hasn’t announced its starter or opener, as the case may be.

Walk off magic for the A’s get them the victory over the Royals 6-4

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Photo courtesy of Oakland Athletics.

By Titus Wilkinson (@TitusWisme)

OAKLAND- The A’s and Royals battled it out in a night game that went down to the wire but ended on a walk-off by Brent Rooker 6-4.

Getting the start for the Royals was left hander Tucker Davidson while for the A’s Paul Blackburn was on the mound.

The first baserunner for the A’s got on in an interesting fashion as Esteury Ruiz reached on catcher interference. Despite Ruiz then managing to steal his way to third the A’s got no runs in the inning as Aledmys Diaz lined out to end the first.

In the second MJ Melendez got a triple and then Freddy Fermin got out on a sacrifice fly knocking home a run.

The bottom of the second saw the first pitching change of the game as Taylor Hearn came in to replace Davidson. After Seth Brown struck out it brought up Jordan Diaz who smoked one to center field tying the game up at one. The solo shot exited the park at 103.3 mph and went 383 ft.

The third saw Oakland’s offense strike once again as Zack Gelof leading off the inning struck one to center field and over the wall giving them a one run lead.

Looking to tack on to their lead in the fifth Ryan Noda got a single and Brent Rooker was hit by a pitch getting two on with only one out. After Diaz flied out Seth Brown singled getting Noda home and extending their lead to 3-1.

The Royals got some run support in the sixth as Bobby Witt Jr. got a solo shot which was his 25th of the season. Countering in the bottom of the inning was Shea Langeliers who hit his own solo shot that was his 12th homer of the season.

In the seventh Blackburn’s night came to an end as he finished the game giving up only two earned runs, four hits, and striking out six. He was replaced by Kirby Snead who pitched until the eighth when he was taken out in favor of Lucas Erceg.

Erceg’s night did not get off to a great start as Matt Beaty got a double and Kyle Isbel drew a walk. A wild pitch then got Beaty to third and on sacrifice fly Beaty made it home making it a 4-3 game.

With the pressure bearing down Erceg was able to get it down to two outs but despite that Michael Massey singled trying the game up at four. After the run knocked in Erceg was taken out and replaced by Dany Jimenez who did not have to pitch long as Langeliers threw out Massey who was trying to steal.

The white-and-green kept the the game tied until the bottom of the ninth as they came up to bat.

Facing the A’s batters was right-hander Dylan Coleman who was facing Noda first.

That at-bat did not go Coleman’s way as he hit Noda with a pitch bringing up the on fire Rooker. After two pitches taken for balls Coleman threw a 89 mph slider right at the heart of the plate and Rooker did not miss. He launched it to center field walking it off and getting the A’s their 35th win of the season.

Trevor May got the win for the A’s bringing his record to 4-4 while Coleman took the loss making his record 0-2.

The A’s next game will be the second of this three game home series against the Royals at 6:40 p.m.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: MLB owners not happy with A’s special treatment in relocation move

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Sources have said that New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is not too happy regarding the Oakland A’s move to Las Vegas including the A’s receiving revenue sharing and having their relocation waved (New York Post file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 MLB owners have expressed their frustration over the Oakland A’s getting special treatment not having to pay a relocation fee as the behind the scenes discussions of the A’s move to Las Vegas heats up.

#2 Amaury, although it’s been quiet on the MLB owners front when they’ll hold the relocation vote it’s pretty apparent that it will most likely be held the first week of December.

#3 John Shea reporter from the San Francisco Chronicle says that the owners from high and low revenue teams are complaining that the A’s are receiving preferential treatment in getting increased revenue sharing and while not paying the relocation fee. Do you see that playing into the owners decision on the A’s relocation vote?

#4 The A’s getting that increased revenue sharing is also a frustration for the MLB owners particularly when they A’s don’t put any money into their payroll. Owners might ask why are the A’s getting all this money and also want to be rewarded by relocating to Vegas?

#5 Amaury, the question is will the owners go along with the relocation for the A’s to move to Vegas in spite of the A’s getting special treatment receiving revenue sharing money from MLB and the relocation being waved?

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish Network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s open series with Royals tonight at Coliseum; Oakland hoping to do better than they did with O’s

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Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn will try to get the A’s back in the win column Mon Aug 21, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum against the Kansas City Royals (AP News file photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Barbara, Sunday’s game might one that Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay would soon like to forget but the history books won’t the loss on Sunday was the A’s 17th sweep surpassing getting swept 16 times in 1978. A’s have a lot of work in front of them to put that record to rest.

#2 The A’s got beat in three lopsided games with the Baltimore Orioles by scores of 9-4, 7-2 and 12-1. In each game the A’s lost by more than five or more runs and the bullpen just didn’t have much to shutdown the Orioles.

#3 On Sunday the A’s just couldn’t figure out Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish who had eight strikeouts and had control over the A’s line up for six innings.

#4 The Orioles Ryan Castlemount extended his on base streak to a 26 times the most in his career. Castlemount had three hits in the ball game including a home run his 17th of the season.

#5 A’s will try it all over again when they face the Kansas City Royals at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday night for a 6:40pm PT first pitch. Tucker Davidson (1-2 ERA 6.39) for the Royals but Paul Blackburn will start for the A’s (3-3 ERA 4.09).

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s get swept up into history by O’s 12-1; Loss is 17th sweep most in since 1978

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Oakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears works against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum Sun Aug 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

Baltimore (77-47). 112 300 230. -12. 17. 0

Oakland (34-90) 000 000 100- 1. 4. 0

Time: 2:43

Attendance; 16,198

Sunday, August 20, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–The bleary eyed Oakland A’s dragged themselves to the stately pleasure dome to take the field at this afternoon in hopes of salvaging one win out of their three game series with the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles. Those hopes were dashed by a crushing 12-1 defeat.

The A’s were mathematically eliminated Sunday. This is the earliest in the history of this storied franchise, a founding member of the American League since 1901.  122 Years of history, from Philadelphia to Kansas City, to Oakland. And in a few years, probably Las Vegas. With a 34-90 record #30 in MLB.

They chose JP Sears to make his team leading 25th start of the season. He’s the only member of the Athletics’ mound staff to be in the starting rotation since day one. His record is not impressive, 2-9, 4.27 at game time.

The 27 year old southpaw seems to pitch better as his starts progress, if his opponents’ steadily diminishing batting average over the first three times through the order is any indication. This hot Oakland afternoon, not propitious for a pitcher who had allowed 26 home runs when he toed the rubber at 1:08. When he had finished his afternoon’s work, he had tarnished his already unprepossessing statistical profile.

He had given up seven runs, all earned, on nine hits and two walks. Two of those hits were homes. He threw 68 pitches, 43 for strikes. He was charged with the loss, making his numbers 2-10, 4.61). Zach Neal replaced him to start the top of the fifth.

Kyle Bradish, Sears’ right handed opposing pitcher, has a five pitch repertoire,which consists of sliders (which had comprised 29.8% of his 2023 deliveries before today), fastballs (25.1%), sinkers (18.8%), curves (17.5%), and changeups (8.8%).

They had earned him a respectable 7-6. 3.18 record. He was brilliant this afternoon, holding Oakland scoreless on two hits, both singles, over six innings. He issued just one base on balls and struck out eight, all on 92 pitches, 60 of which went into the books as strikes. He got the win and now has a record of 8-6, 3.03.

The Orioles were the early bird in the scoring department. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with Ramón Urías at bat. He hit a hard grounder to Jordan Dîaz at third, who fired the ball to Zack Gelof at second. Gelof’s relay drew Seth Brown off the bag at first, allowing Adlley Rutschman,, who had led off the game with a single. to come home. The A’s challenged first base umpire Alex Tosi’s call, but the review crew in New York let it stand.

The Orioles feathered their nest with two outs in the second. Jorge Mateo slammed a change of pace off the State Farm advertisement in left center. He flew around the bases for an inside the park home run. They doubled that two run. margen in the next frame.

Back to back two baggers by Ryan Montcastle and Gunnar Henderson put two men in scoring position with none d0wn. Austin Hays hit a liner up the middle that Sears deflected into left field for a two RBI single and then was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double.

Undeterred by their failure to score more runs in the third, Baltimore added another three in the fourth on Jordan Westburg’s lead off double, a walk to Rutschman, Montecastle second consecutive home run, and Henderson’s triple, which occasioned a crew chief’s review to determine exactly where it made contact with the right field wall. The visitors had a 7-0 lead, and we’d seen only 3-1/2 innings of one-sided baseball.

Oakland didn’t put a man on base until Gelof sent a line drive into right for a one out single in the home half of the fourth. He stayed there for the rest of the frame.

Neal blanked the O’s in the fifth and sixth. In the latter, he was the beneficiary of a beautiful unassisted double play by Brown, who grabbed Mateo’s scorching liner down the first base line and tumbled over the bag to double up Ryan McKenna, who had walked.

Neal wasn’t that successful in seventh. Henderson hit his 21st homer of the year, just inside the right field foul line, a one out shot that made it an 8-0 game. Back to back to back singles by Urías, Mullens, and Westburg made it 9-0.

Nick Vespi came in to relieve Bradish for the bottom of the seventh and immediately gave up a home run down the left field line to Rooker, the rookie’s 20th quadrilateral hit of the year. That was the Athletics’ third hit of the day and gave them their first run.

Mateo’s leadoff double against the Coca-Cola ad in right center in the eighth overcame The Curse when Rutschman singled to center, scoring Mateo, and Henderson doubled down the right field line to drive Rutschman home and Neal to the showers, replaced by Francisco Pérez. He surrendered a single to Urías that brought in Henderson to give Baltimore an even dozen runs. That was all he gave up in his 1-2/3 of work.

Shintaro Fujinami, who gave up the game tying round tripper to Aledmys Díaz last night, gave up a leadoff single but preserved the Orioles’ 12-1 victory

This afternoon’s defeat left the A;s with a mark of 34-90, .274. That’s pretty good, compared with the 1899 Cleveland Spiders’ August 20 record of 18-91, .165. They lost to the Chicago Orphans, 8-7, that afternoon. The 1962 New York Mets had an even worse August 20.

They dropped both games of a double header to the Pirates at Forbes Field, 2-0 and 6-3, which put their record at 30-94, .242.

Monday, the A’s will face the Kansas City Royals at 6:40pm PT. Paul Blackburn (3-4, 4.09) will be on the mound at the Coliseum. KC hasn’t yet announced who will pitch for them. Starting tomorrow with their night game at Oakland vs Royals, Athletics have 40 games left.