Category: Oakland Athletics

Preview: Oakland A’s-Houston Astros open series Friday night at Minute Maid Field; Last series before All Star break

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay is hoping for a good road trip starting Fri Jul 15, 2022 at Minute Field in Houston against the Houston Astros (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s meet the Houston Astros for three games starting Friday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The A’s and Astros just concluded a three-game series last week in Oakland. The Astros won two out of three in that series.

The A’s are off on Thursday. The Astros play the LA Angels on Thursday before returning home to face the A’s. The A’s are off three days for the annual All-Star game.

The A’s will start the second half of the season with a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on July 21st at the Oakland Coliseum. Then it’s the Texas Rangers, who the A’s just played the last three days, will be in Oakland for three Jul 22-24, and the Astros will be on hand for three more starting Jul 25-27th to close out the homestand.

The Astros have the best record in the AL West division. They are 57-30 and lead the second-place Seattle Mariners by eleven games. The A’s are in last place with a record of 30-60. The A’s are on pace to lose 108 games. Oakland has not had a season this bad since 1979.

The Astros have gone to the World Series in 2017, 2019, and 2021. They won the World Series crown in 2017. The Astros have a talented roster and show no signs of slowing down. The Astros have a very potent offense.

There are many familiar names in their lineup. Former AL MVP Jose Altuve leads the team. Other plays that can cause damage are third baseman Alex Bregman, rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena, first baseman Yuli Guriel, and utility player Aledmys Diaz.

The Astros’ star left fielder Michael Brantley is on the 10-day-IL. Chas McCormick or Jose Siri will fill in for Brantley. Jake Meyers will be in center field. Right fielder Kyle Tucker has killed the A’s in the past. Tucker will be going to the All-Star game as a reserve outfielder.

Houston’s Yordan Alvarez was also selected as an All-Star. Alvarez will not be able to DH for Houston in the series against the A’s as he is on the 10-day IL. Alvarez is hitting .306 with 26 home runs and 60 RBIs.

The Astros have not announced their pitching selections for the three-game series. The A’s announced that lefty Cole Irvin would pitch for Oakland Friday night. Irvin is 3-7 with an ERA of 3.31. Irvin has pitched well lately. The A’s offense has not given Irvin much support this season. The pitchers for the games on Saturday and Sunday have not been announced.

The A’s would love to win a series on the road. It will not be easy going against one of the best teams in baseball. If the A’s could take two out of three from Houston over the weekend, it could be quite a feather in the cap of manager Mark Kotsay’s.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s try and rebound from Texas series as they open up in Houston on Friday night

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Oakland A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn was racked up for five runs by the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jul 13, 2022 but settled down for the rest of his six inning stint (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s All Star representative Paul Blackburn got the Charlie Brown treatment surrendering five runs in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington to the Texas Rangers on Wednesday as the Rangers got off to a quick 5-0 lead.

#2 Jerry, what were some of the things that Blackburn struggled with in that first inning was it a matter of his not getting tracked or the Rangers were just seeing the ball very well.

#3 For the rest of his start Blackburn pitched shutout ball for the next five innings in the remaining time of his start and found his control.

#4 It was that first inning five run rally that stood up for the Rangers who wound up getting the 5-2 win over the A’s. The A’s who scored only two runs and again lacked the hitting needed to get back in the game.

#5 Starting pitchers for Friday in Houston as the A’s have Thursday off for Oakland Cole Irvin (3-7, 3.32) and Houston manager Dusty Baker has not yet announced a starter for Friday a 5:10 pm PDT first pitch at Minute Maid Field. Jerry can the A’s rebound from the last series they had with the Astros.

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

Rangers’ five-run first inning was more than enough as they beat A’s 5-2

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Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager slugs an RBI single off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) as catcher Sean Murphy and umpire Johbn Tumpane look on in the first inning, at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Wed Jul 13, 2022. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

What a difference a day makes. The Oakland A’s hammered out 13 hits and 14 runs Tuesday night to beat the Texas Rangers. Wednesday night’s game featured a battle between the A’s Paul Blackburn and the Rangers’ Jon Gray.

Would the teams continue to put runs on the board? Could the hitting be stopped? Blackburn has been the A’s best pitcher in 2022. His strong first half resulted in an All-Star berth for Blackburn. Gray, signed to a four-year 56 million dollar contract as a free agent, entered the game with a 5-4 record.

The A’s roughed up Gray for five runs when the Rangers were in Oakland in late May. Well, things did not go well for Blackburn in the first inning. Blackburn could not locate his pitches, and he walked three batters.

The Rangers’ hitters had three hits in the inning, and they put five runs on the board to lead 5-0. Jon Gray pitched his best game of the year. The big righty limited the A’s to one hit in seven innings of work. His line was seven innings, one hit, nine strikeouts, and no walks. The A’s hit two solo home runs in the ninth, but it was not enough as they fell to the Rangers by a score of 5-2.

The Rangers scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the first inning. Blackburn walked Rangers’ leadoff hitter Josh Smith. Marcus Semien, playing shortstop in place of Corey Seager, who was the DH Wednesday night, reached on a fielder’s choice.

Smith was out at second. Semien took off and was able to steal second. Sean Murphy’s throw hit Semien, sliding into the base. The ball went into shallow centerfield. Semien advanced to third on the error.

The next hitter, Corey Seager, singled to drive in Semien with the Rangers’ first run. Blackburn walked Nathaniel Lowe and Jonah Heim to load the bases with one out. Blackburn struck out Kole Calhoun for the second out.

The seventh hitter in the Rangers’ lineup, Leody Taveras, singled to drive in Seager and Lowe to make it 3-0. Heim advanced to third.

Taveras promptly stole second base. Brad Miller, who hadn’t done much so far in the three-game series, singled to right to drive in two more runs. Ramon Laureano’s throw to second as Miller tried to advance a base on the throw home.

Blackburn regained his poise. He showed his All-Star form as he held the Rangers hitless over the next five innings. Blackburn’s line was six innings pitched, three hits, four walks, one strikeout, and five runs. The Rangers’ Jon Gray was the better pitcher.

The only hit he allowed in seven innings of work came in the top of the fourth. A’s third baseman Vimael Machin reached on an infield single. Gray was dominant. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

The A’s had three hits in the top of the ninth. Jose LeClerc was on the hill for Texas. Skye Bolt sent LeClerc’s first pitch out of the park to make it a 5-1 game.

For Bolt, it was his first home run of the year. It was the second big fly in his career. LeClerc retired Nick Allen and Vimael Machin. Ramon Laureano blasted his eighth home run over the wall in centerfield to make it a 5-2 game.

Sean Murphy walked, and Seth Brown doubled to put men on at second and third with two out. Stephen Vogt came to the plate as the potential tying run. Rangers’ manager brought in Garrett Richards to face Vogt. All it took was one pitch. To end the game, Vogt hit the first pitch from Richard to Taveras in centerfield. The Rangers win 5-2.

Game notes- With the loss, the A’s are 30-60. The Rangers improved to 41-45. The winning pitcher was Jon Gray. He is now 6-4. Blackburn took the loss. He is now 6-5.

The Line for Oakland was two runs, four hits, and one error. Texas’ line was five runs, four hits, and no errors.

The A’s are off on Thursday. They play the Houston Astros for three games at Minute Maid Park in Houston. These will be the last three games before the annual All-Star break. Neither team has announced their pitchers for the series.

The time of the game was 2:34. 22,394 fans watched in air-conditioned comfort as the outside temperature in Arlington was 103 degrees with 25% humidity.

It takes twelve innings for A’s to beat Rangers 14-7 at the Ballpark in Arlington; Pinder hits slam in 12th for Oakland

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Oakland A’s Chad Pinder (10) rounds the bases after hitting a top of the 12th inning grand slam against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington in the second game of the three game series (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s beat the Texas Rangers 14-7 in 12 innings to even the series at one game each Tuesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The A’s fought back from a 3-1 deficit to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

The A’s closer, Lou Trivino, had another disastrous outing. The big righty, facing the very hot-hitting Corey Seager saw Seager blast his 21st home run. It was Seager’s fifth homer in the last five games. With two outs, Ranger’s centerfielder Leody Taveras doubled for the second time in the game.

Kole Calhoun, pinch-hitting for Charlie Culberson, singled to drive in Taveras with the tying run. The game went into extra innings. The A’s scored a run in the top of the tenth. The Rangers got even in their half. No one scored in the 11th.

For one of the few times this season, a game went into the 12th inning. The A’s put it away as they scored eight runs in the top of the 12th to lead 14-6. The Rangers got one back, but it was not enough as Oakland won the game 14-7.

The Rangers grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. A’s starter James Kaprielian gave up a double to Rangers’ leadoff hitter Josh Smith. Former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien homered to give the Rangers the early 2-0 advantage.

The A’s scored one the second to close to make it a 2-1 game. The Rangers got the run back in the bottom of the fourth to go ahead 3-1. Oakland scored three times in the top of the fifth. The A’s went to the bullpen after Kaprielian exited after five innings of work.

The A’s added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Sam Moll worked a scoreless sixth inning for the A’s. A.J.Puk went two innings and retired all six hitters he faced. It was up to Trivino to close out the game. He failed. As mentioned above, the Rangers scored twice to tie the game.

The A’s scored eight times in the top of the 12th. The big blow was Chad Pinder’s home run with the bases loaded. The A’s had just three hits in the 12th. The ghost runner and three walks helped the A’s put the eight runs on the board. Texas scored a run in their half of the 12th, but it didn’t matter as the A’s won 14-7.

Game notes– With the win, the A’s are 30-59. Texas falls to 40-45.

The hitting stars for Oakland were Sean Murphy and Chad Pinder. Murphy had two singles and two doubles in five at-bats. He reached base safely all five times. Pinder had a grand slam to ice the win for Oakland.

The A’s used seven pitchers Tuesday night. Texas used eight. Kirby Snead was the winning pitcher. Trivino was charged with his second blown save. Rangers’ reliever Dennis Santana took the loss.
The line score for Oakland was 14 runs, 13 hits, and no errors. The line for Texas was seven runs, nine hits, and two errors.

The rubber game of the three-game series will be played Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. First pitch at 5:05 pm PDT.

The A’s will send their All-Star pitcher Paul Blackburn (6-4, 3.36) out to face the Rangers. Blackburn will be going for his seventh win. He will be opposed by the Rangers RHP Jon Gray(5-4, 4.03).

The time of the game was 4:04. The announced attendance was 17,485.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s Blackburn says he’s a loss for words on All Star selection; Met’s Alonso says he’s the best hitter on the planet for home run derby; plus more

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Oakland A’s starter Paul Blackburn is jubilant in this Apr 27, 2022 game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco. Blackburn who started in this 1-0 shutout had five relievers follow him to keep the shutout going. Blackburn will be the A’s lone representative for the mid summer classic this year at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles on Tue Jul 19, 2022. (mercurynews.com file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s lone representative pitcher Paul Blackburn is honored to be representing the A’s for the 2022 All Star Game in Los Angeles on July 19th. Blackburn said that he was a loss for words upon learning last Sunday he would get the honor.

#2 Blackburn 28 was 6-2 and currently is 6-4 has pitched in a number of games where he’s gone seven innings or more but in some of his loses he didn’t get much run support and got the loss.

#3 Amaury, Blackburn mentioned that he’s really looking forward to seeing and talking with Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani and other American League players. For Blackburn it’s an experience he soon won’t forget.

#4 The home run derby is one of the most anticipated events at the All Star Game and all attention most likely will be on the New York Mets Pete Alonso who won two home run derbies and winning the $1 million prize each time.

#5 Alonso didn’t hold back after winning in the 2021 All Star Game’s home run derby in Denver last season saying that he’s the best power hitter on the planet.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play announcer for the Oakland A’s on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s rally falls short as Rangers outlast A’s 10-8 Monday night at the Ballpark in Arlington

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Oakland A’s centerfielder Ramon Luareano can’t get the handle on the baseball as it gets away for a inside the park home run hit by the Texas Rangers Josh Smith at the Oakland Coliseum on Mon Jul 11, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

There was good and bad news in the game that the Oakland A’s (29-59) lost to the Texas Rangers 10-8 Monday night. The good news was the A’s offense woke up late in the game to score six runs in the eighth. They sent ten men to the plate in that inning.

The A’s hitters blasted a two-run and three-run homer in the frame. For the game, they hit three home runs. Sheldon Neuse had a solo blast in the fifth, Ramon Laureano hit a two-run blast in the eighth, and Chad Pinder homered with two men on base later in the inning.

For the game’s first seven innings, everything went right for the Texas Rangers. They put runs on the board in every inning except the first and third. The A’s starter, Adrian Martinez, gifted the Rangers two runs in the bottom of the second.

The Rangers’ catcher, Jonah Heim, a former Oakland Athletic, singled to get the rally going. Heim went to second on a wild pitch. Martinez walked Kole Calhoun to put two men on with no out. Martinez retired Brad Miller for the first out.

Rangers’ center-fielder Leody Tavares reached on a fielder’s choice. Calhoun was out at second, and Heim advanced to third. Tavares promptly stole second. Heim scored the game’s first run when the umpires called a balk on Martinez.

Tavaras advanced to third. Tavaras scored when Martinez uncorked his second wild pitch of the innings. The Rangers scored two runs on one hit, a walk, two wild pitches, and a balk.

The A’s put their first run of the night on the board in the top of the fourth. Ramon Laureano reached safely on Rangers’ third baseman Josh Smith’s error. Sean Murphy singled, sending Laureano to second. Seth Brown singled to drive in Laureano. The A’s trailed 2-1 midway through the fourth.

The Rangers plated three more runs in their half of the fourth. Martinez walked Rangers’ first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to get things going for Texas. Jonah Heim reached safely on Seth Brown’s fielding error. Kole Calhoun singled to drive in.

Lowe with Texas’ third run. Heim went to second. Tavares singled to drive in Heim, and Calhoun went to third. Josh Smith fouled out to Elvis Andrus in short left field. Andrus collided with the third baseman Vimael Machin. Calhoun tagged up and scored the third run of the inning. The Rangers lead 5-1 after four.

Neuse cut the deficit to three when he hit his third dinger of the season. The ball traveled 418 feet into the second deck in left field. The A’s trailed 5-2. The Rangers’ star shortstop, Corey Seager, blasted his 20th homer to get the run back, and the Rangers led 6-2.

The Rangers added two more runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to have a comfortable10-2 lead with just two innings left for Oakland to do anything.

In the fateful eighth inning, Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward brought in lefty Kolby Allard to pitch. Allard had been struggling this season, and his outing in the eighth was not his best effort. The A’s put six runs on the board.

This year, it was the most runs in an inning for the A’s. Here’s how they did it. Third baseman Vimeal Machin started the rally with a single, and Ramon Laureano atoned for a ball he misplayed in the sixth inning.

The misplay resulted in an inside-the-park, two-run home run for Josh Smith. Laureano homered for the seventh time this tear to make it a 10-4 game. Allard hit Sean Murphy with a pitch. Allard struck out Seth Brwon for the first out.

Elvis Andrus singled. Both men scored when Chad Pinder homered into the seats in left field. The A’s now trailed 10-7. Chris Woodward brought in Garrett Richards to pitch. Richards plunked Stephen Piscotty on the upper part of his left arm.

Piscotty was not able to continue. Tony Kemp doubled, sending Skye Bolt to third. Neuse grounded out 5-3 to drive in Bolt with the sixth run of the inning and the eighth of the night. The A’s could not score in the ninth and fell to the Rangers 10-8.

Game Notes: The A’s are now 29-59, 30 games below .500. Texas improved to 40-44. Adrian Martinez was the losing pitcher. Spencer Howard picked up the win.

The line score for Oakland was eight runs, 12 hits, and one error. Texas’ line was ten runs, nine hits, and one error.

The time of the game was 3:28. 20,600 were in attendance.

The A’s meet the Rangers again Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. The game will start at 5:05 pm. The A’s will be starting All Star Paul Blackburn (6-4, 3.36) the Rangers starter will be right hander Jon Gray (5-4, 4.03) first pitch at 5:05 pm PDT at the Ballpark in Arlington

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2022 A’s what does the second half mean?

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The Oakland A’s hopes for 2022 is for the pathway to a new waterfront ballpark at Howard Terminal in downtown Oakland the A’s have jumped two vote hurdles towards the project. (Artists rendition of the Howard Terminal ballpark San Francisco Chronicle image)

2022 A’s: What does the Second Half means?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The main news for the 2022 Oakland A’s will not be on the field during this second half of the season, but the news that many are anxiously waiting that they will indeed stay in Oakland and build a new park right next to downtown.

I know people that told me; “there is no way they stay in Oakland, they will move to Las Vegas” and some told me that in a gleeful way, like hoping they move to Las Vegas because they (like many others) are understandable frustrated and are sick and tired of this ‘novela’ of the A’s building their new park, that has been going now for decades.

The odds at this time seems to favor the possibility of the A’s staying in Oakland and even building Howard Terminal. The man that ended his career with more World Series rings that the A’s and Giants teams combined, with 10 rings, Yankees Hall of Fame catcher, Yogi Berra once said ‘It ain’t over till it’s over’. And this is the way I also feel. I am just going by the difficulty to build it has become in the Bay Area to build any sports facility for baseball. I will definitely believe it when the shovels are inserted into the ground by home plate of the new Howard Terminal.

Let us now refresh our collective memories. The San Francisco Giants current park, which inaugurated in 2000 was build for only $357 million dollars (probably what they would have to pay Juan Soto if they want to lure him to the bay) and as of 2002 was the only privately financed major league stadium in 40 years anywhere in the country. Mount Davis (the monstrosity of solid cement at the Oakland Coliseum) cost approximately $500 million to build, with the cost shared by Alameda County and the city of Oakland.

Sports Illustrated current issue reported that Warriors owner Joe Lacob had a deal in place to buy the A’s from former A’s owner Stephen Schott for $180 million, but the deal did not get the approval by Commissioner Bud Selig at that time, which approved the sale to Lew Wolff and John Fisher, who were fraternity brothers of Selig in college. It always pays to have friend in high places.

According to -Statista- The Oakland A’s today are worth $1 billion 180 million.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead Spanish play by play for the Oakland A’s on Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s have tough time keeping Astros down; Oakland heads to Texas to open 3 game series

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Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin delivers a first inning pitch against the Houston Astros line up on Sun Jul 10, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Barbara Mason:

#1 Houston Astros rookie Korey Lee had his way with the Oakland A’s on Sunday with three hits in his big league debut at the Oakland Coliseum as he contributed to the Astros 6-1 win over the A’s.

#2 Astros starter Jake Odorizzi pitched seven innings of shutout ball giving up four hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts which was good enough to hold down the A’s.

#3 Astro outfielder Kyle Tucker hit his 17th home run of the season his efforts helped the Astros continue their winning ways with their 11th win in 14 games.

#4 The A’s got a home run from rookie Vimael Machin in the bottom of the eighth inning to end the shutout against Astro reliever Phil Maton. Machin just got the pitch over the rightfield fence.

#5 The A’s open up a three game series in Arlington against the Texas Rangers. The A’s will be going with Adrian Martinez (2-1, 6.00) for the Texas Rangers Spencer Howard (0-1, 10.97) at 5:05 pm PDT

Join Barbara for the Oakland A’s podcast each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Quiet Baseball: A’s offense missing in 6-1 loss to the Astros

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Two things are cropping up with the A’s these days: the losses and the length in time of the losses.

Add it up, not good, and neither was the 6-1 loss to the Astros in which they barely registered offensively. Only three A’s came to bat with a runner in scoring position, and they drew just one walk, and left four men on base.

Vimael Machin’s first Major League home run in the eighth was the highlight, and the whole thing was a rap in two hours, 39 minutes as the A’s saw a steady diet of strikes from three Houston pitchers and did little with them. The A’s have dropped nine of 13, and they haven’t exactly extended themselves in a majority of the losses.

But that’s A’s baseball these days, including the steady performance of their starters. Cole Irvin pitched six innings, allowing five hits and no walks, which looked good and was good, it just came without assistance, outside catcher Stephen Vogt.

“Little bit more curveball usage than I’ve had all season,” Irvin said of his afternoon. “Made my fastball look a little bit harder. Didn’t have good command of it early but it got better. I really wasn’t thinking too much out there. Vogter was calling a great game.”

In the absence of Yordan Alvarez, the impressive home run hitting first baseman for the Astros, who was both named to the All-Star team and placed on the injured list on Sunday, Kory Lee did his thing with three hits and three RBI. Lee, a 2019 first round pick from Cal, was feeling it, not so much from friends in attendance, but the Coliseum’s reputation for zaniness. Not a linear connection, but it worked as Lee put the Astros up 2-0 in the fifth, and doubled home two runs in the seventh for a 4-0 lead.

It’s crazy, being in Oakland,” Lee said. “The people here, the fans are really special so it was nice to get a little taste of home and do my thing here. It was a good day.”

It was a good day for Dusty Baker, who saw his club increase its AL West lead to 12 games and get five All-Star roster spots. And he didn’t get kicked out. In fact, Baker did little besides adjust his wristbands in the dugout, as opposed to getting ejected arguing calls as he did on Saturday.

“We got some timely hitting from some guys who played pretty good fundamental ball. Got ‘em over and got ’em in,” Baker said. “Korey Lee had a big day in front of all his folks. He put on a good display.”

GAME NOTES: The A’s have scored one run or no runs in 32 games thus far with little success (1-31). They entered Sunday’s game with a .209 batting average as a team and went 5 for 31 in the loss. The lowest team batting average over a full season since 1900 is .211 by the Chicago White Sox in 1910.

The A’s recalled Domingo Tapia from AAA Las Vegas and optioned Zach Logue, who started Saturday’s game.

The A’s open a three-game set in Arlington, Texas on Monday. Adrian Martinez and the Rangers’ Spencer Howard are the announced starters for Monday at 5:05pm.

A’s cash in on wild pitches, slip past Astros 3-2

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Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy (12) scores on Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, right, and pitcher Framber Valdez (59) in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum Sun Jul 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Saturday, July 9, 2022

OAKLAND – Houston’s Framber Valdez threw a complete game on Saturday. Unfortunately for the Astros lefthander, his eight innings of work also included a wild pitch and a passed ball, which both contributed to Oakland’s 3-2 come-from-behind win at the Coliseum.

Sean Murphy opened the Athletics’ fourth with a single to right and moved to second on a one-out walk to Elvis Andrus. Stephen Piscotty then singled to left-center to load the bases.

Seth Brown reached on a fielder’s choice that drove in Murphy and moved Andrus to third and Piscotty to second while Brown was out trying to advance on the throw, A passed ball charged to catcher Martin Maldonado allowed Andrus to score and Piscotty to move to third. Piscotty scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Valdez (8-4).

From there, the A’s bullpen did the rest after A’s starter Zach Logue (3-4) was pulled after five innings. A.J. Puk, Domingo Acevedo, Azch Jackson and Sam Moll held Houston scoreless on one hit between the sixth and eighth innings.

In the Astros ninth, Lou Trivino issued a one-out walk to Kyle Tucker, followed by a single by Yuli Gurriel before retiring pinch-hitter JJ Martinez on a line out to center to earn his seventh save.

Houston took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a run-scoring single by Chas McCormick and an infield groundout by Martin Maldonado. Both runs were charged to Logue.

Valdez gave up three runs – two earned – on four hits and two walks while striking out three. He threw 96 pitches. Gurriel was 2-for-4.

Murphy had two of Oakland’s four hits.

The A’s and Astros wrap up their weekend series on Sunday at the Coliseum. :Lefthander Cole Irvin (3-6, 3.35) will start for Oakland, facing Houston rigfhthander Jake Odrorizzi (3-2, 5,04 First pitch is scheduled for 1:07 p.m.

A’s ACORNS: The Athletics traded catcher-infielder Christian Bethancourt to the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers – righthander Christian Fernandez and outfielder Cal Stevenson. Bethancourt is expected to bolster the Rays’ catching depth. … Astros manager Dusty Baker was ejected from the game in the eighth inning for arguing balls-and-strikes. … Attendance was 10,054.