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Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin’s frustrations boil over in the sixth inning as he is ejected by plate umpire Greg Gibson (53) at the Oakland Coliseum while playing the Seattle Mariners on Wed Sep 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

Seattle 4 – 9 – 0

Oakland 1 – 4 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Wednesday September 22, 2021

OAKLAND–To hear the A’s tell it, the mood in their club house is one of realistic optimism. But that’s an oxymoron; no realist—other than someone who’s bet on the Astros, Red Sox, Yankees, or Blue Jays—would be optimistic about Oakland’s chances of playing any time between October 3 and the first pitch of the 2022 Cactus League season. Still, there are many ways in which baseball is a beautiful game; the excitement of the pennant race is just one of them.

The daily conflict between the two teams, the drama that unfolds on the field, the esthetic delight, both geometric and kinetic, of a well executed defensive play, the mental complexities of the myriad of interlocking strategic and tactical decisions made by the coaching staffs or, instantaneously, by the players, all these are just some of the joys watching what once was the national pastime affords us.

We don’t need to place tonight’s lackluster performance of Oakland in their 4-1 loss to the Mariners in the context of the hunt for a green October to get that special pleasure that baseball provides, even in its langeurs and disappointments.

What occurred tonight in front of an intimate gathering of 4,149 fans at the Coliseum was like “the turkey that you know will fold” that Irving Berlin wrote about; “you wouldn’t trade it for a sack of gold.” (Well, I wouldn’t go that far. Maybe the lines I should have quoted from “There’s No Business Like Show Business” are “You’re broken hearted / But You Go On.”)

Oakland starter Cole Irvin pitched himself out of minor difficulties but didn’t allow the Mariners to score over the first two frames, while Seattle’s starter, Chris Flexen, kept the first four Athletic hitters off the basepaths.

But then Mark Canha lined a single to right and tried to stretch it into a double. Second base umpire Rob Drake thought he was safe. The video replay on the jumbo scoreboards showed he was safe.

The crew of video review umpires in New York thought differently, and so the the A’s went from a runner on second with one down to bases empty and two outs. It was no surprise that the inning ended with the game still a scoreless tie.

That’s how it remained until Kyle Seager unloaded on an 89 mph four seamer for his 35th home run of the year. The blast came with the bases empty and no outs in the top of the fourth. It travelled 406 feet and landed just over the xfinity sign in center field.

One out later, Abraham Toro singled to center and advanced to second on a wild pitch while Jarred Kelenic, who eventually struck out, was at bat. Tom Murphy singled the Mariner shortstop home to put the M’s ahead 2-0.

Ty France’s 17th round tripper of the season extended that advantage to 3-0. It came on a 1-2 slider with one out in fifth and was followed by a walk to Haniger and Seager’s two bagger to right center that sent Haniger around to third.

Irvin struck Torrens out swinging and retired Toro on a pop up that Olson’s speed and the Coliseum’s spacious foul territory allowed the A’s first sacker to corral. It was Irvin’s 89th pitch, but not a creature was stirring in the Athletics’ bull pen.

It was Matt Chapman who broke the ice for the home team. He led off the fifth by taking a 3-2 fast ball 414 feet deep to center for his 27th four bagger of the year. Although Sean Murphy singled and went to second on a ground out to the mound by Andrus, the Athleltics’ receiver was stranded at second with the score 3-1 in favor of the visitors.

Deolis Guerra was warming up in the the Oakland pen when Irvin took the mound in the sixth. Four pitches later, Irvin had walked Kelenic, and Guerra was on the mound. Irvin had given up seven hits, unleashed one wild pitch, and surrendered three bases on balls, the last of which brought his pitch count up to 93, 58 of which were strikes.

Kelenic stole second on a disputed play, in which Sean Murphy either caught Moore’s foul tip for a third strike or couldn’t handle Guerra’s pitch for the first ball.

This led to a vigorous dispute between crew chief and home plate umpire Greg Gibson and the ever contentious manager Bob Melvin, which led to the former ejecting the latter, along with bench coach Ryan Christianson, from the premises. Mark Kotsay assumed to role of acting manager.Guerra completed the inning without incident, and Irvin’s run allowed total remained at three, all earned.

Guerra hit France with a pitch to open the top of the seventh and then got Haniger on a pop up to Andrus in shallow center field before being replaced by Andres Chafin, who faced the unenviable task of pitching to Seager.

The Mariners’ third baseman lined a single past Olson that advanced France to third. The run he scored on Torrens’ sacrifice fly to deep center was charged to Guerra’s account. Chafin then closed the door on the M’s, who now enjoyed a 4-1 advantage

Michael Feliz, whom the A’s had claimed off waivers from the Red Sox yesterday, made his Oakland debut when he relieved Chafin to start the Seattle eighth. He lasted three batters. A fly to left by Kelenic, a sharp single to left by Tom Murphy, and a walk to Moore brought Yusmeiero Petit into the game. He restored order, retiring Crawford on a fly to Marte and France on a short to second force out.

Seven innings was enough for Flexen. He allowed a single run, on Olson’s home run, and a total of three hts and two walks. He struck out eight.65 of his hundred pitches were strikes. Diego Castillo took over for him and set the A’s down 1,2,3 in the eighth, aided by a lovely diving catch of Harrison’s dying quail to center by Kelenic for the third out.

Domingo Acevedo came in to pitch the top of the ninth for Oakland and put the Mariners down in order.

The A’s had one last shot at drawing even. Facing Drew Stekenrider in the bottom of the ninth, Marte led off with a line drive double to right. But the A’s fell victim to the curse of the lead off double as Olson, Lowrie, Canha left him stranded.

The win went to Flexen. His record stands at 13-6, 3.56. Steckenrider earned his 1th save and lowered his ERA to 2.17. Irvin. was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 10-14 upping his ERA to 3.99.

Perhaps the biggest Athletics story of the day didn’t even occur on the field of play. It was the anticipation generated by the naming of Chris Bassit (12-4, 3.22) to open Thursday afternoon’s game, just four and a half weeks after the horrific facial injury the staff ace suffered in Chicago. His counterpart for Seattle will be Yusei Kikuchi (7-9, 4,32). Game time will be 12:;370.

One last reminder: the A’s still haven’t been mathematically eliminated. Hope springs eternal.

Down the rabbit hole the Oakland A’s third baseman Matt Chapman gives chase for gloving a foul ball but can’t reach it over the tarp near the stands hit by the Seattle Mariners Jake Bauers in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Ring Central Coliseum on Tue Sep 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

Seattle 5 – 9 – 0

Oakland 2 – 6 – 1

By Lewis Rubman

Tuesday September 21, 2021

OAKLAND–Today is the last day of the summer of ‘21, and, with their 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, the A’s look ready to say good bye to both the season and their chances of playing in the post season.

The game started well for the home team. With two down in the first, Matt Olson blasted a slow hanging curve from Marco González 416 feet from home plate and over the right field fence for his 37th home run of the year, giving the A’s an early 1-0 lead.

Big ball giveth, but small ball taketh away. After striking Jarred Kelenic out to open the second, the Athletics´starter, Paul Blackburn, hit Jake Bauers with a pitch. Blackburn then gave up a hit ‘em where they ain’t single to right by Tom Murphy, against whom the A’s employed a quasi shift, with Josh Harrison stationed just to the right of second base.

Jake Fraley hit a sharp bouncer to Olson at first, whose throw to Elvis Andrus forced Kelenic at second. AAndrus’s relay was late, so Fraley was safe at first. Meanwhile, Bauers advanced to third. Dylan Moor struck out to end the inning, but not before Blackburn threw a pick off attempt past Olson, which allowed Bauers to race home with the tying tally.

Kelenic opened the Mariners’ fourth with a triple to right center. Umpire Ryan Wills called him out at third, but a video review showed that he was well and truly safe. Blackburn fought back, striking out Bauers and Murphy before walking Fraley on a 3-2 pitch in a plate appearan;ce that had many of the earmarks of a semi-intentional walk.

After all, Moore, who was up next, came into the game with a .182 batting average and had struck out in his only other at bat. He whalloped a triple that a leaping Canha couldn’t pull down in front of the 7-Up sign. A single to center by JP Crawford, and the A’s were down 4-1. Blackburn finally retired the M’s with a pop fly to second by Ty France.

Blackburn had, by then, delivered 83 pitches in four innings, which was all was to throw tonight. He had been touched for four runs, three earned, on six hits, a walk, and a hit batter. He struck out five. 48 of his pitches were strikes.

Starling Marte brought the A’s a bit closer when, leading off in the fourth, he snuck a high fly over the center field fence at the 400 foot marker. It was his 15th dinger of the year and his fifth for Oakland, González quickly disposed of the two Matts, Olson and Chapman, but Gomes and Pinder singled, putting the potential tying runs on base. Canha hit a hard shot that staggered Crawford, but the Seattle shortstop recovered fast enough to throw the hustling Canha out at first.

Sam Moll, who had pitched a scoreless eighth against the M´s on Monday night, relieved the departed Blackburn when the A’s took the field in the fifth. He retired the side on three strike outs and a hit batter. He gave up a single too Fraley in the sixth but caught the Seattle left fielder trying to steal, 1-3-6, and didn’t let anyone else reach base.

Yusmeiro Petit took over mound duties for the green and gold in the top of the seventh. Crawford greeted him with a double that bounced off the left center field wall between the 7-Up and Rickey Henderson Field signs. He stayed on second when Andrus made a beautiful play on France’s hard bounder that looked like it was going to go into left, but he advanced to third on Seager’s grounder to Olson. Chapman made a nice. plaly on Haniger’s grounder to save Petit’s bacon.

González left the game after finishing his sixth frame. He threw 99 pitches, 62 for strikes, and allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits, half of which were solo home runs, and a walk. Casey Sadler, his replacement, set the A’s down 1, 2, 3 in the home seventh.

Jake Diekman pitched the eighth for Oakland. He walked Murphy but struck out Kelenic, Bauers, and Fraley.

Paul Seward, who earned his ninth save of the season with a shutout ninth inning against the A’s, pitched the eighth for Seattle tonight. He gave up a two out double to the no longer slumping Marte before conceeding a walk to Olson, whoich put the tying runs on base for Chapman. He left them there, fanning on a 1-2 93 mph fast ball.

Sergio Romo came in to try to keep the A’s in. the game but gave up a home run on a hanging slilder that Parker parked in the right field seats.

A pinch hitting Jed Lowrie greeted close Drew Steckendrider with a leg double through the shift to right. Kemp lined out to center, but when Canha, the human dart board reached first after being hit by a pitch, Oakland again had the potential tying runs on base, this time with one out and Seth Brown at the plate, He hit into a 4-6 force out, leaving it up to Andrus, hitless so far after a six game hitting streak. He popped out.

González, who got the win, is now 9-5, 4.01. The save went to Streckenrider, his 10th. Blackburn, 1-3, 5.17, took the loss.

The teams are now tied for second place in the AL West at 81-69. They will do battle Wednesday at 6:40. Cole Irvin (10-13,3.94) and Chris Flexen (12-6, 3.66) will be the probable starters.

Oakland A’s reliever Sergio Romo has struggled in his last few outings and blew a save on Sun Sep 19, 2021 in Anaheim will he return for 2022? (file photo Fox Sports)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 The Oakland A’s are just two games back in the loss column behind two very tough customers the Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card race with 13 games left for Oakland to go.

#2 The bullpen has been a subject of much discussion and A’s reliever Sergio Romo has struggled as of late and had a blown save against the Angels on Sunday despite the A’s winning. Romo had a line of 1/3, three hits, two runs, one earned and threw ten pitches.

#3 Amaury, Romo is a Bay Area favorite is 1-1 ERA 4.42 and he’s had some trouble closing the door in games but with a strong finish to the regular season do you think he may have a shot at returning for 2022?

#4 In recognition of Hispanic Heritage month Sep 15-Oct 15 Romo appeared on NBC Bay Area regarding his Mexican Heritage saying his big moment in his pride of being of being of Mexican decent came in 2013 when he wore the Mexico uniform in the 2013 World Classic saying, “Seeing your name, your last name — my parent’s last name — my family’s last name, just understanding where, you know, where my family’s come from and to see it ‘there.’ ”

#5 Amaury, It’s game two of this four game series tonight at the Coliseum as the Mariners will start Marco Gonzalez (8-5 ERA 4.05) and the A’s will start Paul Blackburn (1-2 ERA 4.94) a 6:40 pm PDT

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

Seattle Mariners Kyle Seager belts a two run double in the third inning against Oakland A’s starter Sean Manaea at T Mobile Field in Seattle on Mon Sep 20, 2021 in the first of a four game series (AP News photo)

Seattle 4 – 10 – 0

Oakland 2 – 7 – 0

By Lewis Rubman

Monday September 20, 2021

OAKLAND–Tonight, the A’s opened their current, final home stand of the 202 1 season, a skein of seven games against Seattle and Houston, knowing full well that each contest will be vital to their chances of surviving to play in the post season.

Fangraphs gives them a razor thin chance of 1.5% of seizing the division crown out of the faltering hands of the Atros. Their chances of winning the wild card game go up to 8.5%. (Houston’s chances are rated at 0.5, but that’s because the folks at Fangraphs don’t think that they’ll have to participate in that particular crap shoot). They’ve got a 10% shot at making the playoffs.

Oakland’s out of division rivals, the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees all have better chances than Oakland of getting past the wild card stage, ranging from 28.9% for the Bronx Bombers to 88.8% for the Box, with Toronto at 70.6%. Seattle, going into the fray two games behind the green and gold, may well finish higher than the home town when all is said and done, but Fangraphs still gives them only a 0.8% shot at a necessary but not sufficient wild card win.

Tonight’s results, a. 4-2 win for the M´s, featured a masterly pitching performance by journey man starter Tyler Anderson and bought his team to within one game of A’s in the battle for second place in the AL West.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the top of the third. Tom Murphy hit Manaea’s first offering on the frame to the center field wall, where Starling Marte corralled it in front of the 400 foot marker for the first out. Dylan Moore, JP Crawford, and Ty France followed with sharply hit singles that brought Moore, the number nine batter, around to record the game’s first tally.

A 3-2 walk to Mitch Haniger clogged the basepaths with clean-up hitter Kyle Seager at the plate. He blasted a double to the Rickey Henderson Field sign in left center, driving in Crawford and France while Haniger advanced to third. Drawing strength from adversity, Manaea struck out Luis Torres and got Abraham Toro out on a fly to Canha in left. But the A’s southpaw had seen his pitch count jump from 23 at the end of the second inning to 57 when the Athletics returned to the dugout facing a three run deficit.

Oakland responded to the challenge in their half of the third with back to back doubles by Chad Pinder and Khris Davis, cutting Seattle’s lead to 3-1. Elvis Andrus’s sacrifice bunt to the mound moved Davis over to third, where he was stranded when Marte grounded out to short, making the A’s center fielder 0 for his last 17.

Haniger banged a 92 mph sinker off the Kaiser Permanente sign in right center with one down in the fifth for his second two bagger of the night. Seager’s line drive single to right center brought Haniger with the fourth Mariner run, but Pinder’s throw to Andrus caught the Seattle third sacker trying to stretch his hit into a double. Manaea then made a nice play, going to his right to snatch Luis Torrens’ bouncer and throw the DH out a first, but he didn’t come out to pitch the sixth. That task fell to Domingo Acvedo.

In his five innings of work, the A’s starter surrendered four runs, all earned, on eight hits and a walk. He struck out one Mariner and threw 86 pitches, 58 for strikes.

Acevedo pitched two scoreless innings, allowing a one out double to Crawford in the seventh but nothing else. Sam Moll, recalled yesterday from Las Vegas, replaced him for the eighth.

After throwing seven innings of one run, four hit ball, Anderson was replaced by Diego. Castillo. Seattle’s starter struck out seven and walked one. 66 of his 91 pitches were strikes. The single tally he allowed was earned.

Castillo got Jed Lowrie, hitting for Davis, out on a fly to center, Andrus and Harrison delivered back to back singles to right, and Marte, breaking an 0 for 18 slump, singled the former home while the latter stopped at second. That ended Castillo’s brief outing and brought Paul Sewald into the game to pitch to Olson.

Home plate umpire Rob Drake called him out on an 0-2 slider, much to the displeasure of many of the 4,068 fans in attendance. He then got Chapman out, swinging and missing on an 0-2 93 mph four seamer.

Deolis Guerra came on for the ninth, hoping to keep the score at 4-2 and give Oakland a reasonable chance of a ninth inning comeback. He set the M’s down in order.

Sewald stayed in the game to face Tony Kemp, pinch hitfor Gomes. He flew out to right. Next in line was Canha, who popped out to first. Seth Brown batted for Pinder who took a called third strike over the outside corner.

Anderson got the well earned win, bringing his record to 7-9, 4.01. Manaea took the loss and now stands at 10-10, 4.05. Sewald earned his ninth save of the year.

The A’s will try to resume their winning ways Tuesday at 6:40, with Paul Blackburn (1-2,4.94) taking the mound against Marco González (8-5,4,95).