Tag: Brett Anderson

They may be down, but they’re never out! A’s beat the Giants 4-3

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Celebration
A’s celebrate after beating the Giants Photo: @Athletics

By Charlie O. Mallonee

SAN FRANCISCO — The Oakland Athletics (54-42) really do not know when to quit. In the major leagues, teams that are trailing as they head into the late innings (the seventh inning and beyond) are pretty much doomed to failure the majority of the time. The goal for every big league team is to score early and often because later is usually too late.

The 2018 A’s are breaking all of those rules. The A’s are tied for second in runs scored in the seventh inning or later (173). They did it again on Saturday night against the San Francisco Giants (50-47).

The A’s were trailing the Giants 3-2 as they came to bat in the top of the seventh inning. Tony Watson was the new pitcher for San Francisco. Josh Phegley led off the inning with a single to right. The pitcher’s spot was due up (National League park), so manager Bob Melvin put in Mark Canha as a pinch hitter. Canha hit a 3-2 pitch halfway up into the bleachers in left field for his 12th home run of the season and his 38th and 39th RBIs of the year.

The A’s took a 4-3 lead and never looked back. Lou Trivino worked 2.0 innings of scoreless relief for his team. All-star Blake Treinen then came on in the bottom of the ninth. Treinen struggled a bit as he walked two Giants, but he worked his way out of trouble to earn his 24th save of the season.

The win went to Yusmeiro Petit (4-2) who was pitcher of record in the top of the seventh inning. The loss goes to Tony Watson who also receives a blown save for his record.

Neither starter had a great night. Brett Anderson worked just 3.1 innings for Oakland giving up three runs (all earned) on eight hits. Jeff Samardzija made the start for the Giants and he lasted just 4.0 innings. He allowed two runs (both earned) off three hits. He walked two and struck out one batter.

Steven Duggar had another good game for the Giants, going 2-for-4 at the plate while scoring two runs and adding an RBI. Buster Posey had a 2-for-4 night hitting as well.

Samardzija Swan Song?

To say that the Giants have been disappointed with the performance of Jeff Samardzija this season — may be one of the great understatements of 2018. His performance on Saturday did nothing to help his standing with the team. His 10th start lasted just 4.0 innings and saw “the Shark” give up two runs (both earned) on three hits. He walked two and struck out just one Oakland batter. The real concern was his velocity or lack of it. Samardzija had trouble breaking into the 90’s with his pitches. The Giants would love to open his spot for a younger pitcher, but they have to figure out what to do with the 33-year old veteran who will make $18-million per season through 2020.

A little bullpen irony 

In the seventh inning, the Giants’ lifted reliever Tony Watson and gave the ball to Ray Black with one out and two runners on base. The A’s had Lou Trivino warming up in their bullpen and would ultimately pitch the seventh inning for Oakland. The irony is that Trivino credits Black for his success as a pitcher. The A’s RHP said he was watching Black pitch at Class-A San Jose when he was with the Stockton Ports and he liked the way Black pitched. Trivino incorporated some of Black’s technique into his own style and now both are facing off in the major leagues.

So long Santiago and other transactions

Relief pitcher Santiago Casilla was designated for assignment (DFA) by the A’s. Casilla appeared in 26 games pitching 31.1 innings while posting a 3.16 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked 20 which lead to a WHIP of 1.213. Casilla had a poor outing on Friday night in San Francisco. If no team claims Casilla off waivers, he will have to decide if he will accept an assignment to the minors.

Ryan Dull received an airline ticket back to Nashville. Dull had a rough outing for the A’s on Friday night and has struggled to find any consistency on the mound this season. He had worked 18 innings for Oakland giving up 21 hits (3 HRs) while striking out 17 and walking five. Dull was carrying an ERA of 6.00, which will not keep you in the Major Leagues.

Franklin Barreto continues to rack up the frequent flier miles as he has returned from Nashville. His return is related to the leg contusion suffered by Jed Lowrie on Friday night. Lowrie did not play on Saturday and do not expect to see him on Sunday. Lowrie’s status for the All-Star game has not been addressed.

Good news for the starting pitching rotation

Daniel Mengden has been brought off the disabled list by the A’s. Mengden was put on the 10-day DL due to a foot sprain. The RHP is 6-6 this season in 16 starts with a 4.47 ERA in 90.2 innings pitched. He has struck out 55 and walked just 19 batters. Mengden could well see action in the Bay Bridge Series Part 2 in Oakland next weekend.

 

A’s have found a home in the AL Central, shutout Indians, 6-0 to capture road series

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

Photo courtesy of David Petkiewicz/cleveland.com

By Morris Phillips

The just-concluded season series between the A’s and Indians was certainly interesting, and it could have worked as an NBA game, filled with scoring runs and 30-second timeouts.

Apparently the A’s called a hypothetical timeout after chasing their collective tails for seven innings on Saturday–and letting the Indians go wild in scoring 28 of the previous 35 runs in the six-game set–dating back to the series finale in Oakland on July 1.

The A’s needed a breath of fresh air, anything to break Cleveland’s momentum. Seemingly, those two minutes between the seventh and eighth innings did the trick. Picture 25 players surrounding manager Bob Melvin as he reminds his guys…

“Be yourselves! We’re home run hitters, so hit home runs! And Brett (Anderson) you go to the scoring table. You’re in at the next media timeout. Let’s go!”

Melvin’s not Steve Kerr, and he didn’t get 25 guys around him and say those words. But the desired effect was the same. The A’s snatched momentum, hit two home runs, wipe out the Indians’ 3-0 lead, then Stephen Piscotty homered in the 11th and the A’s won 6-3.

On Sunday, momentum was starting pitcher Brett Anderson.  In his first appearance since May 18, the resurgent pitcher shut down the AL Central leaders into the sixth inning in the A’s 6-0 shutout. The A’s rebounded to win the series and get to the 50-win mark prior to the All-Star break for the first time since 2014.

Yup, the A’s responded to the Indians’ 28-7 run, with a 12-0 run of their own. You know what they say? In MLB, everybody makes a run.

“We know we have seven games before the break,” said Melvin, of the A’s current streak of seven, consecutive series victories. “We want to finish up strong, so it doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

Anderson had his tipping point early on Sunday. With runners at second and third and no outs, Anderson struck out Rajai Davis and Robert Perez. Then on a 3-0 pitch, Anderson induced No. 8 hitter Erik Gonzalez to pop out to end the inning, preserving the A’s 1-0 lead.

In the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs, Anderson was up to the task again. The veteran pitcher got Gonzalez to ground into an inning-ending force out play in which Brandon Guyer was retired at third base.

“For the first time back in a while to give us a chance to win and get the series win, I’ll take it,” said Anderson, who has owned the Indians with an 0.82 ERA in five career starts.

“I don’t think we made very good adjustments, but I think sometimes you give the pitcher some credit, for sure,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.

The A’s improved to 18-6 against AL Central competition, which only partially compensates for the struggles in their own division (12-25 against the AL West). If the A’s somehow manage to overcome the 6 1/2 game gap between themselves and the Mariners occupying the second wild card, they’ll have to do it the hard way: Of their remaining 72 games, 39 are against AL West teams, and only 10 against the AL Central Twins and Tigers.

But don’t count the surprising A’s out: they’ve won 16 of 20 and they have timeouts left.

NOTES: Blake Treinen was named the A’s sole representative for the July 17 All-Star Game in Washington D.C. Treinen has 22 saves and hasn’t blown one since April 18. While Treinen is the unquestioned headliner, the A’s bullpen could be considered the A’s real All-Star. The Oakland bullpen has the best save percentage in baseball, converting 26 of 32. But the stellar numbers don’t stop there: the A’s bullpen is 22-7, the most wins and best win percentage of any MLB club.

After activating Anderson, the A’s still have five starters on the disabled list. To make room for Anderson, Paul Blackburn was placed on the disabled list with forearm strain.

UP NEXT: The A’s will take on the Astros in Houston for a four-game set starting Monday night at 5:10 pm PDT.

A’s & Rockies Exchange Starting Pitchers

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

Image

Photo credit: Colorado.Rockies. MLB.com

By Charlie O. Mallonee

The Oakland Athletics and the Colorado Rockies exchanged left-handed starting pitchers on Tuesday. Coming to Oakland is Drew Pomeranz along with minor league pitcher Chris Jensen. Going to Colorado is Brett Anderson and cash.

Pomeranz is a former 2010 first round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians out Ole Miss. He has a career record of 4-14 with 4.77 ERA in 34 Major League apperanaces (30 starts). Pomeranz is a 6-5, 230 pound left-hander. He came to the Rockies in a 2011 trade with Cleveland.

In 2013, Pomeranz posted an 0-4 record with a 6.38 ERA in eight outings (4 starts) for Colorado. He struck out 19 and walked 19 allowing 25 hits in 21.2 innings.

In analyzing the trade, a panel on the MLB Network, that included Ron Darling, felt the change of scenery would be positive for Pomeranz. The panel believed that Pomeranz could floursish in a pitcher’s park like the O.co Colliseum.

Andrson was the A’s starter for Opening Day 2013. He finished the season in bullpen after spending four months on the disabled list with a stress fracture of his right foot. Anderson has a career record of 26-28 with a 3.81 ERA in 84 games (73 starts).

The right-handed throwing Jensen comes to the A’s after being a sixth round draft pick of the Rockies out of the University of San Diego. He has 61 minor league starts with record of 19-12 and an ERA of 4.22. Jensen spent last season with Single-A Modesto.