Tag: Cleveland Guardians

Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown (15) celebrates with Matt Davidson (4) after hitting a grand slam against the Cleveland Guardians in the top of the seventh inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sat Jun 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Breaks 10-Game Losing Streak Crushes Guardians 10-5

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s (21-40) were looking at the possibility of an 11th straight loss in a row. They took on the Cleveland Guardians (28-27) in game three of their series well apparently Oakland had just about enough. Ramon Laureano really had enough firing up the team in the dugout in, more than likely, some colorful language.

The A’s were trailing 5-2 going into the seventh inning. The Guardians did not score again for the rest of the game while Oakland starting hitting was like something we have not seen for weeks. Stephen Vogt scored in the seventh inning when Tony Kemp grounded into a fielder’s choice and then the fireworks began. Seth Brown hit a grand slam in the seventh inning and Oakland took the lead 7-5.

The A’s were just getting started. Vogt hit a home run in the eighth inning to extend their lead 8-5. Oakland would hit a couple more home runs in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt and Sean Murphy both hit long balls for a final score of 10-5.

Oakland had 13 hits and they had scored runs in five innings in some long overdue offense. The A’s had saved this game for pitcher Frankie Montas who went six innings. He had not won a game since April 18th. He was 0-5 in his previous nine starts despite having a 2.87 ERA during that period.

Oakland Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to the pep talk in the dugout by Laureano. “That’s Ramon being himself. His energy, his passion and his frustration,” he said. Whatever happened in that dugout, it resonated and this team responded

Laureano was actually ejected in the seventh inning when he complained to the umpire that Cleveland pitcher Zach Plesac was quick pitching.

Oakland will try to even this series in game four on Sunday Cole Irvin (2-2, 3.00) will take the mound for the A’s and for the Guardians Cal Quintrill (3-3 ERA 3.56). First pitch will be at 8:35 AM PT.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn applauds a defensive play by Elvis Andrus against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning at Progressive Field on Fri Jun 10, 2022 (AP News photo)

Oakland Loses Number Ten In Ninth Inning Cleveland Beats A’s 3-2

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Oakland A’s (20-40) took on the Cleveland Guardians (28-26) in game two of their four game series and once again took on another loss this time their tenth straight 3-2 to the Guardians. Thursday night Oakland remained tied 4-4 with Cleveland through seven innings but let it slip away in the eighth inning when the Guardians scored four times to take game one 8-4.

Friday the A’s were looking to even the series. Paul Blackburn was on the mound for Oakland coming in with a 2.31 ERA. Triston McKenzie started for the Guardians.

The A’s got on the board early striking in the first and second innings. In the first inning Seth Brown homered to right and in the second inning Sean Murphy hit the second home run of the game a shot to left field. The A’s had a 2-0 lead to start this game.

Oakland held Cleveland scoreless through eight innings and Blackburn was having a great outing allowing only four hits.

Going into the ninth inning A’s closer Dany Jimenez would try and save this game for Oakland. The A’s did not have a very good start in the ninth. Jose Ramirez homered to right and set his team up for a possible walk off trailing 2-1 with no outs. Jimenez would load the bases and Owen Miller would hit a sacrifice and Oscar Mercado would score to tie up this game 2-2.

Sam Moll came in for Oakland to try and get the A’s out of the inning. Oakland would load the bases again with one out. Luke Maile sacrificed and drove Oscar Mercado home for the walk off 3-2

The brilliance of Paul Blackburn through eight innings was unfortunately not enough for the win. It was an awful ninth inning for Oakland pitching. They could not get the job done and the A’s suffered their tenth loss in a row.

The A’s were tied for the worst record in baseball alongside the Kansas City Royals KC defeated the Baltimore Orioles 8-1 on Friday.

Oakland just might be the worst team in baseball right now. Their .500 record is a distant memory and now it comes down to taking it one game at a time. Losing this game in the ninth inning was a bitter pill to swallow for the team.

The A’s will play game three in this series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is at 1:10 PM PDT. Starters for the A’s Frankie Montas (2-6, 3.06) and for the Guardians Zach Pleasac (2-4, 4.72).

The Oakland A’s Christian Bethancourt gives thanks to the Almighty after delivering a two run homer in the top of the second against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thu Jun 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, the Oakland A’s (20-39) fall again in a tough 8-4 loss the Cleveland Guardians (27-26). The A’s had a 4-2 lead but saw it dwindle away as the Guardians scored a run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings and broke it wide open in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs.

#2 The Guardians Andre Gimenez hit a go ahead base hit in the Guardians four run eighth inning with the win the Guardians now are a game over .500.

#3 A’s reliever Lou Trivino came into pitch the bottom of the eighth and got tattooed giving up five hits and four earned runs in just one third of an inning.

#4 The Guardians did a classy thing before today’s game and paid a tribute to former A’s and Guardians catcher Ray Fosse with a video of Ray’s time in Cleveland and a moment of silence.

#5 The A’s who now have lost nine straight games try to snap the streak on Friday they’ll start Paul Blackburn (5-2, 2,62) for the Guardians Triston McKenzie (3-5, 3.10) a 4:10 pm PDT first pitch at Progressive Field.

Join Jeremiah for the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan scores past Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy on a single by Oscar Gonzalez during the sixth inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Thu Jun 9, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s woes continued as they lost for the ninth straight time. The A’s fell to the Cleveland Guardians by a score of 8-4. The A’s lost for the 12th time in the last 13th game. A’s reliever Lou Trivino continued to struggle.

Trivino had another bad outing as he was tagged for four runs and four hits. There was some good news, however. The A’s scored four times. Their starter James Kaprielian went five innings and allowed five hits and two runs.

Kaprielian gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor in the fourth. It was Ramirez’s 15th of the year. For Naylor, it was his seventh. The A’s offense showed signs of life. A’s DH Christian Bethancourt had a two-run homer, a single, and a double. Three straight doubles in the sixth produced two more runs for Oakland.

The A’s jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. A’s catcher Sean Murphy was hit by a pitch to start the second. Christian Bethancourt hit his second homer of the year to put the A’s in the lead. Cleveland tied the game in the fourth with two solo home runs.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the sixth. Three straight hits produced two runs to give the A’s the Advantage 4-2. A’s reliever A.J.Puk gave up a run in the bottom of the sixth. Cleveland tied the game in the seventh when they put another run on the board. Zack Jackson was on the hill for Oakland.

Cleveland put four runs on the board in the bottom of the eighth. They sent nine men to the plate with struggling Lou Trivino on the hill. They put together four hits, a walk, and an error by Trivino to tally four runs. All A’s manager could do was watch as the A’s lost again. The final score was 8-4.

Game Notes- With the loss, the A’s drop to 20-39. Cleveland improved to 27-26. Trivino was the losing pitcher. He is 1-5 for the year.
The line score for Oakland was four runs, eight hits, and one error. Cleveland’s line was eight runs, fourteen hits, and no errors.

The A’s now have two nine-game losing streaks this year and are under .500 for the first time since 2017.

Cleveland’s manager Terry Francona hasn’t forgotten the day the when the Red Sox released outfielder Mark Kotsay. Francona was Boston’s skipper at the time. Francona said,” I remember literally shedding tears when we did it. It was hard.” Kotsay said he and Francona bonded during his time with the Red Sox.

The A’s Paul Blackburn (5-2, 2.62 ERA) will go for Oakland Friday night. Blackburn has lost his last two starts. The Guardians will counter with Tristen McKenzie (3-5-3.10 ERA). McKenzie allowed just three hits over seven innings in his last start. All three hits were home runs.

The game will start at 4:10 pm PT.

The Oakland A’s Jared Koenig moves his cap around after being lifted in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves on Wed Jun 9, 2022 at Truist Field in Atlanta (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, the Atlanta Braves (30-27) just clobbered the Oakland A’s (20-38) on Wednesday night at Truist Field 13-2 for the A’s the pitching just melts down again.

#2 The Braves Michael Harris hit a two run triple against the A’s in the bottom of the fifth inning off A’s starter Jared Koenig in a five run inning for Atlanta.

#3 Things even got worse for the A’s in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Braves scored seven runs taking a 13-1 lead.

#4 For Koenig his Major League debut going four plus innings giving up four hits and five runs it was not quite the outing that he was expecting.

#5 The A’s will try it all over again as they open a four game series at Progressive Field in Cleveland starting for the A’s James Kaprielian (0-3, 6.06) and for the Cleveland Guardians Konnor Pilkington (1-0, 2.65) a 4:10 PM PDT first pitch.

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

Cleveland Guardians’ Owen Miller, left, scores ahead of the ball as Oakland Athletics catcher Austin Allen, right, waits for the throw after a double hit by Richie Palacios in the top of the ninth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 30, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

The Oakland A’s (10-7) were back in action on Saturday afternoon against the Cleveland Guardians (9-12). On Friday, the A’s took a loss in the closest of margins by the final of 9-8. On Sunday, they hopes to turn the tide. The A’s were unable to make enough adjustments on Saturday and fell again to the Guardians 3-1 in Oakland.

Unlike the game on Friday, Saturday’s game saw much less offense on display and much more solid pitching. Cleveland scored their first run in the fourth inning on a Andres Gimenez single to center that scored Oscar Mercado.

The A’s scored their first run in the fifth inning. One of the best players from Friday night, Sheldon Neuse, was also the first to get the A’s on the board Saturday. Neuse, hit a long drive to center field off starter Shane Bieber to tie the ball game. It was the second home run of the year for Neuse and his 13th RBI.

The starters in the ball game each pitched really well. For the A’s Cole Irvin threw six innings of one run baseball allowing six hits with two walks and four strikeouts. On the Guardians side, Shane Bieber threw seven innings of seven hit one run baseball striking out seven and walking only one.

The rest of the runs for the Guardians both came in the ninth inning as Richie Palacios doubled home Owen Miller and Andres Gimenez to make the score 3-1. The A’s got a double from Elvis Andrus in the ninth inning but nothing more and lost the game by the final of 3-1. Emmanuel Clase got the save which was his fourth of the year.

The A’s will be back at it trying to salvage the final game of the three game series on Sunday at 1:07 PM PST in Oakland. Triston McKenzie goes for Cleveland (0-2 ERA 3.71) for Oakland James Kaprielian (0-0 ERA 0.00).

Oakland A’s team president David Kaval has recently found himelf and the local media tied up in a nasty bunch. Kaval has been criticized over his tweets last Tuesday saying the local media should get to the bottom of the San Francisco Giants poor attendance where the Giants drew over 32,000 in both games against the A’s on Tuesday and Wednesday (file photo from the Mercury News)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 David Kaval the A’s team president had some interesting tweets last Tuesday night during the A’s and Giants first game at Oracle Park along the lines of writing where are all the Giants fans who drew around 32,898 at Oracle Park tweeting, “It is sad how few fans are at the game. Maybe the local media can look into the @SFGiants marketing? Ask some questions. Get to the bottom of what is going on.” Kaval caught some heat for the tweet including one from Oracle Park Seagull who tweeted, “You are literally the president of a baseball team. You’re acting like a petulant child who got told no TV on school nights. Show a little decorum dude. Act like a grownup.” Kaval wrote back saying “you are literally a seagull.”

#2 Jerry, you might think that Kaval needs all the allies he could muster in the push for the next vote that essentially decide the future of the Howard Terminal project as the vote will be held on Jun 2 by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) as a two thirds vote is needed to keep hope alive for the A’s to have a shot at staying in Oakland.

#3 After Tuesday’s tweet the local media has soured on Kaval after criticizing the Giants for having few fans in the stands 35 minutes before the first pitch took a picture on twitter saying the local media should check with the Giants marketing department to see why so few fans? The A’s are asking for a huge amount of money $12 billion to support the project could a fight between Kaval and the media could turn that effort on a dime.

#4 Back on the field the A’s are coming off a two game split with the Giants at Oracle Park and starting pitching and hitting were in questions after taking some tough loses against the Rangers and the first game from the Giants two of those games where pitching gave up eight runs in each game.

#5 A’s will open a three game homestand starting tonight at the Oakland Coliseum with Cleveland starting pitcher Aaron Civale will go for Cleveland. Civale is 0-2 with an ERA of 9.58 and for Oakland the A’s are sending their ace, Frankie Montas, to the mound. Montas is 2-2 for the year with an ERA of 3.28.  A 6:40 pm PDT first pitch.

Jerry is filling in for Jeremiah Salmonson who does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com