Tag: Jeff Samardzija

The A’s Daniel Mengden pitches Oakland to a win over the Giants

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by Jerry Feitelberg

AP photo: The Oakland A’s Danny Valencia is greeted at home plate by Yonder Alfonso scoring one of the A’s eight runs on Monday night at AT&T Park

SAN FRANCISCO–The Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants squared off in game one of a four-game series. The first two games will be played at AT&T Park in San Francisco, and the last two games will be at the Oakland Coliseum. Jeff Samardzija, who played for Oakland in 2014, started for the Giants, and he was opposed by the A’s rookie, Daniel Mengden. Mengden, without question, was the star of the game. He went seven and two-thirds innings and allowed just four hits and one run and won his first win in the Major Leagues. The A’s fans in attendance gave him a rousing standing ovation as he left the field. Mengden has pitched well in all four starts since being called up from Nashville. His ERA dropped to 2.45. Samardzija, on the other hand, took the loss and his record is now 8-5. Samardzija is now 1-3 in his last six starts after going 7-3 with an ERA of 2.84.

The A’s rocked Samardzija for five hits and five runs in the top of the second inning as they batted around, sending nine men to the plate. Danny Valencia singled to get things going. Khris Davis drove him in with the A’s first run with a double. Yonder Alonso walked to put men on at first and second with no out. A’s shortstop, second on the team with fourteen big flies, hit his fifteenth of the year to drive in three and put the A’s in front 4-0. Samardzija retired the next two hitters but Coco Crisp singled, and Jed Lowrie followed with a double to drive in Crisp with the A’s fifth run.

The A’s added a run in the sixth. With two out, Samardzija gave up back-to-back doubles to Yonder Alonso and Marcus Semien. Semien has knocked in four runs so far in the game. The A’s continued to hit Giants pitching as they scored two more runs in the seventh. Chris Stratton was now pitching for San Francisco. Stratton walked one and allowed three hits as the A’s stretched the lead to 8-0.

The Giants scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth. The first two Giant hitters singled to start the rally. They both advanced on a wild pitch to put men on at second and third with no out. Mengden walked Jarrett Parker to load the bases. Giant pitcher Chris Stratton  hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Ramiro Pena scored the first run of the game for the Giants. Mengden walked Joe Panik, and that was the last batter that he would face. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Fernando Rodriguez to pitch. The Giants put another run on the board when Rodriguez uncorked a wild pitch while Brandon Belt was at bat. Belt struck out to end the inning. The A’s hold a commanding lead 8-2 after eight. The A’s Zach Neal could not close out the game as the Giants nailed him for three hits to score their third run of the game. Marc Rzepczynski threw one pitch, and he got Gregor Blanco to ground out to end the game.

Game Notes- The hitting stars for Oakland Monday night were Marcus Semien and Khris Davis. Semien had a double and a homer and drove in four runs. Davis had two singles and two ribbies.The A’s are 4-1 on the current road trip and are averaging 6.6 runs per game.

The A’s also announced that they claimed RHP Nick Tepesch off waivers from the LA Dodgers and have designated lefty Eric Surkamp for assignment.

Tepesch, 27, is 9-18 with a 4.68 ERA in 43 major-league appearances, 40 of them starts, with the Rangers (2013-14) and Dodgers (2016). He will report to Triple-A Nashville, though manager Bob Melvin expects to see Tepesch with the A’s at some point this season.

The A’s and Giants continue the four-game series Tuesday night in San Francisco. The Giants will send Albert Suarez (3-1,3.68) to the hill, and the A’s will counter with Kendall Graveman (3-6,4.68) Gametime will be at 7:15 PM.

Time of game was two hours and forty-three minutes, and 41,442 fans watched Mendgen’s outstanding performance.

Holiday jet lag: Giants suffer a surprising loss to the Braves in Atlanta

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Braves celebrate

By Morris Phillips

Given Monday’s result, it’s likely the Giants aren’t a big fan of holiday travel.

Arriving in Atlanta at 1am local time, after a lengthy cross-country flight from Denver, the Giants limped into their hotel rooms at 2am, in advance of their series opener with the Braves at 1pm EST.

While the team figured to be sleepy given the travel, in reality, they were even sleepier, falling to the last place Braves, 5-3 in a game they trailed by four runs for five of the nine innings. Jeff Samardzija allowed five runs in the first three innings—ending his impressive streak of allowing just one run in each of his last three starts—and the Giants’ offense managed just one run in the game’s first eight frames.

Braves’ starter Mike Foltynewicz was more effective than any jet lag the Giants may have experienced, holding them to three hits and a run over six innings while regularly dialing up mid-90’s heat with his fastball. After allowing a solo shot to Brandon Belt to open the second inning, Foltynewicz retired 14 of the next 15 batters he faced.

“I was settled in out there, just comfortable and went out there and attacked hitters and made them put it in play,” Foltynewicz said.

“Probably the best total package I’ve seen out of him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said, saying the sample size was the two years he’s been with the club. “He just had everything going and was free and easy.”

Of the 17 clubs to end a series on Sunday, and start a new one on Memorial Day in a different city, the Giants landed on the top of the list in terms of miles traveled at 1,402. The White Sox (1-0 losers in New York to the Mets) and the Yankees (4-2 losers in Toronto) traveled the second and third most miles as all three clubs lost.   The White Sox and Giants had an additional burden of having the earliest start time on Monday.

What else other than travel—and Foltynewicz—could explain the hottest team in baseball losing in such a laconic fashion to baseball’s worst home team?

The Giants came in winners of 15 of 17, having survived another laborious visit to Denver to face the Rockies over the weekend. Also, the surge propelled the team to the second best record in baseball behind the Cubs. Meanwhile, the Braves have only made headlines this season for their historically, awful start at Turner Field where they won just two of their first 22 home games.

In advance of San Francisco’s arrival, the Braves had shown signs of life, winning five of 12 after manager Fredi Gonzalez was fired, and two of three in Atlanta after that disastrous 2-20 start. That resurgence continued Monday, no surprise to Snitker.

“They’re unbelievable,” Snitker said of his young club. “Every day they show up, always energetic. They work hard, they grind it out. It’s good to see when they’re rewarded with a win like this.”

Samardzija admittedly wasn’t himself on Monday, missing spots up with his fastball and slider. But he and manager Bruce Bochy were perturbed by home plate umpire John Tumpane’s inconsistent strike zone. Staked to an early 1-0 lead, Samardzija fell in trouble in the second when rookie Mallex Smith tripled home three runs on a liner that evaded left field Jarrett Parker and went all the way to the wall.

In the third, Samardzija allowed singles to the first two hitters he faced. One out later, Belt’s error allowed Gordon Beckham to score. Kelly Johnson followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly and the Braves led 5-1.

The Giants rallied in the ninth, scoring twice. But with the tying runner at first, and lead runner Brandon Crawford at third, closer Arodys Vizcaino induced Kelby Tomlinson into a fielders’ choice, ground ball that ended the game.

On Tuesday, Jake Peavy looks to pick up where he left off in a matchup with Atlanta’s Matt Wisler.   Peavy shut down the Padres in his last start, his second, strong outing in his last three. Still, the 34-year old veteran has just one win, and has gone without a win in his last seven starts.

NOTES: Matt Duffy suffered a painful injury, taking a 94 mph fastball on his forearm in the sixth inning. Tests done after the injury didn’t reveal a break, but the starting third baseman is likely to miss at least a game or two.   Sergio Romo has completed his rehab cycle with Triple A Sacramento, but isn’t expected to rejoin the club during this series. More likely he rejoins the big league club sometime next week. Right hander Chris Stratton, the Giants’ top pick in 2012, made his major league debut, pitching a scoreless eighth inning.

 

 

Giant Bounce Back: Belt, Samardzjia lead Giants to sweep of the Padres

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by Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Amid the hustle and bustle that pervades the budding metropolis of San Francisco, this day replete with blustery winds, ping pong weather, the persistent news cycle, and of course, traffic, even the Giants could be rendered an afterthought.

But not today.

The Giants rung up a season-high 13 runs, on 16 hits, to sweep the Padres, putting a nice conclusion on a rough home stand while compressing the early standings in the NL West. Brandon Belt had three hits and five RBI to back Jeff Samardzjia and five relievers. The 13-9 win marked the Giants’ eighth win in a row over San Diego at AT&T Park.

Andrew Cashner started for the Padres, but lasted just 2 2/3 innings, and remains winless in his six career starts at San Francisco.

“In all reality we had every opportunity to win the first two games of the series, and then putting nine runs on the board today. Very competitive games for us. Just not getting over the hump right now,” Padres’ manager Andy Green said.

The Giants didn’t hit a home run, but had five extra-base hits that had the crowd of 41,357 buzzing, including three triples, just the fourth time they’ve accomplished that feat in 17 seasons at McCovey Cove.

“Someone mentioned that we didn’t have a home run. That’s OK, we can hit a team to death,” Matt Duffy stated.

The Giants begin a stretch of 17 games in 17 days in New York on Friday with Jake Peavy facing Steven Matz at 4:10pm.

Rangers Deny A’s Celebration, Make Game 162 A Must-Win

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By Matthew T.F. Harrington

The celebration of clinching a playoff spot will have to wait another day for the Oakland Athletics following a 5-4 loss to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park. The defeat, mixed with a walk-off Seattle Mariners win later in the evening, means the A’s (87-74) will now need to win or have the Mariners lose in the season finale Sunday to clinch a spot in the one-game Wild Card playoff and a date with the runner-up of the American League Central. The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals already clinched a playoff berths while boasting identical records, but must use the final day of the regular season to decide who will win the AL Central and who will host the Wild Card game Tuesday.

Oakland starter Jeff Samardzija (7-13, 2.99 ERA) suffered the loss after allowing five runs over seven innings despite striking out nine Rangers. The A’s Josh Donaldson hit his 29th home run of the season, while Jake Smolinski and Robinson Chirinos went deep for last-place Texas (67-94). Spencer Patton (1-0, 0.96) picked up his first career win, while Neftali Feliz nailed down his 13th save of the season at home.

Donaldson, whose status was in doubt after aggravating a knee injury Friday night, opened the game with a solo shot off Rangers starter spot starter Scott Baker in the first inning, but Texas struck back with run scoring singles by Rougned Odor and Adrian Beltre in the bottom half of the frame for a 2-1 lead for their surprise starter.

Smolinski took Samardzija deep in the fourth for a 3-1 edge, but Oakland pulled within one after Nate Freiman’s double play off reliever Alex Claudio scored Josh Reddick.

Chirinos extended the lead in the seventh inning after his two-run homer off Samardzija. The A’s then came back in the next half inning with a pair of RBI singles by Reddick and Jed Lowrie off Roman Mendez. On Reddick’s single, Jonny Gomes managed to just beat out the tag on a play at the plate. Rangers interim manager Tim Bogar challenged the play, but the call of safe originally made on the field was upheld.

The Rangers are expected to send Saturday’s planned starter, Ace Derek Holland, to the mound Sunday looking to take the A’s postseason fate out of their own hands. The left-hander missed his regularly scheduled start after migraines derailed his ability to make the start. Manager Bob Melvin will tab the A’s Opening Day starter Sonny Gray with game 162 duties.

A’s Samardzija “Coming for Blood” With Another Stretch Run Gem

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By Matthew T.F. Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. – For the first time since August 25th, the Oakland Athletics’ Jeff Samardzija saw something by his name Monday night he hadn’t seen in a while; a W.

“This last month has been fun for me,” said Samardzija, thrilled on being in a playoff race despite a recent lack of personal results. “It’s something I’ve been asking for for a long time. I haven’t been in this situation before. I want to take advantage of it. Opportunities aren’t guaranteed; they don’t come around too often, so you don’t want to waste them.”

The July 4th trade acquisition wasted little Monday night, firing seven five-hit innings, allowing only one run to the visiting Los Angeles Angels (96-61) to lead Oakland to an 8-4 win over the 2014 American League West winners. The A’s (86-70) staked Samardzija to an early cushion, scoring six runs on only two hits in the bottom of the first to maintain a one-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for home field advantage as the top AL Wild Card team. The A’s magic number is now down to four.

“I feel like I have thrown 210 innings, that’s for sure,” joked Samardzija. “That doesn’t’ matter at this point. It doesn’t matter how you feel. You owe more to your teammates and to yourself to go out and do your job and do it to the best of your abilities. I feel great.”

Geovany Soto and Stephen Vogt each collected two-run hits in the contest for the A’s. Soto now has five RBIs over his last two games.

Over his previous four starts, Samardzija (5-5, 2.92 ERA) received a scant five runs of support from his offense. The righty went 0-2 over that stretch despite allowing only five runs in 30 innings. He entered play Monday night without allowing a run over his last 16 innings, but saw the scoreless stretch snapped after a Mike Trout sacrifice fly plated an unearned run in the first inning. He has not allowed an earned run over 23 innings.

“He’s aggressive, he’s coming at you,” said Soto of his batterymate. “He’s a shark, he’s coming for blood. Good or bad, he’s coming after you.”

The solitary run came after the LA leadoff man Kole Calhoun reached base on a double, then took third while Jonny Gomes struggled to corral the wall ball. Samardzija would bounce back from his left fielder’s error to retire the next three hitters, but not before conceding the final 90 feet to Calhoun on Trout’s RBI pop out.

After a fielder’s choice found Sam Fuld on first base with one out in the first, Halos starter C.J. Wilson lost any semblance of control over the strike zone. The southpaw issued walks to Josh Donaldson and Jonny Gomes to load the bases, then handed out run-scoring free passes to Derek Norris and Nate Freiman to put the A’s ahead 2-1 with two outs.

After Freiman, Geovany Soto coaxed a full count out of Wilson before knocking in two runs on a single, effectively knocking the southpaw out of the game.

“He’s had some big hits,” said Melvin of his backstop. “You can walk and walk, a run here, a run there. Next thing you know, we pop up. He’s the guy who really came up with the big hit of the inning.”

Wilson toiled through just 2/3 of an inning and 35 pitches, 19 of which were balls, while allowing four walks and six runs (four earned). Wilson (13-10, 4.61), the losing pitcher Monday night, had won his previous four decisions in the limits of Alameda County. He is now 5-2 as a member of the Angels on Oakland A’s home turf over seven starts.

“That’s been something we’ve done very well in the past,” said Melvin. “It was good to see us take some walks, not try to be too aggressive, which maybe we have been a little bit too much recently. We made him work, next thing you know we’re up 6-1.”

Angels reliever Mike Morin appeared to have the third out on a Nick Punto bouncer down the third base, but a poor throw by David Freese found Punto at third base with another two runs across for the home team.

The A’s added another pair of runs in the seventh inning after Stephen Vogt ripped a bases loaded single off Michael Roth. Vogt entered the game as a pinch hitter for Nate Freiman in the third inning and remained in the game at first base.

“When we just put that one up, then put the second on up, I was excited,” said Samardzija. “It felt like, with the way we were going, that was going to be enough. We add four more to that, add some more later in the game. It felt good. When we score early, as I pitcher you get to take a deep breath and pound the zone. You know they need to work at bats and get back in the game. It’s ideal. Any time they want to give me eight, I’ll accept it.”

Los Angeles pulled within four in the eighth inning after Albert Pujols rocketed an Evan Scribner 1-2 delivery into the bleachers in deep left field. Pujols 28th blast of the season, coming with two runners on and two outs, pushed him past the 1,600 mark in career runs batted in. His 1,602 RBIs ranks 33rd all-time.

The A’s seek a third-straight win Tuesday night for the first time since August 7-9, sending Opening Day starter Sonny Gray to the mound. The babyfaced fireballer looks to bounce back from a September 18th 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers that saw the righty cough up five runs over just five innings. He’ll face LA’s Wade LeBlanc for game two of Oakland’s final three-game homestand of the season.

“We’ve been through a lot this last month,” said Samardzija. “It’s nice to see everyone come together and start clicking. We’ve had great defense, great at bats. Our pitchers have been pitching. That’s what you want. I think we’re doing it at the right time.”