Tag: mlb

Preview of the series between the Reds and A’s

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By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s returned home after finishing their nine-game road trip with a dismal 1-8 record. They are off on Monday and resume play against the NL Central Cincinnati Reds. The Reds, as the A’s, are in last place in the respective divisions. The Reds are 15-20, and the A’s are 15-21.

David Bell is in his first year as manager of the Reds. He is hoping to rebuild the team and bring them back to being contenders. The Reds are celebrating their 150th anniversary as baseball’s oldest franchise. They were started in 1869. They have won nine National League pennants and five World Series. They won the World Series in 1919 when they beat the heavily favored Chicago “Black” Sox. The Reds were known as the Big Red Machine in the ’70s when they won four pennants and two World Series. That team features Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, and Pete Rose. The A’s beat them to win the 1972 World Series. The Reds, under manager Lou Piniella, swept the A’s in the 1990 World Series. Neither the A’s nor the Reds have made it back to the World Series since then.

The Reds hosted the San Francisco Giants for four games over the weekend. The teams split the series. The schedule makers have the Reds traveling to the Bay Area on Monday, and they play the A’s for three and then play the Giants again three times this weekend.

The Pitching probables for the three-game series will see the A’s send Mike Fiers to the hill for Game One. Fiers is 2-3 with a 6.81 ERA. Fiers pitches well at the Coliseum. In his last two outings, Fiers has given up five runs in 12 innings. He will be opposed by the Reds’ Tyler Mahle. Mahle is 0-4 for the season and lost a tough one when he fell 1-0 to the Mets. Mets’ pitcher Noah “Thor” Syndergaard homered for the Mets only run. On Wednesday, lefty Brett Anderson (4-2, 3.89 ERA) will try to beat the Reds.

Anderson won the only game of the A’s on the last nine-game road trip. The Reds’ Sonny Gray will try to beat his old mates. Sonny pitched for the A’s from 2013-17. The A’ traded Sonny to the Yankees in 2017 and Sonny had a tough time pitching in New York. He did well on the road, but was terrible at home. The Yankees sent him to the Reds after the 2018 season. Sonny is being united with his pitching coach from Vanderbilt. Sonny is 25-20 lifetime at the Oakland Coliseum. Thursday’s game will feature Chris Bassitt (1-0, 2.12 ERA) going for Oakland and Tanner Roark, the former Washington National, going for Cincinnati. Bassitt went five innings in his last start against Pittsburgh. He had trouble with his command and gave up two home runs to Josh Bell. He did not get a decision as he left the game with the game tied at three.

The Reds’ key players are the former NL MVP Joey Votto, outfielders Yasiel Puig, and Jesse Winker, and rookie Nick Senzel. Senzel hit two home runs against the Giants on Monday. Reds star second baseman Scooter Gennett is on the 60-day IL. Derek Dietrich, the former Miami Marlin, will play second for the Reds. Former Red Sox and Detroit Tiger, Jose Iglesias, will be at shortstop. Eugenio Suarez will probably be at third. Curt Casali and Kyle Farmer will handle the catching.

The Reds’ pitchers that will see action in relief are lefties Zach Duke and Wandy Peralta. The righties are Raisel Iglesias, Robert Stephenson, and Jared Hughes.

The Reds have players with a lot of pop in their bats. The Oakland Coliseum is a pitcher’s park, and it will be interesting to see if the A’s pitchers can stop the offense of the Reds.

The A’s, on the other hand, will be hoping to get their offense back on track. The hitters did not do well on the road trip, and they hope that the return to Oakland will get them going. The A’s will be getting back slugging first baseman Matt Olson. Olson broke the hamate bone in his left hand and has finished his rehab. The pitching rotation should get a boost when Edwin Jackson is called up from Las Vegas.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Morris Phillips: Comeback Giants rally in seventh to catch Reds

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

On the Giants podcast with Morris:

#1 The Giants came back from a 8-0 deficit Friday to win. They were down 4-0 and came back and won 6-5 Sunday.

#2 To start the game, Giants pitcher Jeff Samardizja gave up three consecutive home runs to the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning after that Samardizja retired 13 straight hitters in a row.

#3 The last time the Reds hit three consecutive home runs was when they did it against the Florida Marlins on April 9th.

#4 The Giants scored four in the top of the seventh then two in the ninth to take the lead and the eventual win 6-5.

#5 For Monday morning’s starting pitchers as the Giants conclude their visit with the Reds, the Giants are going with Drew Pomeranz (1-3, 4.08 ERA) the Reds will start Anthony Scalafani (1-1, 3.48 ERA).

Morris does the Giants podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Crawford comes up in a pinch in Giants’ 6-5 win over Reds

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

It seems that the San Francisco Giants just love to comeback from huge deficits, and once again they did it to the Cincinnati Reds.

After falling behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the lead was not safe for the Reds and when Brandon Crawford launched a two-run home run into the right field seats, the Giants came all the way from that 4-0 deficit to defeat the Reds 6-5 at Great American Ballpark.

The Reds jumped on Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the first inning, as Samardzija gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs and then Samardzija was literally perfect for the rest of his outing.

Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker and Derek Dietrich hit home runs on three straight pitches to give the Reds a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning.

It was the second time this season that the Reds went back-to-back-to-back, as they did it on April 9, as the recently released Matt Kemp, Suarez and Scott Schelber. All hit home runs off of Wei-Yin Chen of the Miami Marlins also at the Great American Ballpark.

The Giants began to chip at the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Joe Panik hit an opposite-field single to score Steven Duggar, who singled to center to break up Luis Castillos no-hit bid after Kevin Pillar struck out to lead off the inning.

With the base hit by Duggar, brought on Stephen Vogt off the bench, who walked just prior to the Panik single to left field.

After Mike Gerber struck out for the second out for the second out of the inning, Buster Posey tied up the game, as he hit a three-run home run off of reigning National League Pitcher of the Month Castillo, who came into the game with a 3-1 record with a 1.45 earned run average.

Castillo ended up with a no-decision, as he went seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out nine.

Samardzija, who was in trouble after the first inning, when he gave those four runs, ended up not allowing a base hit after the first inning and retired the final 13 batters he faced after allowing a base hit to Jose Peraza.

In all, Samardzija went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out four.

Once again, the Giants bullpen was dynamic, the quartet of Trevor Gott, Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson and Will Smith allowed just one run on one hit, walking two and striking out five.

Moronta got into a jam in his only inning of work, as he walked the bases loaded, but was able to strikeout Suarez with the bases loaded to end the inning and the Reds threat.

Watson pitched the eighth inning to pick up his first win of the season, while Will Smith picked up his ninth save of the season.

Reds closer Raisel Iglesias came on in the top of the ninth inning, as he gave up a double to Posey, and then Crawford, who came off the bench to get his first home run of the season to give the Giants their only lead of the game.

Smith came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and after getting the first two outs, and then two strikes on Kyle Farmer, who then hit a solo home run to get the Reds within one. Tucker Barnhart ended the game, as he grounded out to Crawford to end the game.

NOTES: With the Reds and Major League Baseball celebrating 150 years this season, the Reds are wearing throwback uniforms from different eras of Reds history.

One night after wearing jerseys that represented the 1902 team, the Reds wore uniforms from the 1911 season on Sunday afternoon.

Derek Holland is expected to be activated from the injured list prior to his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Holland is currently on the 10-day injured list with a bone bruise on his left index finger.

UP NEXT: Drew Pomeranz closes out the series on Monday afternoon, as he will face the Reds for the first time since the 2016 season.

Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound for the Reds in the finale.

Reds hit 5 home runs in 9-2 rout of Giants

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Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

After their miraculous comeback in the series opener on Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds were going to allow the San Francisco Giants do it to them two nights in a row.

Backed by five home runs and a strong performance by Tanner Roark, the Reds evened up the four-game series with a 9-2 thrashing of the Giants at Great American Ballpark.

Roark pitched 6.2 innings, giving two runs, while scattering four hits, walking two and striking out seven and picked up his second win of the season.

Once again, Dereck Rodriguez did not fare so well on the mound, as he went five innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits, walking four and striking out just one, as he fell to 3-4.

Yaisel Puig got the Reds on the board in the first inning, as he singled to left field to score Jesse Winker.

Just a 1/2 inning later, the Giants tied the game up, as Steven Duggar singled to right field to easily score Kevin Pillar.

Unfortunately, the Reds would break the tie and take the lead for good in the bottom of the second inning, as Tucker Barnhart grounded into a fielders choice that allowed Jose Peraza to score the eventual game-winning run.

After Joey Votto walked, Eugenio Suarez launched a three-run home run that broke the game wide open for the Reds.

Barnhart drove in his second run of the game, as he a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Derek Dietrich followed up his two home run game from Friday night and hit a solo home run, his third of the series in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Nick Senzel, who made his major league debut on Friday night made it back-to-back home runs, as he hit his first major league home run that extended the Reds lead up to 8-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

That would have been the second home run of the game for Senzel, but Pillar made a sensational catch that ended the bottom of the third inning. Pillar climbed the center field wall, grabbed hold of it and pulled the ball back into play.

Senzel was robbed of a hit by Pillar in the bottom of the first inning in his major league debut on Friday night, as he made a diving catch that denied Senzel of his first major league hit.

Duggar continued his hot hitting, as he singled in the top of the seventh inning to score the Giants’ second and final run, when Brandon Crawford scored, after he doubled with one out in the inning.

Switch-handed pitcher Pat Venditte made his Giants debut in the bottom of the sixth inning, as he pitched two innings.

The only hit that Venditte allowed was a solo home run to Puig in the bottom of the seventh inning.

NOTES: Evan Longoria was scratched from the lineup after he experienced tightness and inflammation in his left shoulder. Longoria is considered to be day-to-day, and was replaced in the starting lineup by Pablo Sandoval.

To make room for Venditte on the roster, Tyler Beede, who started Friday nights opener was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.

Matt Kemp was released by the Reds not even four months after he was acquired by the team from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kemp, who is currently on the injured list after suffering a broken rib when he collided with the outfield wall at Petco Park in a game against the San Diego Padres on April 23 was hitting just .200 with one home run and five runs batted in. Kemp was acquired from the Dodgers along with Puig, pitcher Alex Wood and Kyle Farmer.

UP NEXT: Jeff Samardzija will take the mound on Sunday afternoon, as he will face the Reds for the first time in nearly two years. The last time Samardzija faced the Reds was on May 14, 2017, an 8-3 win by the Giants. Samardzija is 2-1 with a 3.53 ERA.

Luis Castillo, who was the National League Pitcher of the month for April, will make his first start in the month of May. Castillo is 3-1 on the season with a 1.45 ERA.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s, Giants on the road for Cinco de Mayo weekend

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By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo, and it is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, Mexico in 1862, which marks a Mexican military victory over the French forces of Napoleon. It is NOT Mexican Independence Day, that is on September 16. But Cinco de Mayo is a popular day that ironically is celebrated much more in the US than in Mexico.

What? How can that be.The San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose Bay Area is one of the most wealthiest areas of the country. The South Bay and Silicon Valley is leading the way when it comes to the world’s technology. Today, the nine-county Bay Area has a population of over seven million people and we are denied to have one our teams at home? For the record, it also happens in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, three metropolitan areas with two major league teams who play less than 50 miles apart.

The MLB’s 30 team schedule is truly a crazy one, with interleague games since 1997, beginning with the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants in Arlington, Texas. That day, Texas and three other games on the West Coast, teams from the National League, played teams from the American League during the regular season for the first time. In the end, they played a total of 214 games spread over three periods, the last ending on September 3.

I was working that first ever interleague game, broadcasting for the Giants when they played the Rangers in Arlington. On June 12 ,1997, a historical first interleague game where the Giants beat the Rangers 4-3. Mark Gardner (7-2) got the victory for the Giants, while Darren Oliver (3-8) was charged with the loss for the Rangers, and Rod Beck saved his 20th game for the Giants. I remember it well and I still have a souvenir they passed in the press box for that historical day.

It is a shame with the great weather we are enjoying in the Bay Area, baseball fans will not be able to attend a game this Cinco de Mayo. However, on Monday, September 16, the A’s will be at home hosting the Kansas City Royals, so you can celebrate Mexican Independence at the Coliseum that day. Also, on September 16, the Giants have an off-day in Boston and will begin a three-game set against the Red Sox the next day. Oh, yes…interleague play!

Anyways, Feliz Cinco de Mayo amigos!

Giants come back from 8 down, win 12-11 behind Vogt, Longoria

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By Jeremy Kahn

This will be a game that Stephen Vogt will never forget for the remainder of his major-league career.

Vogt hit a game-tying home run with two outs in the top of the ninth inning, and then Evan Longoria hit the tie breaking home run in the top of the 11th inning, as the San Francisco Giants came back from an 8-0 deficit to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 12-11 at Great American Ballpark.

This was the Giants first win at Great American Ballpark in three years, and were outscored 58-15 during a seven-game losing streak that ended with this thrilling victory.

As for largest comeback in Giants history, this was the fifth time in team history that the team came back from an eight-run deficit.

The four prior times came on Sept. 8, 1947 at Pittsburgh; April 14, 1970 at Atlanta; Sept. 23, 1970 at Los Angeles; and Sept. 4, 1989 at Cincinnati.

Derek Dietrich hit two three-run home runs, as the Reds jumped out to an 8-0 lead at the end of just three innings and it looked like this game was going to get out of control; however, the resiliency of this team did not allow to happen.

The Giants began to chip away at the Reds big lead in the top of the fourth inning, as they scored three runs off of former Oakland As pitcher Sonny Gray.

Brandon Crawford got the Giants on the board, as he grounded out to score Buster Posey, who led off the inning with a single.

After Kevin Pillar flew out for the second out of the inning, Steven Duggar cut the lead down to 8-3, as he singled to center to score Longoria and Brandon Belt.

It was a huge night for Duggar as well, as he backed up his first ever three hit game on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers and then went 3-for-5 in the opener of this three-game series.

Yaisel Puig then scored the ninth run of the game for the Reds, as he scored on a play that saw Nick Vincent commit two errors on ball hit by Dietrich.

Kyle Farmer extended the lead up to seven runs once again, as he hit a solo home run to extend the up to 10-3.

Then the Giants began to chip away even more, as they scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning, when Duggar hit a sacrifice fly to score Crawford, then Vogt doubled to right on a play where you saw Puig nearly throw Pillar at the plate after falling in the outfield and then Joe Panik launched a two-run home run to get within three runs.

Jesse Winker gave the Reds a four-run lead, as he hit a ground-rule double to score Tyler Barnhart in the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Giants cut the lead down to one in the top of the eighth inning, as Brandon Belt hit a two-run single that scored Duggar and Vogt and then Longoria came up with the first of his two big hits on the evening, as he singled to score Tyler Austin.

With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, Vogt hit the first pitch he saw from Reds closer Raisel Iglesias to tie up this wild game.

It would be tied until Longoria led off the inning, as he hit a solo home run off of Jared Hughes that barely landed into the left field seats that gave the Giants their first and what turned out to be their only lead of the game at the most opportune time.

Reyes Moronta pitched one inning, allowing a walk and striking out three, as he won for the first time this season.

Will Smith struck out two in the bottom of the inning to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Tyler Beede made his season debut, and it will be one that the rookie would like to forget as soon as possible. Beede lasted just two and one-thirds innings, walking two and striking out three and did not fare in the decision.

Gray, who liked he was on his way to his first win of the season, as he left the game with the lead and went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, walking three and striking out two, as he did not fare in the decision.

Mike Gerber, who was President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidis first acquisition, but was designated for assignment during spring training was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and he doubled and walked in four plate appearances.

NOTES: To make room for Gerber on the roster, the team designated outfielder Gerardo Parra for assignment. Parra, who signed a minor-league contract with the team in February, hit just .198 with one home run.

Erik Kratz was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring.

UP NEXT: Dereck Rodriguez, who allowed six runs in his last start against the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon will take the mound on Saturday, while the Reds will send Tanner Roark to the hill.

Phegley Plates 8, A’s Sink Pirates 14-1

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By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland Athletics boast one of the most fearsome hitters in Khris Davis, so it’d be no surprise to see an nine RBI game for an A’s player. What is surprising is that it was journeyman catcher Josh Phegley, who did it Friday night at PNC Park in a 14-1 A’s win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, not Davis.

The A’s knocked in 11 runs between the second and fourth innings, including scoring seven off Bucs starter and losing pitcher Joe Musgrove (1-3, 2.63 ERA). Phegley went 4-for-5, knocking in an obvious career high in eight runs, including a solo homer in the ninth inning. Matt Chapman also homered in a pair in the seventh for the A’s runs after their early game rally. Brett Anderson (4-2, 3.89 ERA) got the win after going six innings allowing four hits and the one run on a Josh Bell RBI ground out in the bottom of the first.

Khris Davis started the second inning rally, reaching base on a throwing error from Jung Ho Kang, the Stephen Piscotty doubled. Kendrys Morales knocked in Davis with an RBI single to tie the game. Jurickson Profar was hit by a pitch to load the bags for Phegley, who cleaned them with a double for a 4-1 lead. Marcus Semien knocked in Phegley later in the inning on a grounder to first and a 5-1 lead.

Davis led off the next inning and advanced to 2nd on Morales’ single, but the A’s were looking at two outs and coming up empty after Profar flew out. Phegley knocked in Davis for a 6-1 edge and later in the inning Semien walked with the bases loaded for a 7-1 edge. Semien, along with Chapman and Phegley were the only A’s with multiple RBI.

Profar singled in a run off Nick Kingham in the top of the third and Phegley hit another bases-loaded two-bagger to knock in three and give the A’s an 11-1 advantage. They wouldn’t need more, but they’d get more with the two long balls in the late innings.

The A’s hope they have more runs in their bats Saturday when they continue their interleague trip to Pittsburgh. Chris Bassitt takes the mound after a sterling season debut in his last outing, while Trevor Williams takes the hill for the Pirates.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: Giants end homestand on a good note, win two from Dodgers

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On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 On Wednesday night, San Francisco Giants catch Buster Posey got a ninth inning single to get the Giants a 2-1 win and avoid getting swept by the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

#2 Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner faced the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger, who has the franchise record for the fastest player to achieve 14 home runs in just 32 games, was able to hit a hot grounder to first base that he beat out and allowed Kike Hernandez to score from second base to tie the game.

#3 It was Posey that saved the day after Bumgarner pitched well enough to win as Bumgarner said after the game he has been trying different stuff and things fell together on Wednesday night.

#4 The Giants snap a losing streak Thursday after getting swept by the New York Yankees and winning two out of three from the Dodgers.

#5 Friday’s starting pitchers: For the Giants, Tyler Beede (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. the Cincinnati Reds’Sonny Gray (0-4, 3.64 ERA).

Michael Duca does the Giants podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Francisco Giants day off report: Bottom-feeders face off S.F. opens series in Cincinnati tonight

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mlb.com file photo: Newly promoted San Francisco Giants pitcher Tyler Beede will start for the Giants tonight against the Cincinnati Reds to open a three game series in Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park.

By Jeremy Harness

After getting swept by the New York Yankees, the Giants bounced back extremely well this week. They rallied to take two of the three-game series from the hated Los Angeles Dodgers, a series that was capped by Buster Posey’s walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the series.

Now it’s time to take that momentum to the road, as the Giants will head to Cincinnati for a four-game series with the Reds, a series that starts Friday night at the Great American Ball Park.

The Reds have had an up-and-down year, to say the least. Cincinnati started the year losing the first seven games by getting swept by Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, but followed that by winning the next four games in a row.

That was followed by a four-game losing skid and then a three-winning streak.

Just like the Giants, Cincinnati currently sits in last place in its division, the National League Central, with a 13-18 record, the same mark that the Giants own.

The series opener will see a familiar face in the Bay Area. One-time A’s star Sonny Gray (0-4, 3.64 ERA), who was traded to the Yankees a few years ago and could not regain his form, is now with the Reds and will go on Friday against Giants righty Tyler Beede, who will be making his season debut.

Right-hander Dereck Rodriguez (3-3, 4.35 ERA) will take the ball on Saturday opposite Cincinnati’s Tanner Roark (1-1, 4.08 ERA). Jeff Samardzija (2-1, 2.53 ERA) has experienced a resurgence this season, and he hopes to continue that on Sunday when he faces Cincinnati’s Luis Castillo (3-1, 1.45 ERA), which should be a very tough matchup.

Drew Pomeranz (1-3, 4.08 ERA) will try to get things back on track in the series finale Monday afternoon when he faces Cincinnati starter Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 3.48 ERA).

Preview of the A’s series against the Pirates

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By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s are in Pittsburgh to start a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning Friday evening. The A’s are on the last leg of a nine-game road trip. Things have not gone well for the Green and Gold as they have lost all six games played so far. They were swept by the Blue Jays in Toronto and by the Red Sox in Boston. They will be going up against a team that is in fourth place in the NL Central Division. The Pirates, under the tutelage of manager Clint Hurdle, are 14-14 so far this year.

The A’s and Pirates have been playing baseball for many, many years. The A’s started playing in the AL in 1901, and have won 15 pennants and nine World Series in their long and storied history. The Pirates joined the NL in 1887 and played in the first World Series against the Red Sox in 1903. The Pirates have won nine NL pennants and five World Series. The won the World Series in 1979 and have not been back since. The Pirates, from 1993 to 2012 had 20 consecutive losing seasons. Hurdle, named manager before the 2011 season, took the Pirates to the playoffs in 2013. He was named NL Manager of the Year for his efforts.

The A’s will enter Friday night’s game with a record of 14-19. They are in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Also, they are 4-13 on the road this year. Since they will be playing in an NL park, they will not be able to utilize the designated hitter. Their DH, Khris Davis, probably will play left field for the three games.

The A’s will send lefty Brett Anderson (3-2, 4.35 ERA) to the mound Friday night. Anderson will be trying to get back on track as he has not completed five innings of work in his last two starts. However, he has a record of 1-0, and a 1.38 ERA in two career starts at PNC Park. Pittsburgh will counter with former Houston Astros hurler Joe Musgrove. Musgrove came to Pittsburgh in the trade that sent Gerrit Cole to Houston. Musgrove is 1-2 with a 1.54 ERA. He has five quality starts so far this year, and he allowed 3 runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings of work in the loss to the Dodgers last Saturday.

Game two will feature the A’s Chris Bassitt (1-0, 0.75 ERA) going against the Bucs’ Trevor Williams. Bassitt has allowed just one run over his last two starts. Williams has completed at least six innings in each of his six starts this season.

The A’s will send Frankie Montas to the hill on Sunday. Montas has been the A’s best pitcher. His record is 4-2 and he has a 2.97 ERA. Montas took the loss against Boston in his last outing. His work was undone by an error by the second baseman Jurickson Profar, and the Red Sox were able to put six runs on the board. A’s manager Bob Melvin was seen giving Montas a pat on the back and saying that he was pitching and well and that the error was part of baseball and to not get upset. The Pirates’ Jordan Lyles (2-1, 2.42 ERA) will try to get the win for the Bucs. Lyles has a 2.25 ERA in three starts at PNC Park.

Since the A’s don’t see the Pirates very often, some players will be unfamiliar to the A’s fans. The Pirate infield will be manned by first baseman Josh Bell. Bell is one of the stars in the Pirate lineup. Second base will be handled by either Adam Frazier or Cole Moran. Cole Tucker is at shortstop, and Jung Ho Kang will start at third. Colin Moran also plays third for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will play Starlin Marte in center field. Marte got off to a slow start and is hitting just .198. However, he is a significant player for Pittsburgh as the team is 12-5 when he is in the lineup and 1-9 when he isn’t. The A’s may see rookie Brian Reynolds at an outfield slot during the season. Reynolds was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and came to Pittsburgh when the Giants traded for Andrew McCutchen before the start of the 2018 season. In his first nine games, Reynolds has six doubles and a home run, and this is something no other player has done in nearly 100 years. One player whose name is familiar to A’s fans will be in right field. VMelky Cabrera will see time in the outfield this weekend against the A’s.

The A’s are hoping that their offense comes to life this weekend in Pittsburgh. The attack did very little against Toronto and Boston. They did show a sign of life in the ninth inning against the Red Sox, but it was a case of too little, too late. The A’s know that the offense goes into a funk at times over the course of 162 games. They are hoping that the bats will wake up against the Pirates. It should be a good series.