Tag: O.co Coliseum

Angels knock off the A’s 9-7

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Photo credit: @NBCSAthletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Los Angeles Angels won a wild and wooly game Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum as they sent the A’s down to their fourth loss in the last five games by a score of 9-7. It was also the third loss in a row for the Green and Gold.

With the loss, the A’s now trail the Houston Astros by five games in the race for first place in the AL West and are 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the first Wild Card spot. Time is running for the Green and Gold as there are just 11 games left in the regular season. The A’s are now 90-61 on the season.

The Angels put one on the board in the top of the fourth. With one out, their all-world center fielder, Mike Trout, blasted his 35th home run of the year off Daniel Mengden. Mengden walked the next hitter, Justin Upton. Mengden retired Shohei Otani for the second out. Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons then lined a double off the wall in left center field. It went out like a rocket, and the A’s were able to get the ball back to the infield to prevent Upton from scoring. Mengden retired third baseman Tyler Ward for the third out. The Angels led 1-0 in the middle of the fourth inning.

The A’s answered by scoring four times in the bottom of the fourth. Angels manager Mike Scioscia replaced starter Tyler Skaggs with Cam Bedrosian. Skaggs made his first start since August 11th, and Scioscia had him on a pitch count. Skaggs did not allow a hit or  run in three innings of work. The A’s took advantage of Bedrosian’s wildness to load the bases with no outs. Bedrosian walked Jed Lowrie to start the inning. A’s DH Khris Davis singled to send Lowrie to second. Bedrosian walked Stephen Piscotty to load the bases with no out. Bedrosian struck out the next two hitters and was in position to get out of the jam. A left fielder ripped a double that bounced off the base of the left field wall that cleared the bases. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single to drive in Canha with the A’s fourth run of the frame. Scioscia changed pitchers, and reliever Noe Ramirez was able to retire Ramon Laureano for the final out of the fourth. The A’s led 4-1 after four.

Melvin went to his bullpen to start the sixth inning. The move turned out to be a disaster for the A’s as the Angels plated six runs on four hits. Shawn Kelley started the inning and faced Jose Fernandez. Kelley retired Trout for the first out. Justin Upton singled off Matt Chapman’s glove to put runners on at first and second. Melvin brought in lefty Ryan Buchter to pitch to Ohtani. That strategy failed as Ohtani singled to load the bases. Andrelto Simmons singled to drive in Fernandez and Upton. The Angels trailed 4-3. Melvin replaced Buchter with Lou Trivino. Trivino hit Taylor Ward with a pitch to load the bases. Kaleb Cowart hit his first home run of the run and his first grand slam. Trivino retired the next two hitters, but the damage was done. The Angels took a 7-4 lead.

The Angels put two more on the board in the top of the eighth. The A’s brought in their seventh pitcher of the night, Cory Gearrin, to face the Halos. Ohtani walked. Simmons followed with a single. Ward reached on a fielder’s choice. Ohtani was thrown out at third, but Chapman’s throw to first sailed past Matt Olson and went into right field. Simmons scored, and Ward ended up on third base. Cowart, who hit a grand slam in his last at-bat, tripled to drive in Ward with the Angels’ ninth run of the night.

The A’s rallied in the bottom of the eighth inning and scored three times to make it a 9-7 game. Jed Lowrie got things going when he walked for the third time in the game. Davis struck out, but singles by Piscotty and Olson allowed Lowrie to score. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien walked to load the bases. A’s outfielder Dustin Fowler was sent in to pinch hit for Josh Phegley. Fowler came through with a single to drive in Piscotty and Olson. Angels’ pitcher Ty Buttrey retired Ramon Laureano for the third out. The A’s had one more opportunity to either tie or get ahead in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Angels’ seventh pitcher of the evening retired in order in the ninth to seal the win. The A’s lost 9-7.

Game Notes and Stats: Time of the game was three hours and 42 minutes. For all intents and purposes, it was a bullpen game for both managers. A’s manager Bob Melvin started Liam Hendriks for the first inning, and Daniel Mengden was able to go four innings with the Halos scoring just one run. Angels manager Mike Scioscia used seven pitchers to subdue the A’s.

Things went awry in the sixth and eighth innings as the A’s bullpen imploded and allowed the Angels to put eight runs on the board. The A’s used eight pitchers in the loss, and it appeared to many that the bullpen might be a bit tired at this stage of the season. Rookie Lou Trivino, who has been so good, was burnt by Kaleb Cowart when he hit his first homer of the year, and it was a grand slam to boot. Cowart also had a triple.

The A’s line was seven runs on seven hits and one error. The Angels’ line score was nine runs on nine hits and no errors.

The winning pitcher was the Angels’ third pitcher Noe Ramirez. Ty Buttrey earned his fourth save of the year.

The losing pitcher was the A’s Lou Trivino, who absorbed the loss. His record is now 8-3.

There were 15.031 fans in attendance as they watched their A’s go down to defeat.

Up Next: Game two will be played Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Game time will be at 7:05 pm PDT.

Brett Anderson will go for the A’s. Anderson is hoping to rebound from two poor outings since coming off the DL.

Felix Pena will pitch for the Angels.

A’s to host the Angels in 3-game series starting Tuesday night

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s will return home after a splitting a six-game road trip against Baltimore and Tampa Bay. The A’s had an opportunity to gain ground on the New York Yankees for the first spot in the AL Wild Card race. The Yankees lost to Toronto on Saturday and Sunday, and had the A’s beaten the Rays on those days, they would have found themselves in the first spot. Unfortunately the A’s lost to the Rays on Saturday and Sunday. The A’s own a record of 90-60 for the year and have 12 games left to pass the Yanks. They fell 4.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL Division, and it is doubtful that the A’s would be able to catch them.

The goal for Bob Melvin and the surprising and swinging A’s is to win every one of the 12 games remaining on the schedule. That task will not be easy as they will play the Angels six times–three at home and three on the road in Anaheim. They finish the home season with three against the Minnesota Twins and go on the road for the final six games. The first three road games are in Seattle, and the last three will be in Anaheim.

The A’s are going to need for the offense and the bullpen to carry the load. The A’s starting rotation has been a work in progress all season. Four of their pitchers have had Tommy John surgery. Starters Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson have spent a couple of stints on the DL.

The A’s have resorted to “bullpenning” to fill the gap in the rotation. Reliever Liam Hendriks has been used to pitch the first inning, and A’s manager Bob Melvin brings in a pitcher such as Daniel Mengden or Chris Bassitt to go at least four or five innings and then turns the game over to the bullpen. Right now the rotation consists of Mike Fiers, Edwin Jackson, Brett Anderson, and Trevor Cahill. Cahill is going to miss a start due to an irritation in his throwing arm. The A’s are hopeful that will be able to make two starts before the end of the season. The other two spots are being bullpenned.

The A’s resume play with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The Angels won five of the first seven games played between the two clubs. The A’s won the last two series played and are 6-7 against LAA for the year.

The Angels, managed by Mike Scioscia, also had their pitching rotation ravaged by injuries. Garrett Richards, Blake Wood, Keynan Middleton, and J.C. Ramirez are all lost for the season and have undergone Tommy John surgery. Third baseman Zack Cozart and first baseman Albert Pujols will not play again this year. Cozart had shoulder surgery and Pujols, who will be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame five years after retirement, had knee surgery.

The Angels’ sensational rookie sensation, Shonei Ohtani, probably will not pitch again this year. He is also a candidate for Tommy John surgery. However, he is still playing as he is having a wonderful year at the plate as a hitter. His batting average is .290 with 20 home runs and 55 RBIs. His OPS is .956.

The Angels, while decimated by injury to their pitching and position player, would love nothing better than to play spoilers. They have several players in the lineup that can do damage. Two-time MVP, Mike Trout, lead the Angel offense. Trout is having another excellent season and is a candidate for the MVP honor. He is hitting .318 with 34 homers and 70 RBIs. His OPS is an astounding 1.091. Trout is just 27 years old. Justin Upton has hit 30 dingers, and he has knocked in 84. He is hitting .263. The other outfielder, Kole Calhoun, is having a down year with an average of just .214 but he does have power as he homered 19 times and had driven in 57. The only infielder that fans might know is shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

On Tuesday night, the A’s will send Liam Hendriks to the hill to pitch the first inning. Hendriks has pitched very well in this role as he has allowed just two hits and one run in four appearances. Mengden or Bassitt will come in to start the second inning. The Angels will counter with lefty Tyler Skaggs. Skaggs will be making his first appearance since August 11th when he went on the DL. Skaggs is 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA against the A’s in eight career starts.

On Wednesday, The A’s lefty Brett Anderson will try to return to form. In his last two starts, he has allowed nine runs on 14 hits in just six innings of work. Righty Felix Pena will handle the pitching chores for LAA. In his last eight starts, Pena has a 3.75 ERA and has gone at least six innings in each of his previous six starts.

On Thursday, The A’s Edwin Jackson will be seeking his sixth win the campaign. Since his recall from the minors, Jackson has been a pleasant surprise. His record is 5-3, and the A’s have won 12 of his 15 starts. The Angels will counter with Matt Shoemaker. Since coming off the DL on September 3rd, he has a 3.68 ERA in the three starts he made for LAA.

The A’s know what’s at stake. They have to keep winning if they hope to pass New York. The Yanks have six remaining against Boston, and the Red Sox could help the A’s by beating the Yanks. If the A’s pass the Yanks, they will host the one-game playoff at the Coliseum. If not, they will head to the Big Apple and face the Yanks in Yankee Stadium. The Yanks have built their lineup to take advantage of the dimension down the right field line and the short porch in right field. The A’s will be playing in front of a very hostile crowd, and they cannot let the jitters get to them.

Oakland Raiders podcast with Tony Renteria: Rams spoiled Raiders’ home opener; Raiders made some roster moves

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Photo credit: @Raiders

On the Raiders podcast with Tony:

1. A strong defensive first half wasn’t enough for the Raiders, who lost to the LA Rams 33-13 during ESPN’s Monday Night Football to wrap up Week 1.

2. Jared Cook’s 180 receiving yards in Raiders vs. Rams were the most by a tight end in franchise history.

3. The Raiders signed wide receiver Johnny Holton to their practice squad. In a corresponding move, they terminated the contract of defensive back Terrell Sinkfield.

4. Raiders coach Jon Gruden provided an update on the injury of long snapper Andrew DePaola. This isn’t the way the Raiders wanted to start the season, but tight end Lee Smith stepped in as the emergency long snapper.

5. The Raiders signed free agent wide receiver Martavis Bryant and long snapper Trent Sieg. In corresponding moves, they placed long snapper Andrew DePaola on the Reserve/Injured List and have waived wide receiver Keon Hatcher.

Tony does the Raiders podcasts each Thursday for SportsRadioService.com

Rams down Raiders 33-13 in season opener

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Jeremy Kahn

OAKLAND — With a chance to show the whole nation that they were much improved, the Oakland Raiders took a big step back in their season opener.

Jared Goff found Cooper Kupp for an eight-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the third quarter, as the Los Angeles Rams came from a 13-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Raiders 33-13 before a crowd of 53,857 at the Coliseum on Monday night.

Things looked for the Raiders on their initial drive of the game, as Marshawn Lynch barraged his way into the end zone from 10-yards out to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead.

Todd Gurley tied up the game with under 5:00 remaining in the quarter, as he took a Goff pass and scored from 19 yards out.

Newcomer Mike Nugent gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead, as he kicked a 24-yard field goal on the Raiders first series of the second quarter.

Greg Zuerlein tied up the game with a 20-yard field goal just one series after he missed a 46-yard field goal from where Jed Lowrie usually patrols second base for the Oakland A’s.

Nugent sent the Raiders into the locker room with a hard fought 13-10 lead, as he nailed a 48-yard field goal with just 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

Goff took the Rams down the field, but the Raiders’ defense was able to hold the Rams to a field goal, as Zuerlein kicked a 28-yard field goal on the first series of the third quarter for the Rams.

That third quarter was atrocious for the Raiders, as they gained just 17 yards in the quarter, while the Rams gained 147 yards.

It was the Goff touchdown pass to Kupp in the final seconds of the quarter that gave the Rams the lead for good.

Zuerlein got the Rams their next six points, as he kicked a 55-yard field goal and then a 20-yard field goal that pushed the lead up to 13 with just 3:15 remaining in the game.

Former McClymonds High School star Marcus Peters put the final touches on the game, as he returned a Derek Carr pass 50 yards to the end zone to give the Rams their final margin of victory.

Carr ended up going 29-for-40 for 303 yards passing and three interceptions, including the pick six to Peters that put the game away for the Rams.

Following the Lynch touchdown that got the Raiders on the board, he carried the ball just 10 more times for 31 yards to lead the Raiders rushing game.

With the Rams secondary of Peters and Aqib Talib held the Raiders wide receivers in check, as Amari Cooper caught just one pass for nine yards and Jordy Nelson caught three passes for 23 yards. With the duo of Cooper and Nelson being locked down by the Rams secondary, Carr was able to get the ball to Jared Cook, who caught nine passes for 180 yards, including a 45-yard pass from Carr on the Raiders third play of the game.

Bay Area native Goff, who played his college ball at CAL, went 18-for-33 for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Gurley showed the entire country why he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, as he carried the ball 20 times for 108 yards, and he also caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

The Raiders other achilles heel was penalties, as they committed 11 penalties for 155 yards, all but one of the penalties took place in the first half, where the Raiders were penalized 10 times for 145 yards.

NOTES: With the loss, all of the NFL’s new head coaches went a combined 0-7 in the first weekend of the season.

Two of the 10 Raiders penalties in the first half went for a combined 87 yards, as Rashaan Melvin was called for a 37-yard pass interference penalty and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was flagged for a 50-yard pass interference penalty. That was more penalty yard in any game during Jon Gruden’s four years with the Raiders from 1998-2001 and the most in the first half since at least Gruden’s third season of 2000, when the Raiders made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens 16-3.

Andrew DePaola was forced to leave the game in the first quarter, as he injured his knee and did not return to the game. Tight End Lee Smith came on to become the long snapper, and the Raiders kicked two field goals.

UP NEXT: The Raiders head out on the road for a two-game road trip that begins on Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Broncos Stadium at Mile High, and then the Raiders head to Miami to face the Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on September 23. Their next home game will be on September 30 against the Cleveland Browns.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Exclusive Interview With WFAN’s Suzyn Waldman

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Photo credit: @NYDNSports

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

The New York Yankees paid their recent visit to the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum. Prior to the last game of the three-game series, I spoke with WFAN’s Suzyn Waldman, who handles commentary on all Yankee games with play-by-play man John Sterling.

Suzyn has been broadcasting sports for 32 years. This interview was conducted inside her broadcast booth at the Coliseum a good three hours prior to the game that night.

Q: Suzyn, how did you got started in sports broadcasting after 30 years of doing this?

A: Oh boy, well when I started I was in theater before I did this and musical theater it was changing and the only other thing I knew was sports, because I had my own season-tickets at baseball games with my grandfather when I was three and I was a sports person, but it was always my avocation, because little girls didn’t do that, and I was on Broadway and I sang and dance did all that and I go to ballgames, and…a friend of mine who used to be the announcer for the Boston Red Sox, Ken Coleman–we were very very close friends he said, “you know I have a friend and this next year they are starting this thing in New York it’s going to be called WFAN…and I told him he’s going to meet you, because you know more about sports than anybody I know and you’re female and they’re going to need a woman so I made a tape.

I didn’t know what I was doing and I was hired to do updates, I was actually the first voice on WFAN in 1987 so that’s the beginning, but then I realized that nobody wanted me there because I was female, so then it became something else and it became don’t you dare to talk to me like that, and don’t you tell me I don’t know because I am female…and so that’s how that started with people saying “no.”

Q: How do you feel being a pioneer? Actually there still not that many women in sports broadcasting in baseball like, say Jessica Mendoza, anymore.

A: Well I wasn’t trying to be a pioneer, I was just trying to make a living and I didn’t like being told I didn’t know anything…to tell you the truth I expected there to be a lot more women, it is just me in the broadcast booth, I know Jessica does ESPN, but it is only one game a week … it is just me and I am waiting for someone else to do this I know there are women down in the minor leagues trying to to this to get a chance or whether or not they give up, I think there is no failures. It’s just people that give up too soon.

Q: Is this more fun that playing Dulcinea in Man of LaMancha?

A: Nothing is more fun that being Dulcinea in Man of La Mancha. You know I did get over theater, although I miss it everyday, but I am still on stage. This a different stage, but I’m still performing. I don’t sing and dance anymore and I don’t get applause … Yeah, I miss theater everyday … but this is important and this is where I should be”

Q: Your best message for a young female that aspires to be in sports broadcasting like you maybe in baseball.

A: Think of what you can do that’s difference from everybody else go and look in the mirror and say to yourself, “I have a different way of looking at this, and I am going to do this, don’t let anybody stop you, because people are going to say no, you do commercials on television, you’ll get 200 no, before you get a commercial, but don’t let people tell you ‘no.'” You will know … and don’t want to be me, don’t want to be Jessica, just be you, because if you take my job is just one, but if it’s you, then there are two of us. Don’t let anybody stop you.

It was truly a pleasure to interview Suzyn for the first time, despite the fact we’ve known each other for decades during baseball games at many parks across the country.

Amaury Pi-González is the Spanish voice of the A’s and since 2016, he’s in the Advisory Board of the American Sportscasters Association in New York City.

Raiders to host Rams in regular season opener on Monday Night Football

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Photo credit: @Raiders

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

OAKLAND — Yes, the NFL regular season is finally here. No more of watching unwatchable preseason football and hoping that both teams put on solid efforts.

The Oakland Raiders will begin their 2018 regular season on Monday night when they will welcome the Los Angeles Rams to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The game between the two clubs will be the second game of ESPN’s Monday Night Football doubleheader, which kicks off at 7:20 p.m. PT.

The New York Jets travel to the Motor City to take on the Detroit Lions in Game 1. Kickoff for that game is at 4:10 p.m. PT.

The Raiders met the Rams in Week 2 of the preseason in Los Angeles. The Rams won a snore of a game, 19-15, with both teams opting to hold out their starters.

This time around, things will be different as this is the regular season and the games count more than they do in the preseason.

The big story surrounding the Raiders has been the trade of defensive end/outside linebacker Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 2. Oakland was unable to come to terms on a new longterm contract for the star defender.

The Raiders were hoping that Mack would return to the team and play under the franchise tag of $13.8 million but when it appeared that Mack wasn’t going to show up for any of Oakland’s training camp, head coach Jon Gruden and general manager Reggie McKenzie shipped the 27-year-old former NFL Defensive Player of the Year to the Bears for a boatload of draft picks: first- and sixth-round picks in 2019, and first- and third-round picks in 2020.

Along with Mack, the Bears received second- and fifth-round picks in 2020 as part of the deal.

Oakland will miss Mack no doubt. Mack amassed 40.5 sacks over the past four seasons for the Raiders and the name of the game on defense is to hit the quarterback and Oakland just let their best pass rusher walk out the door.

Last season, the Raiders finished 24th in defense last year despite Mack’s 10.5 sacks. This season, the Raiders will need to improve that ranking if they are to return to the playoffs after a dismal 6-10 season last year following a 12-4 campaign in 2016. That means rookies on the defensive line such as P.J. Hall, Maurice Hurst and Arden Key will be tasked to pick up the slack for Mack.

Quarterback Derek Carr is looking for a bounce back season of his own in 2018.

Last season, Carr’s numbers dipped a bit: throwing for 3,496 yards, with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions with a 86.4 passer rating after throwing for 3,937 yards with 28 touchdowns and just six interceptions to go along with a career-high 96.7 passer rating in 2016.

With Gruden back in town (after taking over for the fired Jack Del Rio), Carr’s play is expected to take off. Gruden is credited as being an offensive genius when designing plays and Carr’s performance will be critical for the Raiders’ offense that finished  23rd in production in 2017.

The Rams defense finished in 12th in scoring defense (20.6 points per game) and are loaded.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, leads the Rams into Oakland looking to build off of the team’s first postseason birth since 2004. Los Angeles won the NFC West title after finishing 11-5 last season and are one of the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl in Atlanta on Feb. 3, 2019.

Los Angeles added defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to play next to Donald in the offseason, along with cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters via trades to shore up their secondary.

The Rams have one of the best offenses in the league, led by third-year quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley.

After a subpar rookie season in 2016 in which he threw for just 1,089 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions under former head coach Jeff Fisher, Goff exploded in 2017 under first-year head coach Sean McVay throwing for career-highs in yards (3,804), touchdowns (28) and passer rating (100.5).

Goff threw just seven interceptions during the 2017 campaign.

Gurley had a bounce back season too under McVay after a disappointing 2016 season where Gurley rushed for a career-low 885 yards and six touchdowns. The fourth-year running back rushed for career-highs in yards (1,305) and touchdowns (13). Gurley finished second in the NFL in total rushing, falling just 22 yards short of league-leader in rookie Kareem Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Raiders could have their hands full with a Rams offense that finished first in scoring last season, averaging 29.9 points per game.

After Monday night’s game, both teams will begin their divisional schedule Sunday, September 16, with the Raiders traveling to Denver to take on the Broncos, while the Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Games will be scheduled for 1:25 pm and 1:05 pm, respectively.

A’s to host Rangers in weekend series starting Friday night

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Photo credit: markmoneyhoffman.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s will host the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum for three games beginning Friday night. It will be the final time the teams will meet this season.

The Rangers find themselves in last place in the AL West with a 61-79 record. The Rangers had hoped to have had a better record as they put together a lineup with hitters that could put runs on the board. On the other hand, their pitching could not keep the other team from putting more runs on the board.

The A’s, who have an off-day on Thursday, after 20 consecutive games, find themselves in a race for either one of two possibilities. The A’s are 3.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the race for first place in the AL West.

If the A’s were to win the division, they would not have to play in the one-game playoff between the two Wild Card teams. They are also 3.5 games behind the New York Yankees for the first Wild Card slot. The first Wild Card hosts the game at their home park. If the A’s finish in the second spot, they would have to fly to New York for the game.

Also, history is not on the side of the second Wild Card. The home team usually, but not always, prevails when the one-game playoff is held at their home stadium.

The A’s have a lot to play for this weekend. While they have successfully handled the Rangers so far this year, they cannot take them lightly. The Rangers would love nothing more than upsetting the A’s apple cart.

Below are the A’s and Rangers pitching matchups:

On Friday night, The A’s will send Chris Bassitt to the hill. Bassitt has pitched well at times, but he has not been as consistent as the team had hoped. However, in his last start against Minnesota, he went 4 2/3 innings and allowed one run. The A’s could potentially use an “opener” when a bullpen pitcher to start the game and then bring in Bassitt after the first or second innings.

The Rangers will counter with the veteran hurler Yovani Gallardo who has a 8-3 record and a 5.97 ERA. Gallardo beat the Twins 7-4 in his last start. His line was pitched five innings and gave up three runs. Gallardo has a 5-2 record with a 4.07 ERA in his last eight starts.

On Saturday, the A’s Edwin Jackson will pitch for the Green and Gold. Jackson has a 5-3 record and a 2.91 ERA so far this year. In his last start, Jackson went six innings and allowed just one run and three hits.

The Rangers will start Yohender Mendez. Mendez recorded his first MLB win last Sunday when he beat the Twins. He pitched six scoreless innings and allowed three hits while walking one and striking out three. He has a 1-1 record and a 5.59 ERA for the season.

On Sunday, Trevor Cahill will start for the A’s, and Texas has not yet announced their pitcher. Cahill has a 6-3 record and a 3.60 ERA. The big righty has pitched extremely well at the Coliseum this year. In his nine starts at home, he has a 5-0 record and a 1.09 ERA. He beat the Yankees last Monday before 41,000 fans. He allowed the Yanks’ three runs (two earned) and five hits while walking one and striking out three.

The A’s pitching will have their hands full as they try to stop the Rangers’ hitters. The Rangers’ infield consists of Ronald Guzman at first, Rougned Odor at second, Elvis Andrus at short, and Adrian Beltre at third. The Rangers’ outfield will be patrolled by Shin-Soo-Choo, Joey Gallo, and Nomar Mazara. Robinson Chirinos will handle the catching. Every one of these players can hit the ball out of the park.

The A’s also have big boppers. They have five guys that have hit 20 or more balls out of the park this season. Part-time players such as Mark Canha and Chad Pinder are in double figures in that department.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, the A’s cannot let their guard down. The team knows what’s at stake and their manager Bob Melvin will prepare them. The A’s are 84-57 and have 21 games left to play. They have to keep winning, and they will need help from other teams if they are to move up in the standings.

The Boston Red Sox could really help the A’s as they host the Astros at Fenway Park this weekend, and have six more, three at home and three in New York, against the Yanks. The Red Sox would love nothing more than upsetting the Yanks’ apple cart.

The surprise team and feel good story of the 2018 season have been the A’s. The players know they are good and they are showing the world what they can do.

A’s rout the Yankees 8-2 to take 2 out of 3 from New York

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s beat the Yankees 8-2 at the Coliseum on Wednesday night to take two out of three and even the season series at three apiece.

The A’s had several legends in the ballpark. The A’s honored former greats Reggie Jackson, Dave Stewart, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Catfish Hunter, who was represented by his wife. Charlie Finley’s son Paul was in attendance for the Finley family.

The A’s sent Mike Fiers to take care of the pitching duties. The Yanks had an opportunity to do damage in the first inning. Fiers retired leadoff hitter Brett Gardner for the first out. Yanks’ DH Mike Stanton blasted a double to deep right center field. Fiers got Andrew McCutchen to fly out to center for the second out. Fiers walked the next two hitters, Aaron Hicks and Gary Sanchez, to load the bases. Fiers was laboring as his pitch count was now in the 20s. He now had to face the Yanks’ first baseman Luke Voit. Voit has been on a tear since being recalled from the minors as he has homered seven times in his last 12 games. Fiers retired Voit for the third out as he hit a ground ball to Matt Chapman. Chapman stepped on third for the force out. Fiers regained his composure and allowed the Yankees just one hit over the next five innings. A’s manager Bob Melvin allowed him to start the seventh. He walked the first batter Aaron Hicks and then Gary Sanchez took him deep for the Yanks’ only runs of the game.

The Yanks had their ace, Luis Severino, going for them. Severino came into the game tied for the most wins in the AL with 17. The Yanks were 22-6 in games started for Severino, but that didn’t faze the A’s one bit. They put six runs on the board in Severino 2 2/3 innings of work and sent him down to his seventh loss of the year.

The A’s put four runs on the board in the bottom of the first. Rookie Ramon Laureano started the rally with a solid double to left. Laureano went to third on a passed ball and scored on Jed Lowrie’s single. A’s DH Khris Davis doubled to right. Lowrie stopped at third. Severino uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Lowrie to score and Davis motored to third. First baseman Matt Olson doubled to left to drive in Davis with the A’s third run of the inning. Olson went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.  It was a very strange inning that featured two passed balls and two wild pitches.

The A’s added two more in the third and one more in the fourth to take a 7-0 lead. Matt Chapman walked to start the third. Lowrie singled to met on at first and second. Both advanced a base when Davis’s ground ball to third was momentarily bobbled by Neil Walker. Davis was out at first. Both scored on Stephen Piscotty’s single. The A’s added another run after Chad Pinder singled. Josh Phegley walked to put men on at first and second with no out. Laureano reached on a fielder’s choice. Phegley was out at second, and Pinder moved to third on the play. Matt Chapman ground out to first on a checked swing and Pinder crossed the plate for the score.

The A’s plated another tally in the bottom of the sixth. Yanks’ reliever Luis Cessa retired the first two hitters he faced. Laureano then lined a double to right-center. Matt Chapman followed with a rocket past third baseman Neil Walker to drive in Laureano to give the A’s a commanding 8-0 advantage after six complete.

The Yanks finally put two on the board in the top of the seventh. Fiers walked the leadoff hitter to start the frame. Yanks’ catcher Gary Sanchez slammed Fiers’ pitch into the left-field seats to make it an 8-2 game. It was just the third hit of the game that Fiers had allowed. Melvin replaced Fiers with Yusmeiro Petit. Petit retired the first hitter, Gave up a single to Neil Walker but was able to get the next two outs to the end the Yanks’ seventh.

The A’s bullpen continued to shine as Lou Trivino set the Yanks down in order in the eighth and Cory Gearrin closed the door on them in the ninth. The A’s won their 84th game of the year.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 84-57 and remain 3.5 games behind the first-place Houston Astros. The Astros beat Minnesota again on Wednesday. The Astros travel to Boston for three with the Red Sox and, hopefully, Boston can help the A’s gain ground on the Astros.

The Yanks lead the A’s by 3.5 games in the race for the first Wild Card spot in the AL. The Yanks are off on Thursday and then finish the West Coast swing with a three-game series with the Mariners. Then they play three in Minnesota and three in Toronto. Their last 12 games of the year consist of six with Boston, three with Baltimore, and three with Tampa Bay. The A’s will need help from these teams if they hope to finish either first in the division or first in the Wild Card race.

Mike Fiers was the winning pitcher, and he is now 11-6 for 2018. The A’s are now 60-0 when leading after the seventh inning. The A’s are 50-21 since June 16th which is the best record in baseball.

A’s hitting stars were Khris Davis and Ramon Laureano with two doubles each. Jed Lowrie had two singles.

The A’s line score was 8 runs, 11 hits, and no errors.

The Yanks’ line was 2 runs, five hits, and no errors.

Time of game was two hours and 53 minutes, and there were 21,001 fans watching the A’s continue their magical ride.

Up Next: The A’s welcome the Rangers for a three-game series starting this Friday at 7:05 pm PDT.

Khris Davis is the other KD that people should be talking about

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

By: Ana Kieu

OAKLAND, Calif. — I think it’s pretty obvious that Khris Davis is the other KD in the Bay Area that people should be talking about. But, just in case you need a couple of reasons on why Davis deserves a similar amount of praise like Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant, I’ll give you a couple of reasons.

Davis, a Lakewood, Calif. native, has been piling up the hits and RBIs on the field as the A’s designated hitter. The Coliseum’s playing surface, Rickey Henderson Field, is a gorgeous reflection of the Green and Gold. But, as you may already know, Davis has a shot at becoming a big A’s star. The 30-year-old bats and throws right and recently has joined quality company alongside Jimmie Foxx and Mark McGwire with his third straight year with 40 or more home runs.

“It’s just miraculous [the kind of] numbers that he puts up,” A’s manager Bob Melvin told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’ve had a long history of power hitters here, and to be with Jimmie Foxx in that kind of company and we’re still looking at close to a month left … He’s been as consistent a power hitter as anyone’s been in Oakland.”

Davis also joined Foxx as the second player in A’s history to go back-to-back with 40 homers. Davis needs eight more homers to pass Terry Steinbach for 15th place on the A’s all-time home runs list.

Davis has been dubbed as “the most consistent hitter in baseball history” by FiveThirtyEight.com. Davis’ batting average is consistent to the point where it’s scary.

Davis’ opposite is Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper, who’s currently tied as the third most volatile hitter over a five-year span. Harper’s batting average has taken quite the roller coaster ride, but it’s obvious that inconsistency doesn’t automatically mean that a hitter is subpar. Harper’s team, however, tends to fall apart in the postseason, thanks to the so-called Washington D.C. sports curse.

In my opinion, Davis’ other nickname could be “Mr. Reliable” since he provides a ray of consistency in the midst of random batting averages among MLB players.

Additionally, Davis’ actions off the field speak volumes that he’s not just a respectable DH, but also an all-around good guy. Last month, Davis asked a young male fan, Anthony Slocumb, from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to sign his jersey. Slocumb is a sixth grader from Oakland. Slocumb had been in remission from a rare cancer called Langerhans cell histiocytosis, but attended an A’s vs. Rangers game at the Coliseum with a group from the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Greater Bay Area chapter.

Davis kept Slocumb in his memory while out and about on the field. Davis also slugged a homer for the A’s 9-0 shutout win over the Rangers that day.

“I thought about him around the bases. There’s not a better feeling than hitting a home run, so hopefully he got some excitement and joy from watching that,” Davis told ESPN. “They’re really the stars. … He was excited. I could tell that he was just happy to be here and wanted to have some fun. It was amazing, the look on his face.”

Davis never thought once about changing uniform shirts either.

Slocumb’s mother was pleased by Davis’ kind gesture, as it’s not everyday where an average person or group of persons crosses paths with a talented and kind-hearted MLB player.

With all that said, Davis may not become this year’s MVP, but he has been a large chunk of the A’s renaissance; and this why he’s the other KD that people should be talking about.

A’s down the Yankees 6-3 before a huge Labor Day crowd

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by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND– It was a beautiful sun-drenched afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum as the Oakland A’s played host to the New York Yankees. The two teams were playing in front of 40,546 fans, and they treated them to quite an afternoon of baseball. The A’s, the hottest team in baseball since June 16th and owners of the fourth-best record in baseball had to deal with the Yankees who own the second-best record. Yankee slugger Aaron Judge, who had not played since July 26th when he suffered a broken wrist, took his first swings off a tee on Monday and should be back soon. Yankee shortstop, Didi Gregorius, who is also on the DL, may be back in the lineup later this week. These two players make the Yankees, as a team, a lot more dangerous. The Yankees, even without them, are loaded with players that have a lot of power. The A’s were the better team on Labor Day as they beat the Yankees 6-3 and moved to within 3 1/2 games of the lead for the first Wild Card spot in the AL. The A’s remain 2 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West.

Monday’s pitching matchup featured the A’s big righty, Trevor Cahill, going up the even bigger lefty CC Sabathia. Cahill, who had never beaten the Yankees in his career and who pitches much better in Oakland than on the road, gave the A’s five innings of work. He allowed four hits and three runs. One of the runs was unearned. Sabathia who was 11-11 in his career against Oakland did not have it Monday afternoon. Sabathia’s day ended in the fourth inning. His pitching line was 3 and 1/3rd inning, and he allowed seven hits, five runs, four of which were earned. Sabathia took the loss and is now 7-6 for the year.

The Yankees put an unearned run on the board in the top of the first. Andrew McCutchen, who arrived in New York via a trade with the San Francisco Giants led off with a single. McCutchen stole second, and when Jonathan’s Lucroy’s throw sailed into centerfield, McCutchen advanced to third. Cahill retired Giancarlo Stanton on a popup to second baseman Jed Lowrie. McCutchen scored on Aaron Hick’s sacrifice fly. Cahill struck out Miguel Andu]jar to end the inning.  The Yanks lead 1-0 in the middle of the first. The lead didn’t last long as the A’s plated three runs. After Sabathia retired Marcus Semien for the first out, the A’s put together four straight singles and a throwing error by Yankee third baseman Miguel Andujar to end the first with the lead 3-1. Two of the A’s runs were earned, and the other was unearned.

The Yankees tied the game in the top of the second. Yankees’ catcher Gary Sanchez started the inning with a walk. With one out, rookie first baseman Luke Voit blasted his sixth of the year. The A’s undid the tie in their half of the second. Sabathia walked Marcus Semien who was leading off for Oakland. A’s third baseman Matt Chapman doubled to drive in Semien with the A’s fourth run of the game. Chapman was out at third as he tried to stretch the double into a triple.

The A’s tallied their fifth run of the day in the bottom of the fourth.  Semien led off the inning with a double. With one out, Jed Lowrie singled to drive in Semien. For Lowrie, it was his 86th ribbie of the season. The A’s lead 5-3 after four.

The A’s center fielder Mark Canha tacked on another run for Oakland when he blasted a towering fly into the left-field seats for his sixteenth big fly of the year to give the A’s a 3-run cushion  6-3 after five innings of play.

The A’s bullpen of Lou Trivino, Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter, Jeurys Familia, and Blake Treinen did not allow the Yankees a hit after the fifth inning. It did get a little dicey in the seventh when Gary Sanchez reached first after striking out. Jonathan Lucroy allowed Petit’s pitch to get by him. The ball went to the backstop, and by the time Lucroy fielded the ball, Sanchez was on first safely. Petit then walked Glyber Torres to put men on at first and second with no out. Petit reached back and struck out Voit and pinch-hitter Neil Walker. Brett Gardner flew out to left for the final out of the seventh. Jeurys Familia pitched the eighth inning, and he retired the first two Yankees he faced. It started to go downhill as he suddenly couldn’t find the strike zone. He walked Aaron Hicks and Miguel Andujar to give the Yankees a glimmer of hope. The next hitter was former NL MVP, Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen, who singled in the first, hit a sharp ground ball to Marcus Semien. Semien’s throw to first was on target, and the side was retired. Blake Treinen worked the ninth, and he retired the Yanks in order to earn his 36th save of the season.

Game Notes- The A’s, with the win, improved to 83-56 and are now 3 1/2 games behind the Yanks in the race for the top Wild Card spot. If the playoffs were to begin now, the A’s would have to travel to New York for the one-game playoff. If the A’s finish first, the playoff would be played in Oakland. The A’s remain 2 1/2 games behind the Astros for the best record in the AL West. The A’s and Astros have finished the season’s series.

Trevor Cahill received credit for the win and is now 6-3 for the season. Cahill is 5-0 and has an ERA of 1.09 in nine starts at the Coliseum He beat the Yankees for the first time in his career.

Mark Canha matched a career-high with his 16th homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning… Canha leads the American League with 13 home runs vs. lefties.  Matt Chapman recorded his 34th double of the season… leads the Majors with 32 extra-base hits since the AllStar Break. Stephen Piscotty added two hits to extend his hitting streak to six games, he is batting .391 (9-for-23) over that span.  Blake Treinen earned his 36th save of the season, which ranks fourth in the majors and tied for ninth in Oakland history…he now has a 0.91 ERA, which is the lowest among Major League relievers. Khris Davis is 2nd in the Majors with 105 RBI this season (J.D. Martinez, 115)… Davis had a career-best 110 RBI last season.

–The Oakland A’s have acquired right-handed pitcher Aaron Brooks from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations, the club announced today.  To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe for assignment.

Game two of the three-game series will be played Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum. The A’s have not announced a starter, and it may be bullpen by committee once again with Liam Hendriks pitching the first inning and Daniel Mengden coming in to pitch in either the second or third innings. Lefty J.A. Happ will go for New York. Game time is at 7:05 pm.