Tag: Oakland A’s

Red Sox cruise to an easy 10-1 victory over A’s; Devers homers for 4th game in a row

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The Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers hits a second inning two run home run as Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy can only watch at Fenway Park in Boston on Wed Jun 15, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

For the first four innings of the game Wednesday between the A’s and the Red Sox, it was deja vu once more. The Red Sox tallied six runs in the first four innings, just as they did Tuesday night. Last night, they failed to score after the fourth inning. They scored four more times tonight to trounce the hapless Oakland A’s 10-1. 

James Kaprielian started for the A’s. Kaprielian pitched well in his last outing, and the A’s hoped Kaprielian would continue to pitch well. James had trouble with his command. In his three and 2/3rds innings of work, he threw 94 pitches; 48 were strikes.

He walked six batters and gave up seven hits and six runs. Reliever Domingo Acevedo was tagged for a two-run dinger off the bat of Alex Verdugo in the sixth inning. Lou Trivino had another rough night, giving up four hits and two runs in the eighth.

Boston grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. With one out, Kaprielian walked Rafael Devers and J.D.Martinez. Xander Bogaerts singled to load the bases. Kaprielian retired Alex Verdugo on a ground to second.

Devers scored on the play. The Sox lead 1-0. The Red Sox increased the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second. With two out and a man at first, Devers sent a line drive into the bullpen in right field for his 16th home run. The exit velocity was a smoking-hot 113 miles-per-hour. It was the fourth game in a row that Devers had homered.

The Sox plated their fourth run in the bottom of the third. Bogaerts led off the inning with a fly ball that scraped the Green Monster in left field that was good for a double. Verdugo singled to drive Bogaerts in with the run. 

Kaprielian, normally a pitcher with good control, walked Jarren Duran and Devers to start the fourth inning. J.D.Martinez was retired on a fly ball to right field. Duran tagged and went to third. Bogaerts drove in Duran with a sacrifice fly to right.

Verdugo singled, sending Devers to third. Sox second baseman Trevor Story hit a swinging bun up the third baseline. Kaprielian fielded the ball, but his throw got by A’s first baseman Christian Bethancourt. Devers scored on the play. Boston owned a commanding 6-0 advantage after four innings of play.

The A’s scored their only run of the night in the sixth. Matt Davidson, pinch-hitting for Stephen Vogt, sent former A’s pitcher Jake Diekman’s pitch over the Green Monster onto Lansdowne Street. The Red Sox answered with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Alex Verdugo sent homered with a man on to make it an 8-1 lead for Boston.

The Sox added two more in the eighth. Lou Trivino retired the first man he faced. He then gave up back-to-back doubles to Martinez and Bogaerts for Boston’s ninth run. Two more singles produced the final run of the game. Boston wins 10-1.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 21-43. Boston improved to 34-29. 

The A’s have lost 16 of the last 18 games played. They play Boston Again Thursday afternoon. The Red Sox have won all five games between the teams this year.

Kaprielian took the loss and is 0-4. Red Sox starter Josh Winckowski notched his first win in Major League baseball. His record is 1-1.

The bright spots for Oakland were Matt Davidson’s monster home run and Jonah Bride’s first two hits in the Majors. 

Oakland’s line was one run, seven hits, and one error. Boston’s line was ten runs, thirteen hits, and no errors. 

The teams meet for the final time in 2022 at 10:35 am PT. The A’s will send Paul Blackburn out to pitch. The Red Sox will counter with former A’s hurler, lefty Rich Hill.

The time of the game was three hours and eight minutes. Thirty-one thousand eight hundred seventy-seven fans were on hand to see Boston romp to the lop-sided 10-1 victory.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The best division in baseball plus

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Copy of the New York Daily News announcing the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the Subway World Series in 2000 edition could the two cross city rivals meet again in this year’s fall classic? (photo by wikipedia)

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–For the first time this 2022 season there will be a third wild card team on each league. No division in baseball is better than the American League East, with the New York Yankees walking-away with the best record in baseball and Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston poised for a tremendous race.

For the first time ever, a division could have three wild card teams going into the postseason and a total of four of the five teams in this division playing in October.

The American League East is the only division in baseball with four teams playing over .500. In the AL West, there is only one team to beat, Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros, they are the best team and will stay in first place.

The LA Angels are sputtering again, after a very nice start, they went into a funk lost 14 in a row, from May 25 to June 8,and Joe Maddon (one of the best managers in baseball) was sent packing.

Next managerial change could come from Seattle, where expectations were high for this team to win this year. Manager Scott Servais and General Manager Jerry DiPoto are in the hot seat. The Texas Rangers spend a fortune (close to half billion dollars) signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they are both starting to play the way everybody expected, but I do not believe they have the pitching to overtake their State rivals Houston Astros.

The Oakland A’s are what they are. All the other teams have more established talent, they are trying to compete with rookie manager Mark Kotsay, a good baseball man, but the best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

In the Central Division, considered the weakest in all the major leagues, supposed to be an easy one for the Chicago White Sox, but the great Tony LaRussa is not having much fun so far, star closer Liam Hendriks just placed into the IL.

The Minnesota Twins will be in the playoffs, as of today leading that division and the Cleveland Guardians are playing good baseball, leading the way at third-base, José Ramirez an early candidate for MVP. Watch out for the Indians, sorry, the Guardians, they have a good team and a terrific manager in Terry Francona.

There are some 100 games left for each team this season. While in New York they are talking about a Subway Series, Mets vs Yankees. Most recently, in 2000 the New York teams faced each other with the Yankees winning in five games, a memorable series, which I happened to worked for the Latino Baseball Network.

In other cities there is lots of disappointment. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, whose manager, Dave Roberts predicted a 2022 World Series win during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, when he said “We will win the World Series in 2022. We will win the World Series this year.”

The Dodgers have pitching problems, ace Walker Buehler recently went into the IL, Julio Urias is not going to win 20 games again this season (he was the only to win 20 last season) plus mixed with an inconsistent offense, the Dodgers have stuff to “figure out”, they do have the talent.

The San Diego Padres, at this time, even with the delayed return of superstar Fernando Tatis Jr, looks like the team that could win this division. Bob Melvin is doing a great job, which is nothing new for the three-time Manager of the Year.

The San Francisco Giants, while they are not going to win 107 games again, they find a way to win series, starter Jacob Junis went into the IL, veterans like Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt, can’t seem to stay healthy.

Giants lost some pieces in the off-season, perhaps the biggest one, starter Kevin Gausman who had his best year ever in 2021 with a 14-6 record, and 2.81 ERA, he left for a very lucrative contract in Toronto. Nobody expected the Giants to have a similar season as 2021, which was a dream season, when every player at the same time, had great years.

Trades: The new deadline this year is set for August 2. There will be many trades, some earlier than others, but the greatest commodities are starting pitchers. they are in high demand. Many of the teams with hopes of postseason play will reinforce themselves. In today’s game the old saying “you never have enough pitching” is new again.

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Red Sox score often and early to beat A’s 6-1 at Fenway in series opener

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Oakland Athletics pitching coach Scott Emerson (14), left, talks with Jared Koenig (46) as catcher Sean Murphy (12) listens in during the second inning at Fenway Park in Boston in the first game of a three game series against the Boston Red Sox on Tue Jun 14, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (21-42) road woes continued as they fell to the Boston Red Sox (33-29) 6-1 at Fenway Park in Boston. The A’s sent rookie lefty Jared Koenig to the mound the face the potent Red Sox lineup.

After making his second big league start, Koenig had the misfortune of going against the World Champion Atlanta Braves last week. As baseball fans know, left-handed pitchers dread pitching in Fenway Park. Pitchers know they will succeed if they keep their pitches down and away from the powerful right-handed hitters in Boston’s lineup. 

The Red Sox scored runs in the first four innings of the game. In the first inning, with one out and Rafael Devers at first base, Koenig walked J.D.Martinez. Koening committed a balk, and the runners advanced to second and third. Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts hit a broken-bat single into short right-field. Devers scored to give Boston an early 1-0 lead.

The Sox plated their second run in the bottom of the second. With one out, Boston loaded the bases. Singles by Christian Vasquez and Bobby Dalbec were followed by Koenig hitting Franchy Cordero. Leadoff hitter Rob Ryfsnyder, filling in at center field for the injured Kike Hernandez, drove in Vazquez with a sacrifice fly. The score after two complete was 2-0 Boston on top.

Boston put their third run of the night on the board when slugger J.D. Martinez homered leading off the bottom of the third. It was Martinez’s eighth dinger of the year. 

Jared Koenig’s night ended in the fourth. Singles by Franchy Cordero and Rob Ryfsnyder put two men on with no out. Boston’s third baseman, Rafael Devers, one of the top hitters in the American League, blasted a 439-foot home run over the bullpen in right-center-field to give Boston a commanding 6-0 after four complete.

Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta stymied the A’s offense. Pivetta’s only mistake was a gopher ball served up to A’s DH Stephen Vogt in the eighth inning. Pivetta’s line was eight innings of work, and he allowed one run and three hits to earn his sixth win of the year. The Red Sox win 6-1.

Game Notes: The A’s are now 21-42 for the season. They have lost 15 of the last 17 played and now own the worst record in the American League.

The A’s and the Cincinnati Reds are racing to the bottom of the barrel. The A’s are 1-6 on the nine-game road trip and have two more games with Boston before returning home to face the Kansas City Royals Friday night at the Coliseum.

The line score for Oakland was one run, four hits, and one error. Boston’s line was six runs, ten hits, and no errors. 

Pivetta was the winning pitcher. Koenig took the loss and is now 0-2.

 Adam Oller, Lou Trivino, and Austin Pruitt pitched well in relief. The bullpen held the Sox scoreless after the fourth inning. A’s manager Mark Kotsay had to be pleased with Trivino’s outing. Trivino worked an inning and stuck out two.

The A’s will send James Kaprielian (0-3, 5.73) out to face Boston Wednesday night. The Red Sox will start righthander Josh Winckowski (0-1, 12.00) . The game will start at 4:10 pm Pacific Time. 

The time of the game was 2:43 minutes. There were 32,617 fans in attendance

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: A’s could get close to getting ballpark but affordable housing a huge issue; plus much more news

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Artists rendition of inside of an Oakland A’s Howard Terminal ballpark. The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission votes on the park on Thu Jun 30, 2022

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury top story is the vote with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission on June 30 a huge vote that will help decide to keep the A’s in Oakland.

#2 One of the points that you raised a big hurdle for the A’s to get this one is that they need to address the affordable housing project issue with the city of Oakland. The city is asking for 450 apartment for affordable housing out of 3,000 units. Will owner John Fisher and the A’s bend to the City’s will?

#3 Amaury, turning to the NBA Finals it was back and forth for awhile but the Golden State Warriors as expected with the home floor put away game 5 and moved ahead of the Boston Celtics at the Chase Center on Monday night.

#4 Amaury talk about Warrior forward Draymond Green a little pushing and shoving underneath the basket with the Celtics which drew a crowd but punches thrown at 4:40 remaining in the game. Frustrations for the Celtics and Green doing some trash talking towards the end of the game later Green fouled out of the game.

#5 The Oakland A’s open a three game series at Fenway Park tonight. The Boston Red Sox are hot they’ve won eight of their last ten the A’s are not they’ve lost nine of their last ten games. A’s starting Jared Koenig (0-1, ERA 9.00) the Sox will be going with Nick Pivetta (5-5, ERA 3.78) a 4:10 pm PDT first pitch.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Warriors Thompson wants to win it badly; Giants surprise with weekend sweep of LA; plus more

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Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) says he wants to win the NBA Finals badly after being laid off the last two NBA seasons with injuries (file photo by USA Today)

On Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 Tony, I know you have a lot to say about the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors in game 5 of the NBA Finals last night at Chase Center in San Francisco. Warriors series tied up at 2-2 the Warriors Andrew Wiggins who at one time contemplated taking a Covid 19 vaccine shot or stay off the team that was nine months ago Wiggins thought the better of it and where he is now? He led the Warriors with 26 points last night to go up 3-2 in the series.

#2 Game six is in Boston is on Thursday night the Warriors Klay Thompson was quoted as saying “I want to frigging win” remarking on his long three year wait after sitting out two straight seasons with an ACL and Achilles injuries.

#3 Tony have to ask you about the recent sweep of the San Francisco Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers there are a lot of people in baseball who are shocked about three straight over a Dodger team like this.

#4 The Oakland A’s will try and pick up a win in Boston tonight. They won only one game on the current road trip which started in getting swept in two games in Atlanta and then getting losing three of four games in Cleveland needless to say it’s been tough sledding for Oakland as they open for three games tonight in Boston.

#5 Tony, Phil Mickelson met with the media on Monday at the US Open and he was needless to say very uneasy in the meeting. He was evasive, dodged some of the questions, he wasn’t nervous but it was obvious that he didn’t want to be at the podium and afraid of questions regarding his book in consideration about joining Saudi Super Golf League.

Join Tony for Headline Sports podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Affordable Housing will Make or Break the Howard Terminal project–

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Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff seen here speaking at a news conference on Wed Jul 26, 2021 is pushing for the Howard Terminal project. Schaff might have to be the go between for affordable housing at Howard Terminal and the Oakland A’s as affordable housing could be a deal breaker for a new A’s downtown ballpark. (AP News photo)

Affordable Housing will Make or Break the Howard Terminal project–

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–The new Oakland A’s ballpark at Howard Terminal is loaded with enough suspense to write an Alfred Hitchcock movie thriller. An affirmative vote by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission on June 30 would be a key step toward a new A’s ballpark in Oakland.

But there are still more hurdles ahead, one important issue is affordable housing which is included in the project and something the City of Oakland wants if the A’s build the new ballpark.

“Affordable housing is going to be what makes or breaks this project,” Dolores Tejada, lead organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations — a nonprofit advocacy coalition that’s been involved in community benefits recently told SFGate.com. The disagreement is not complicated.

The City of Oakland would like the A’s to designate 450 of the approximately 3,000 apartments, an equivalent of 15% as affordable housing on site at the Howard Terminal development. The city also wants the A’s to pay for an extra 600 affordable homes in the nearby neighborhoods.

This is according to a draft term sheet back in July 2021. The Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf and a number of city council-members have repeatedly said that 15% is a hard line for the project in order to move forward.

In other words, somebody will have to pay for the Affordable Housing around Howard Terminal. According to Oakland Mayor Schaaf “City Council has been very clear about the affordable housing requirements for this deal,” Schaaf told The Oaklandside back in April. “This project right now is proposed to create 3,000 desperately-needed units of housing.

15 percent of them would have to be at least deeply affordable.” The Oakland A’s have not come out publicly and said if they are anywhere close to meeting that target. The A’s have said many times they do not want to negotiate through the media.

On June 2 The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission held a public hearing on the proposed A’s ballpark and development project.

At that meeting, dozens of Oakland port workers urged members of a key state agency to reject the A’s $12 billion proposed waterfront project, as they called it a “real estate grab” that would transform the Port of Oakland into a “yuppie playground. The Commission decided against their wishes and recommended the next step for June 30.

I have not mentioned Las Vegas, Nevada, although Dave Kaval, President of the A’s still maintains that the team is working on parallel plans, to land the new ball park here or there. There are two Piñatas, but only one will be broken.

As a longtime Bay Area resident, with interests in baseball, as baseball is a great part of my career, I would like the A’s to stay here in Oakland. But I do not have a vote on this process.

Round and ’round it goes, where does this stops, nobody knows.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play Spanish announcer heard on flagship station Le Grande KIQI 1010 San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Preview Oakland A’s vs. Boston Red Sox: A’s hope to improve win record at Fenway Park as series starts Tuesday

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Oakland A’s starter Jared Koenig who lost his first game in his Major League debut on Wed Jun 8, 2022 at Truist Field in Cobb County against the Atlanta Braves will face the Boston Red Sox on Tue Jun 13, 2022 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s arrived in Boston Sunday night after finishing a four-game series with the Cleveland Guardians. The A’s managed to beat the Guardians on Saturday 10-5. The A’s have lost fourteen of their last 16 games.

They find themselves in the cellar in the AL West. Their record is a woeful 21-41. However, their bats showed signs of life as they bashed four home runs in the 10-5 win on Saturday. Their hitters slugger three solo dingers in the 6-3 loss to the Guardians on Sunday.

A’s first baseman, Christian Bethancourt, has started to hit. He raised his batting average to .269. His on-base percentage is a respectable .310. He has hit four homers and driven in 15.

In fourth place in the very tough AL East, the Red Sox went 8-2 on the completed 10-game road trip. The Sox are now 32-29 for the season. Injuries, however, are starting to affect the pitching.

Starters Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock are on the 15-day IL. Chris Sale is still not available. The Red Sox still have a very potent lineup. Their All-Star candidates include third baseman Rafael Devers, shortstop Xander Bogaerts, second baseman Trevor Story, and DH J.D. Martinez.

The Red Sox cannot afford to take the A’s lightly. The A’s play better on the road. They are 14-18 away from the Oakland Coliseum. They are a woeful 7-23 at home.

The A’s showed they have some pop in their bats as they sent seven balls into the seats in the last two games of the Cleveland series. They hope to continue pounding the ball in the hitter-friendly confines of Boston’s Fenway Park.

The A’s will send lefty Jared Koenig to the hill Tuesday night. Koenig will be making his second start in his brief Major League career. In his first outing, he made it into the fourth inning. He absorbed the loss, and his ERA is 9.00. Nick Pivetta (5-5, 3.78 ERA) goes for Boston.

On Wednesday, James Kaprielian will handle the pitching chores for the A’s. James is 0-3, and his ERA is 5.73. He pitched better in his last outing but did not get the decision. The A’s feel James is rounding back into the form he showed last season.

The Red Sox have not announced their starting pitchers for Wednesday or Thursday. The A’s starter on Thursday will be Paul Blackburn. Blackburn is 5-2 with a very tidy era of 2.31. Blackburn went eight innings in his last outing against Cleveland.

He was ahead 2-0 when he left the game. The Guardians rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth as the A’s bullpen melted down again.

As baseball fans know, anything can happen in games played at Fenway Park. Fenway has been a hitter’s paradise for over 100 years.

The A’s would love to get back into the win column and take at least two out of three from the Sox in a series that starts on Friday night. Boston would love to sweep the A’s again. As always, it should be a fun series.

On Friday night the A’s return to the Oakland Coliseum to host the Kansas City Royals for a three game series.

Early Start Equates To Early Offense: A’s fall behind and lose to the Guardians 6-3

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By Morris Phillips

Right now, a matchup between baseball’s most productive hitter and the game’s least effective offense is a mismatch. That’s more bad news for the struggling A’s.

The A’s got their final look at the Cleveland Guardians and it didn’t do much to change the current state of affairs. The Guardians–winners on Sunday by a 6-3 score–are heating up, and the A’s continue to struggle, losing for the 32nd time in their last 43 games, despite ending a lengthy losing streak on Saturday. The Guardians have won 11 of 15 to plant themselves firmly in the race for the AL Central crown.

Jose Ramirez knocked in three runs for Cleveland, the first two to give the hosts a first inning lead after the A’s got a home run from Ramon Laureano. The Guardians went on to score three in the first, two in the sixth and one in the seventh to build a 6-1 lead. Ramirez leads all big league hitters with 59 RBI.

The A’s staged a late rally in the eighth with back-to-back home runs from Christian Bethancourt and Seth Brown. Sean Murphy then drew a walk, but Cleveland reliever Trevor Stephan settled down and got Elvis Andrus to fly out to end the inning.

The A’s hit the road this week after a 1-9 home stand hoping to reverse their fortunes. But through the first two stops on the roadie, they’re 1-5. The A’s have the lowest team batting average at .211 and despite hitting three home runs for only the third time this season on Sunday, they’ve hit the second fewest in baseball at 44.

“I think guys are getting more confident, taking better at-bats,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve known the power is in there for the guys that hit the home runs.”

As the A’s issues have persisted, those issues have multiplied. The team’s pitching has deteriorated with the team ERA above 5 1/2 runs over the last 28 games. Cole Irvin, Sunday’s starter allowed at least six hits in a start for the sixth, consecutive start despite settling down considerably after a rocky first inning.

However, the defense contributed to Sunday’s poor start as Andrus misplaced a ground ball hit by leadoff hitter Myles Straw. That was the A’s 41st error on the season.

Winning pitcher Cal Quantrill went six innings, allowing four hits and a run, his fifth win of the season. Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth and struck out Matt Davidson and Tony Kemp with Chad Pinder on second base to end the game and earn his 11th save.

The A’s travel to Boston and face the Red Sox starting Tuesday with Jared Koenig the team’s scheduled starting pitcher.

Oakland breaks ten game losing streak crushes Guardians 10-5

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

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

By Barbara Mason

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Barbara Mason

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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