Tag: Oakland A’s

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s expect to have lots of fans behind them at Oracle Park

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Oakland A’s starter Cole Irvin combined with the bullpen for a shutout over the Texas Rangers on Sun Apr 24, 2022 at the Oakland Coliseum (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s (9-8) have been getting lots of mileage out of centerfielder Cristian Pache with the defensive job that he’s done with the glove.

#2 Jerry, was Pache everything you expected him to be coming over from the Atlanta Braves in the Matt Olson trade in March?

#3 Daulton Jefferies starts for the A’s tonight (1-2 ERA 1.17) he’ll be opposed by the San Francisco Giants Carlos Rondon (2-0 ERA 1.06) Jefferies has been great at not allowing runs but Rodon has been lights out in April for the Giants.

#4 Jerry, the A’s have been playing in front of empty crowds at the Oakland Coliseum what will be ironic they’ll be playing in front of a capacity Oracle Park tonight and a good number of those customers will be A’s fans should be an interesting to have a few more vocal fans in an opposing team’s park?

#5 The A’s two games in San Francisco sandwich between homestands the A’s just completed a seven game homestand against the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers and after this two game series in San Francisco they start a six game series in Oakland against the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Jerry did a special Tuesday edition of the A’s podcast and does the A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Preview of A’s series with San Francisco Giants; Two game series begins Tuesday night at Oracle Park

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Oakland A’s manager Mark Kotsay pictured here during 2022 Spring Training Cactus League will lead the A’s into Oracle Park in San Francisco for a two game series beginning Tue Apr 26, 2022 (photo from the San Francisco Chronicle)

By Jerry Feitelberg

SAN FRANCISCO–After playing 17 straight games, the Oakland A’s have a day off on Monday to rest up before facing the San Francisco Giants in the annual Battle of the Bay interleague series. The A’s were 9-8 in that stretch and surprised many baseball experts.

Many still think the youthful A’s will end up near the bottom of the standings in the AL West. A’s manager Mark Kotsay doesn’t feel that way. He knows he has some talent on his team, and he implores his players never to quit.

The young A’s have quite a task ahead of them. They have to find a way to make up for the loss of key players such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Starling Marte, and pitchers Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea.

This past weekend, the A’s offense was nearly non-existent in the series with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers took two out of three from Oakland. Cole Irvin’s great pitching helped the A’s earn a win in Sunday’s game.

The A’s lineup will feature catcher Sean Murphy. Either Billy McKinney or Christian Bethancourt will play first base. McKinney can also play in the outfield, and Bethancourt can also catch. Tony Kemp has been busy for Oakland this season.

Kemp is usually at second base. He has played several games as the left fielder. Christian Lopes or Nick Allen are backup choices to play second. Elvis Andrus will be at shortstop. A’s manager Mark Kotsay will use Nick Allen to backup Andrus. Sheldon Neuse will be at third base.

Neuse can play other infield positions, too. Rookie Cristian Pache will be in centerfield. Stephen Piscotty is off the IL and will resume his position in right field. Chad Pinder is on the IL. Ramon Laureano, currently serving a 27-game suspension for using a banned substance, will be eligible to return to the A’s on May 8th.

The A’s bullpen is a work in progress. Yusmeiro Petit, who was a stalwart in the bullpen, is gone. Lefty Jake Diekman now works for the Boston Red Sox. Sergio Romo left as a free agent. Lou Trivino, the closer, is on the 10-day IL.

Dany Jimenez has the job for the time being. The new names in the bullpen are righties Domingo Acevedo and Dany Jimenez. The A’s have four left relievers. They are A.J.Puk, Kirby Snead, Sam Moll, and Adam Kolarek.

The Giants swept the Washington Nationals three straight in the Nation’s Capitol. The Giants have started the season and are 11-5 this season. The Giants are playing a one-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee Monday before returning home to face the A’s for two games starting Tuesday night.

The Giants, who won a team record 107 games last year, had most of their key personnel return for the 2022 season. However, several of their key players are on the injured list. They include third baseman Evan Longoria, second baseman Tommy LaStella, outfielder La Monte Wade, Jr, Steven Duggar, Mike Yastrzemski, and pitchers Anthony DeSclafini, Alex Cobb, and Matthew Boyd.

Giants’ manager Gabe Kapler is fortunate to have players on his squad who can play different positions. Wilmer Flores, Darin Ruf, Austin Slater, and Mauricio Dubon all can play well at different positions in the Giants’ lineup.

The Giants signed Palo Alto product Joc Pederson to a one-year deal. Pederson, a member of two World Series championship teams, the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves, has started the season well. He has hit five dingers and is hitting over .300.

Even with all the players on the IL, the Giants can put a very good lineup on the field. Brandon Belt, the Captain, will be at first base. Thairo Estrada will be at second. Brandon Crawford, who won the Gold Glove last year, will be at shortstop, and Wilmer Flores will play third base. Joc Pederson will be in left field, Austin Slater in center, and Darin Ruf in right field.

The probable pitchers for the two-game series look to be righty Daulton Jefferies going for Oakland Tuesday night. Jefferies has pitched well in the early going. He is 1-2 and owns a sparkling 1.17 ERA. The Giants’ lefty, Carlos Rodon, has also been impressive.

Rodon, who came over to San Francisco as a free agent from the Chicago White Sox, is 2-0 with a minuscule ERA of 1.06. He has struck out 29 hitters, too.

The A’s Paul Blackburn will pitch Wednesday night. Blackburn is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. The Giants have not announced their starter yet. The Giants have three starters on the IL right now.

The teams are meeting very early in the season. They usually don’t meet until later. Nevertheless, it should be an entertaining set. There will be a lot of fans in the seats at Oracle Park. The first game of the series will start at 6:45 pm Tuesday.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s vs. Giants Bay Area Rivalry on Tap

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The Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants open up a brief two game series at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Tue Apr 26, 2022 (photo from sfgate.com)

A’s vs Giants: Bay Area Rivalry On Tap

That’s Amaury News and Commentry

By Amaury Pi-González

SAN FRANCISCO–The two Bay Area teams will face each other in a quick two-game set at Oracle Park this Tuesday and Wednesday, with both games’ first pitch scheduled for 6:45. Two teams right now on different paths. A’s rebuilding and with an uncertain future, the Giants try to prove they can win again over 100 games and advance into the playoffs over the heavily favorite LA Dodgers.

This is a friendly rivalry, with many families split with their support of their favorite team. April is usually the lowest attendance month of the baseball season but there should be no problem with attendance at Oracle during this mid-week series between the A’s and the Giants, maybe not sellout crowds but definitely plenty of people.

This regional rivalry had it’s epic moment during the 1989 World Series, interrupted by a strong Earthquake which postponed that October Classic for 11 days.

The A’s swept the Giants during that historic and memorable 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. Those were different times, the Giants were playing at Candlestick Park one of the most maligned major league stadiums in history and the A’s were playing in the middle of their very successful late 1980’s when they advanced to three consecutive World Series with the direction of their Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa.

In 1988 World Series the A’s lost to the Dodgers, in one of the biggest upsets in history. 1989 they swept the Giants and in 1990 they lost to Cincinnati.

Nobody was talking about the Oakland Coliseum and how bad it was because the team was winning, and winning cures everything. For many hardcore A’s fans they still talk about the great team that should had won those three consecutive World Series.

The A’s are only the second team do to such when they won three consecutive World Series in 1972,1973 and 1974. Only the New York Yankees under various dynasties, winning as many as five World Series in a row during the 1950’s.

The A’s have a rookie manager in Mark Kotsay and a cast of inexperienced players, mixed with veterans like Jed Lowrie and Stephen Vogt. The Giants under skipper Gabe Kapler in his second season trying to disprove most of the experts that predicted they will not win as many games again as last season.

That prediction is not fair, because 2021 was a great surprise for the Giants as many of their players (including veterans Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford) enjoyed their best season. In a way the Giants have a chip on their shoulders.

They still are not getting a lot of respect from the national baseball media. The Giants organization would like nothing more than to win this year’s World Series, and in the process, tie the A’s with a fourth World Series title.

The history of these two major league franchises is similar in many ways. With the A’s today threatening to possibly leave Oakland for Las Vegas, if the plan for the new Howard Terminal stadium is not approved.

In 1992 the Giants under owner Bob Lurie who agreed to sell the Giants and move them to Florida almost came to fruition. The Giants have longer roots in the Bay Area, they arrived from New York (1958) 10 years prior to the A’s arriving from Kansas City (1968).

Oracle Park is one the most attractive major league parks. I broadcast their inaugural game in the year 2000, doing their Spanish play by play, today, the park that has shared four names: Pac Bell, ATT, SBC Park and now Oracle Park, is 22 years old, hard to believe.

It is always fun to see the A’s and Giants playing on the same field.

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

A Lot From A Little: A’s avoid sweep, win 2-0, Irvin sharp for first, five innings

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–Don’t be surprised if you see A’s pitching star Cole Irvin on Monday… possibly on the back nine of your prized East Bay golf course seeking conditioning and relaxation.

Irvin was the biggest piece of the A’s lockout-tinged, shutout by committee which subdued the Rangers, 2-0 on Sunday afternoon at the Coliseum. Irvin’s one-hitter lasted just five innings and expended 87 pitches, but it was plenty effective. Irvin allowed a leadoff double, and three relievers consumed the final, four innings, scattering three Texas base hits.

The A’s avoided a sweep, winning the series finale despite scoring just three runs in three-game set.

This weekend was kind of tough offensively,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “We did a better job of being patient and working counts (in Sunday’s game).

A weekend absent of offense fits right in with the A’s quirky, but effective start of the season. They’ve impressed by scoring runs–they led the AL in runs scored at the start of this home stand–but 21 of those came in games 4 and 5 and not much more through 17 games now. While they haven’t frightened any opponents the team’s 9-8 start is encouraging.

Especially given that centerfielder Ramon Laureano is suspended, COVID absences marred the home stand, all the fans apparently didn’t get the memo to attend the games, and–don’t forget–a lot of talented players left town right before the season started.

Dizzying if you’re not a player, but for the A’s themselves, a bunch to digest. That and the first 17 games without a day off. Not surprisingly, Monday will be for mind and body rejuvenation for the team, with Irvin making his intentions clear in the clubhouse.

“I will be on the golf course,” Irvin said. “Taking my time, enjoying it. I’ve got to get on the links a little bit. Going to have some fun.”

Irvin’s already made four starts and he’s had some success. But he’s gearing up for the busiest of his four seasons at the big league level, and that was apparent in his post-game comments. Irvin’s making adjustments, developing characteristics and enjoying the process.

“I found some confidence in my slider grip and I figured out what I was doing to throw it more consistently,” Irvin said. “The cutter was moving like a slider but it was fun to throw, kept guys off balance. Fastball command was big, too.”

Relievers Zach Jackson, Kirby Snead and Dany Jimenez were unshakeable as the back end of Oakland’s inexperienced, but not youthful bullpen. Jackson cruised through the sixth and seventh, Snead retired Cory Seager after Marcus Semien doubled, and Jimenez survived an eventful ninth to earn the save.

I’m tipping my cap to Dany right now,” Kotsay said. “He’s done a tremendous job. He gets a little bit of traffic and still keeps his composure. Today, I still felt he threw quality pitches.”

“They’re pitching like they have experience,” said Stephen Piscotty of the relievers.

Piscotty’s home run in the fourth gave Oakland the lead and the only runs of the afternoon. The A’s homegrown outfielder doubled on Saturday, making his first two games back from the COVID-list eventful after he was hampered by injuries last season and saw his power disappear.

“I’m definitely trying to have more fun and it’s more fun when you’re healthy, no doubt about that,” Piscotty said. “I don’t know, just to get in there, get to play. It feels natural.”

The A’s visit Oracle Park and the Giants on Tuesday, the first of two by the Bay. Dalton Jeffries gets the start in the opener.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Rangers Martin leads with shutout over A’s; Montas’ great outing is showcase for other teams shopping him

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Texas Rangers Martin Perez throws against the Oakland A’s in the third inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

Michael Duca joins Amaury on That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Oakland A’s (8-8) having a tough time getting some offense they dropped the first game of this three game series to the Texas Rangers (5-9) on Friday 8-1 and then were shutout on Saturday 2-0.

#2 On Saturday A’s starter Frankie Montas actually had a decent outing with eight strikeouts, giving up just two earned runs on three hits the two runs coming in the top of the eighth inning in a heartbreaker 2-0 loss.

#3 This is a showcase game for Montas a lot of teams who were shopping for Montas will continue to bang on the A’s door it’s surprising that Montas is still with the club.

#4 Sunday starters for the Rangers Garett Richards (0-0 ERA 4.50) and for the Athletics Cole Irvin (1-1 ERA 4.32) for a 1:07 pm PDT first pitch at the Coliseum.

Michael Duca joins Amaury Pi Gonzalez for That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast on http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Lack of hitting leads to A’s recent loses

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Texas Rangers’ Eli White (41) gets in ahead of the tag by Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy, front left, after a ball hit by Rangers’ Brad Miller in the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Oakland A’s (8-8) having a tough time getting some offense they dropped the first game of this three game series to the Texas Rangers (5-9) on Friday 8-1 and then were shutout on Saturday 2-0.

#2 On Saturday A’s starter Frankie Montas actually had a decent outing with eight strikeouts, giving up just two earned runs on three hits the two runs coming in the top of the eighth inning in a heartbreaker 2-0 loss.

#3 This is a showcase game for Montas a lot of teams who were shopping for Montas will continue to bang on the A’s door it’s surprising that Montas is still with the club.

#4 Charlie, talk about the Rangers Brad Miller who did get a big hit in the eighth inning for two RBIs that was the difference as the A’s have lost three of their last four games.

#5 Sunday starters for the Rangers Garett Richards (0-0 ERA 4.50) and for the Athletics Cole Irvin (1-1 ERA 4.32) for a 1:07 pm PDT first pitch at the Coliseum.

Join Charlie O every other Sunday for the Oakland A’s podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Miller’s eighth inning single gets Texas 2-0 win over Oakland

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The Texas Rangers Brad Miller swings for an eighth inning two run single that was all the Rangers needed to defeat the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

The Oakland A’s were back in action on Saturday as they took on the Texas Rangers in the middle game of the series. The A’s lost the opener against the Rangers on Friday by the final of 8-1. On Saturday, the A’s would look to get back on track against the Rangers at RingCentral Stadium in Oakland. The A’s were unable to pull out the win on Saturday losing in a shutout 2-0.

The A’s couldn’t get much of anything started on the offensive side of the ball. The A’s had three line hits in the ballgame and none of them came to threaten the Rangers.

The first hit was a third inning two out double that didn’t amount to anything as Tony Kemp struck out as the next hitter. The A’s second hit was a two out single from Christian Pache, and their final hit was a one out double from Stephen Piscotty. Overall, the A’s had no runs, three hits, and two walks.

For the Rangers, they received all of their offense in the eighth inning. The Rangers scored twice on a Brad Miller single that ended in an interference call at home plate to score the second run. The Rangers didn’t do much on offense but it was just enough to move past the A’s. The Rangers finished on offense with two runs, five hits, and one walk.

On the pitching side of the ball, Frankie Montas pitched a great game for the A’s. Frankie went 7.1 innings allowing two runs, three hits, and a walk. It was a solid mine that would ultimately be spoiled by the way it ended in the eighth inning.

For the Rangers, Martín Pérez pitched six innings of shut out ball allowing two hits and a walk. Matt Busch got the save in the game pitching the ninth inning.

The A’s will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday as they play in Oakland at 1PM PST.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Frankie Montas-Will he be traded?

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Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas pats the glove after teammate outfielder Nick Allen makes a nice catch on Texas Rangers Brad Miller’s fly at the Oakland Coliseum Sat Apr 23, 2022 (AP News photo)

Frankie Montás – Will he be Traded?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–Frankie Montás started Saturday afternoon for the Oakland A’s during the second game of a three game series against the Texas Rangers. He pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings allowed just 3 hits and 2 earned runs, struck-out 8 and threw 96 pitches.

His team’s anemic bats only produced 3 hits. A’s lost 2-0 and the series vs. Texas. Frankie Montás record is 2-2 with a 3.28 earned run average. 9,120 was the paid attendance on a beautiful Oakland afternoon.

As this 2022 season got underway, the Oakland A’s had one established starting pitcher, one that has won consistently and was not trying to make the team. Frankie Montás. The three respectable starting rotation members (until last season) were Chris Bassitt, Frankie Montás and Sean Manaea. Since then Frankie Montás has ascended as the ace of the staff.

A’s fans are cynical and expect Frankie Montás to be traded like Bassitt, Manaea and other A’s established players like Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Mark Canha, Josh Harrison, Jake Diekman, Andrew Chafin, Sergio Romo.

Will Frankie Montás be traded this season? Nobody will bet their house (if they own one) or any other valuable possession, to tell you one way of the other. But common sense tells everybody that this A’s organization will not hesitate to trade their players that have value and can bring a haul of prospects.

In the trade with Atlanta, the A’s sent All Star Matt Olson to the Braves and in return they got four players; highly regarded catcher Shea Langeliers, their 2021 first-round pick pitcher Ryan Cusick and another good arm from the mound in Joey Estes. Also from Atlanta the A’s got a 23-year old Dominican-born outfielder with limitless potential, Cristian Pache.

He was the #4 prospect inside the Braves organization; So far, Cristian Pache has become a fan favorite at the Oakland Coliseum in front of the scant attendances during this first month of the season. Prior to games at the Coliseum, I walk among fans and ask for their comments about some of the new crop of young A’s players, and just about everybody mentions Pache.

A’s fans compare Pache to Ramón Laureano, who is only a few weeks away from his return after an 80 game suspension dating to last season. They both can play defense, cover all of center field and then some.

The only doubt about Cristian Pache, (according to most scouts) was, can he hit major league pitching the? He has shown some promise so far, but the whole season is still ahead. The best ‘focus group’ in baseball is the fans.

For baseball players, it is a job, they do not care where they play, they want to be in the major leagues, so asking A’s players how they feel to play in front of 3,000 people is not the question. They are professionals, they get paid to perform in front of 3,000 or 30,000.

Regardless where the A’s play in the future, Oakland, Las Vegas or Hong Kong (that would be some road trip) the fact remains that A’s management would not hesitate to trade anybody at any given time early or late in the season which would be a trade deadline between July 29 and August 3.

I know some A’s fans that repeat themselves that Frankie will not be traded this year, like you want to “self brainwash” and the more you say it the more you believe it, but they also admit, they will absolutely would not be surprised if the A’s do pull the trigger.

Good young starting pitcher is very coveted at this time and many contending teams have already called the A’s involving Frankie Montás. Among those are the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels.

How can anybody blame the Oakland A’s fans that complain about good players getting traded? Nobody can. Because they have seen the same Rodeo for years and years, there is nothing new here. The Oakland A’s of the 2012 season were picked to finish last in their division; they won it with a 94-68 record. So there are always surprises. Are the A’s going to win this division this year, most probably not?

Are the A’s going to trade Frankie Montás? I think there is definitely more than a 50-50 chance that they will. Why? Because that is their track record and that is what they do. I do not like to see Montás leave Oakland, but I also have my feet on the ground and I still believe the world is round.

Adiós muchachos!

NOTE: Refreshing our collective memories. These were some of the names of that surprising 2012 A’s team that most “experts” expected very little: Adam Rosales, Eric Sogard, Jamile Weeks, Kurt Susuki, Chris Carter, Daric Barton, Josh Donaldson, Cliff Pennington, Bartolo Colón, Tyson Ross, Jerry Blevins, Brian Fuentes, A.J Griffin and Sean Doolittle, among many others. Remember?

Catch Amaury Pi Gonzalez and Manolo Hernandez-Duen for all the play by play on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI LeGrande San Francisco and Amaury does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s Murphy ends slump with a flurry a HR and three RBIs to defeat O’s 6-4

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Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy belts a single in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Anthony Bemboom in the bottom of the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Apr 21, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy who came into Thursday’s game 0-10 ended the slump with a home run, double and three RBIs to help lift the A’s to a 6-4 win Thursday over the Baltimore Orioles at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 Baltimore’s Trey Mancini was yanked after trading barbs with first base umpire Rob Drake when Drake called Mancini out after he ran through the bag at first base. Mancini said he only turned left and was not headed for second base once being called out he and manager Brandon Hyde were later ejected.

#3 Mancini said during the post game presser that he wanted to apologize to Drake for the language he used to get booted from the game. That said Mancini didn’t agree with the call.

#4 A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn had himself an outing going five innings allowed a run, three hits, striking out four hitters and didn’t walk a batter. Blackburn picked up his second win of the season.

#5 The A’s meet the Texas Rangers for three games starting Friday night. Adam Oller (0-1 ERA 13.50) will pitch for the A’s, and Spencer Howard (0-0 ERA 18.00) for the Rangers will oppose him.

Jerry F filled in for Jeremiah Salmonson on the A’s podcasts heard each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers take opener of three-game set with A’s 8-1

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Oakland A’s reliever Sam Selman (40) delivers in relief against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Apr 22, 2022 (photo from Oakland A’s twitter)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s welcomed the lowly Texas Rangers to Ring Central Coliseum Friday night to start a three-game weekend series. Texas Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward was hoping to have his team upset the A’s applecart in the opening game of the series.

Despite their acquisition of star players Corey Seager and former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien, the Rangers started the season with a record of 3-9. On the other hand, Oakland surprised the league and came into the game with an 8-6 record.

However, as the fans know, baseball is a strange game. Anything can happen on any given night. Poor teams can beat the better ones. That is what happened at the Coliseum Friday night. In the second inning, the Rangers put a five-spot on the board as they coasted to an easy 8-1 victory.

A’s manager sent righty Adam Oller to the hill. Oller was looking for his first win of the year. The Rangers had Glenn Otto handling the pitching chores. Oller was hoping to pitch better to keep his spot in the rotation.

His hopes faded in the top of the second when the Rangers put five runs on the board. Adolis Garcia got things going for Texas when he reached on an infield single. Rangers’ first baseman, Nate Lowe, sent Oller’s offering over the wall in center.

The blast traveled 387 feet to give the Rangers an early 2-0 lead. Oller retired Kole Calhoun for the first out. The next batter, Andy Ibanez, made it 3-0 when he hit a 390-foot blast over the fence in left field. Oller’s problems were not over.

He walked Rangers DH Willie Calhoun. Former A’s catcher Jonah Heim doubled, sending Calhoun to third. Shortstop Brad Miller drove in Calhoun on an infield single. Former A’s shortstop Marcus Semien drove in Heim with a sacrifice fly. The Rangers lead 5-0 midway through the second inning.

The A’s managed to put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth. With two out, back-to-back doubles by Sean Murphy and Seth Brown produced the only run of the game for Oakland. The two doubles were the only hits the A’s could muster Friday night. The A’s trail 5-1 after four.

There was no more scoring in the game until the top of the ninth. Adam Kolarek was now pitching for Oakland. The Rangers nailed him for three hits and three runs as they made it an 8-1 game. Rangers’ reliever Garrett Richard set the A’s down in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Texas.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 8-7. The Rangers improved to 4-9.

Adam Oller was the losing pitcher. His record is now 0-2, and he owns an 11.70 ERA. Glenn Otto earned his first win of the season. Otto and Oller were high school classmates at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas.

The A’s announced that they would retire Dave Stewart’s number 34 in a ceremony at the Coliseum on September 11th, 2022. Stewart won 119 games over eight seasons, pitching 49 complete games, and nine shutouts while compiling an ERA of 3.63. 

The A’s will send their ace, Frankie Montas, to the mound Saturday afternoon. Montas is 2-1 with an ERA of 3.63. Lefty Martin Perez (0-2, ERA 6.75) will go for Texas. The game will start at 1:07 pm.