Tag: Oakland A’s

A’s Swept in Toronto: Lose 8-0, fall further behind in the AL Wild Card chase

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By Morris Phillips

Not the day to be north of the border with an important appointment with AL pitcher of the moment Robbie Ray.

For the A’s, not at all.

The last time–and only other time–they saw Ray, he was trying to string together victories for the first time this season and admittedly struggling with fastball command. Ray of May 4, 2021 allowed solo shots to Matt Chapman and Ramon Laureano, but didn’t falter much more than that in a six-inning stint that was slightly above pedestrian, but only nabbed him a no-decision.

Fast forward four months and Ray’s fastball-slider repertoire is top shelf, well known for fooling AL batters from coast-to-coast. On Sunday, he mesmerized the A’s without allowing a hit through five innings, and striking out 10 in before being lifted after 107 pitches in the seventh.

“He’s probably the best pitcher in baseball right now, from what I’ve seen,” Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said of Ray. “When he takes that mound, everybody feels he’s going to give you a chance.”

With Ray pinpointing mid-90’s fastballs on both sides of the plate, the Blue Jays cruised, winning 8-0, and sweeping the A’s in the process. Oakland’s struggling, to term it kindly, having lost 14 of 20, and probably consecutive losses away from being a footnote in the AL Wild Card chase that’s gotten away from them.

The A’s managed just two hits on the afternoon, but tellingly, that wasn’t their low light. Starter Cole Irvin didn’t survive three innings–the shortest start of his career–and left trailing 7-0 after surrendering home runs to Marcus Semien and Alejandro Kirk. That early deficit left the A’s in an impossible spot, regardless of Ray’s presence, but did take the pressure off their leaky bullpen, which gained some confidence by pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing just one run.

Coming in the A’s porous relievers had blown seven saves in the previous 13 games. A’s starters haven’t done their part to help that bullpen, having completed just five innings or fewer in 13 of the last 21 games. And the A’s offense has been okay lately, but they haven’t made a habit of striking first, and their herculean comeback efforts have come up short more often than not.

In times like this–with the A’s now four games behind the second Wild Card-seated Red Sox, and having Toronto and Seattle in front of them as well for the first time after Sunday’s results–it’s good to have an unwavering supporter. The A’s have that in manager Bob Melvin.

“I think the best part of our season is yet to come,” Melvin said. “I really do. I think we’re gonna get home and play our best stretch of baseball. We’re gonna get on a run before the season is over and have two teams we need to beat (Seattle and first place Houston) there at the end.”

Getting through the next two weeks comes first for Oakland, and the AL Central-leading White Sox come to the Coliseum on Tuesday to test their resolve. Step one for the A’s: gain traction at home against the Sox and Rangers over the weekend, and stop the bleeding.

And of course, avoid Robbie Ray types.

On Tuesday, the A’s have James Kaprelian in a starting role in a matchup with the White Sox’s starter, who has not been determined as of yet.

Oakland drops second straight game to Toronto 10-8

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The Toronto Blue Jays Breyvic Valera prepares to round the bases after sitting on a pitch that he hit for his first home run of the season against the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto (Canadian Press News photo)

Oakland Drops Second Straight Game To Toronto 10-8

By Barbara Mason

After the devastating loss on Friday night to the Blue Jays, the Oakland A’s need to get back on track starting with Saturday’s game. The Oakland offense could not have been any better. They were right on point and coupled with a great showing by pitcher Sean Manea this game should have been one more in the win column.

The offense was brilliant the entire game with the exception of some very poor relief pitching. It is hard to reckon how a team leads 8-2 going into the eighth inning and loses. Lou Trivino gave up a grand slam in the eighth and Sergio Romo allowed three runs in the ninth with the A’s leading 10-8 at the time. It was a walk-off for former A Marcus Semien 11-10 the final.

Paul Blackburn started for the A’s and Jose Berrios was on the mound for Toronto in Game Two Saturday.

The Blue Jays had home runs in the second, third and fourth innings leading by the score of 4-0 in a great start for Toronto. Gurriel J. led off the barrage of long balls followed by Jansen and Valera.

In the fifth inning Matt Chapman hit a solo home run getting Oakland on the board fo the first time in the game. In the seventh inning Oakland showed some signs of turning this game around with a single from Mark Canha and another by Chad Pinder. The A’s were within a run of the Blue Jays 4-3.

Toronto knocked another home run out of the park in the seventh inning with two on base and the lead was now 7-3 making things awfully tough for the A’s. Hernandez hit the fourth home run of the day for the Blue Jays.

Toronto scored three runs in the eighth inning for a 10-3 lead. Oakland made a valiant effort in the ninth inning scoring five times but it was too little too late. Chapman and Murphy both had home runs in that inning with runners on base. The final score was 10-8 in favor of the Blue Jays who have now won the series.

In this series Oakland had the opportunity to close the door on Toronto but they just could not get it done. Again the loss lies squarely on the shoulders of the starter and the bullpen.

Game three of this series will be Sunday morning with first pitch at 10:07 AM PDT. The A’s will head home and be off tomorrow on Monday. They will be back on the field Tuesday to face another major challenge against the AL Central leading White Sox.

Former A’s Semien Beats Oakland 11-10

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The Toronto Blue Jays Marcus Semien gets the water treatment from teammates after hitting a three run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Jays a win over the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto (AP News photo)

Former A’s Semien Beats Oakland 11-10

By Barbara Mason

Friday evening the Oakland A’s took on the Toronto Blue Jays in a race for the Wild Card. Both teams are in the running and so this game was equally important for both of them.

Sean Manea was on the mound for the A’s and Alek Manoah got the nod for the Blue Jays. Both of the teams were desperate for wins to keep pace in this race to October.

The A’s got right down to business in the first inning. Josh Harrison and Starling Marte both had hits. Matt Chapman doubled in the inning driving in Harrison and Marte giving the A’s an early 2-0 lead.

Things were quiet in the ensuring innings until the fourth inning. The Blue Jays would tie up the game off a home run by Teoscar Hernandez allowing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to score. The A’s would have to get to work to take back the lead.

There were some fireworks and not the kind that produce hits and runs in the fifth inning. To be correct there were plenty of hits but not off the bat. Josh Harrison was hit and following that Starling Marte was hit in the head. So back to back hits and not the kind that we like to see. Marte would stay in the game for the inning. When Olson doubled Harrison and the speedy Marte both scored to take a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth inning Tony Kemp would have a bit of a dirt in the eye issue that brought out the medical crew. He went on to hit a home run, the eye wash doing it’s job scoring Canha and extending their lead 6-2.

There would be more scoring for Oakland in the seventh inning. Matt Chapman would single driving Matt Olson home. Tony Kemp would single in the same inning driving home Jed Lowrie. Now leading 8-2 the A’s had control of this game.

As we have seen in the A’s last two games, you cannot let your foot off the pedal. Going into the eighth inning Sean Manea had seen seven great innings.

Manea should have pitched the eighth inning. Lou Trivino came in to relieve and walked three, and walked in a run to top it off. Gurriel Jr. would come to the plate with the bases loaded and hit the home run that would tie this game 8-8. It was more of the same for the A’s. They have done this the past few games. They have a healthy lead and the relief pitching has let the team down. It would be up to the offense of Oakland to dig them out of this mess.

It was Mark Canha to the rescue hitting a desperately needed home run driving in Matt Olson and taking back the lead 10-8.

That lead did not last very long. Again the Oakland pitching undid everything that the offense worked so hard to achieve. Sergio Romo continued to throw sliders over and over and it was not working. He allowed hits by Valera and Springer followed by a home run by Marcus Semien and that was the ball game 11-10.

I don’t know what you do about some of this horrific relief pitching and the closers. There will be no post season for this team if this goes on much longer. They wouldn’t get past the Wild Card if they even get that far. What a let down after such a great offensive effort, especially the brilliant pitching by Sean Manea.

They will take another shot tomorrow taking on the Jays in Game Two. First pitch is at 12:07.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s get run production in Detroit; Manaea to start for A’s tonight in Toronto

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Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea will start for the A’s against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto to open a three game series Fri Sep 3, 2021 (athleticsnation.com file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah, after the Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera hit home run 502 on Wednesday night the Tigers sat Cabrera and the A’s took advantage getting right to work on the Bengals with a quick 8-0 lead after four innings Tigers starter Matt Manning was charged for all eight runs.

#2 The A’s grabbed four quick runs in the top of the first inning after Jed Lowrie launched a 411 foot homer into left center for a 3-0 lead. The A’s Mark Canha followed up with a 370 foot solo home run homer into the right field stands for a 4-0 lead.

#3 In the second inning Starling Marte slugged an RBI double to get the A’s up 5-0. Marte now has 117 hits and 41 RBIs.

#4 A’s starter Frankie Montas was pitching in the bottom of the seventh inning when he was lifted for reliever Deolis Guerra. Montas had given up only one run until he gave up a home run to Harold Castro and Akil Baddoo hit a two run homer for 353 feet. Guerra watched the bottom fall out for a five run seventh and was relieved by Andrew Chafin.

#5 The A’s are Toronto tonight to open a three game series against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre for the A’s Sean Manaea (8-9 ERA 3.97) the Jays have not announced a starter yet a 4:07pm first pitch PDT.

Jeremiah does the A’s podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: A’s Future Uncertain as 2021 Season coming to an End

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Oakland A’s team president David Kaval says he was startled when he learned that the Alameda County Council would not vote on tax revenue for the A’s infrastructure and Kaval said it appears to be a no go (file photo Mercury News)

A’s Future Uncertain as 2021 Season coming to an End

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

That’s Amaury Pi-González

The 2021 season is soon coming to an end. The hopes of the Athletics advancing into the playoffs are still depending on the last 30 games or so, when it all will be decided. But the future of the A’s in Oakland might not be decided in the next 30 days. That seems more unclear.

The latest: Alameda County said it is not ready to deliver a vote this month of September. Without their vote (County of Alameda) and their share of taxes revenue, the Oakland city officials have said that not enough money would be generated from the city’s share alone in order to cover the infrastructure costs. The County wants the City of Oakland and the A’s to agree before.

The vote is now delayed or maybe it will never take place. Dave Kaval, President of the Oakland A’s who has now been involved in this endeavor for years said: “We have been speaking to the County of Alameda and we are trying to do our part” “At the end of the day it’s a binary decision. They will be involved or not” and added as he received the letter. “I was startled to receive that and it appears it’s a no go”.

Kaval continues to say that the Athletics organization is working in two different plans, the one to keep the A’s in Oakland and continuing researching a location for the team in Las Vegas. Back in April (when the baseball season was just starting) the A’s asked the city to create two infrastructure financing districts. Both together include pedestrian bridges, traffic upgrades for fans to make it to the ballpark. As well as a village for 3,000 homes, hotels, offices, performing arts space for parks.

From these plans the Oakland A’s were counting on getting reimbursed $844 million over 45 years in bond money for all the infrastructure they would pay upfront. Libby Schaff, the Mayor of Oakland, recently said (for? times) she believes the team will stay in Oakland.

So…around and around it goes, where does it stops nobody knows.

Historical note: Back in the 1930’s, when radio was king, a young 22-year old actor by the name of Orson Wells was the star in The Shadow, an iconic radio show where Well’s was a Super Crime-fighter. A very famous and quotable line from the show: “Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of men. Only the Shadow knows…”

A’s hang on to beat Tigers 8-6; Attempted Detroit rally in 7th fails

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Oakland A’s Jed Lowrie goes deep for a three run homer in the top of the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica in Detroit on Thu Sep 2, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s scored early and often as they raced out to an early 8-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers. Their ace, Frankie Montas, pitched well until the seventh inning. The Tigers, down 8-1, sent nine men to the plate in the seventh and put five runs on the board to close the gap to 8-6. Andrew Chafin and Sergio Romo were able to shut down the Tiger offense to secure the win.

Here’s how the A’s won the game. The Tigers sent Matt Manning to face the A’s. The young man from the Sacramento area had his hands full as the A’s put four on the board in the first inning. With one out Manning walked Starling Marte.

He retired Matt Olson for the second out. Matt Chapman worked manning for a walk to put men on at first and second. the next hitter, A’s DH Jed Lowrie, one of the best hitters in baseball with runners in scoring position, hammered Manning’s pitch over the wall in left-center-field to put the A’s ahead 3-0. It was Lowrie’s 14th homer of the year. The next hitter, Mark Canha, blasted his 14th dinger of the year into the seats in right-field. The A’s led 4-0. 

 In the top of the second inning, with two out and a man on first, Starling Marte doubled off the wall in left field to make it a 5-0 game. The A’s offense was relentless. In the top of the third, with two out, Manning walked Canha. Tony Kemp followed with a single to center.

A’s catcher Yan Gomes long fly to left-center-field went over Robbie Grossman’s glove for a double. Canha and Kemp scored on the play to the A’s in the driver’s seat 7-0 after three complete. 

In the fourth inning, singles by Matt Olson and Matt Chapman put a runner in scoring position again with two out. The A’s sent Khris Davis to the plate to pinch-hit for Jed Lowrie. Davis was making his first appearance since being recalled from Las Vegas. Davis sent the ball into the left-field corner for a double to drive in Olson with the A’s eighth run of the game.

The A’s starter, Frankie Montas, was masterful for the first four innings of the game. He held the Tigers scoreless and allowed one hit. Things began to change in the fifth. Tigers’ third baseman Harold Castro, who had three hits, including a home run Tuesday night, led off the bottom of the fifth with his third home run of the year. The A’s still had a commanding lead 8-1.

Then came the fateful seventh inning. The Tigers sent nine men to the plate as they scored five runs on five hits, including two home runs. Tiger shortstop Niko Goodrum worked Montas for a walk to get the rally going. Second baseman Willi Castro hit into a fielder’s choice for the first out.

Montas retired Victor Reyes on a fly ball to Marte in center-field. The next hitter Montas faced was Akil Baddoo. Baddoo also homered Tuesday night. Baddoo ended Montas’ game when he hammered his twelfth homer of the year to make it 8-3.

A’s manager brought in Deolis Guerra to pitch. Guerra, who has been very good all season, could not get the job done. He pitched to four hitters and could not get an out. He gave up singles to Jonathan Schoop and Robbie Grossman.

Jeimer Candelario then homered to make it an 8-6 contest. Melvin let Guerra face one more hitter, Eric Hasse. Hasse singled. Melvin brought in lefty Andrew Chafin to put out the fire. Chafin retired Harold Castro for the final out.

Chafin allowed a hit in the eight but escaped unscathed. Bob Melvin called upon Sergio Romo to close out the ninth. The veteran reliever gave up a walk but was able to get the needed three outs to secure the win for Oakland by a final score of 8-6.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s picked up 1/2 game on the idle Houston Astros. They now trail the Astros by four and 1/2 games for the A: West division crown. They can pick up a game on the Red Sox if Boston should lose to Tampa Bay later today. If Boston wins, the A’s will remain two games behind in the Wild Card race.

The A’s had 12 hits in Wednesday’s game. It was the third game in a row with more than ten plus hits. They had two more home runs on Wednesday and seven for the series. Their line was eight runs, twelve hits, and no errors. Khris Davis had a double and a single in his first game back as an Oakland Athletic. Yan Gomes and Elvis Andrus each had two hits.

Frankie Montas won his 11th game of the season. He is now 11-9. Sergio Romo picked up his second save.

The Tigers’ hitting stars were Jeimer Candelario, Victor Reyes, and Harold Castro. In the seventh, Candelario’s hit a three-run homer to help Detroit close the gap to 8-6. Reyes had three hits in the game. Reyes tripled in the third. He was thrown out attempting to score on a grounder to shortstop Elvis Andrus. Andrus’ throw him was on the mark, and Reyes was out. Manning was the losing pitcher, and his record is now 3-6.

The A’s are on their way to Toronto to play three games against the Blue Jays. Sean Manaea will go for Oakland, and Toronto will counter with Alek Manoah. The game will start at 4:07 pm.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Cabera and Tigers take frustrations out on A’s in 8-6 win

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Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas (47) will get the start against the Detroit Tigers Thu Sep 2, 2021 at Comerica Park in Detroit (sfgate.com file photo)

#1 The Detroit Tigers (63-71) Miguel Cabrera who became baseball’s 28th player to reach the 500 home run list hit his 502nd home run on Wednesday night at Comerica Park Cabrera a worthy opponent. Cabrera’s homer help lend to the Tigers victory over the A’s on Wednesday night 8-6.

#2 Jerry, how important is it for the A’s to have called up Khris Davis from Triple A Las Vegas who joins the team who hit .157 with the Texas Rangers before joining the A’s farm team in Vegas?

#3 Davis struggled quite bit as you recall last season when he was with the A’s and hit .157 with the Rangers do you see a big difference at the Triple A level for Davis and when he was hitting with the Rangers.

#4 Davis if things work out as the A’s plan could be a shot in the arm for the A’s offensively and their looking for Davis to add punch in the middle of the line up.

#5 The A’s will be going with starter Frankie Montas (10-9 ERA) and for the Tigers Matt Manning (3-5 ERA 5.46) for the conclusion this three game series this morning.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tigers clobber three home runs in come back beat A’s 8-6 at Comerica

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The Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera watches the flight of his 502nd career home run in the bottom of the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit against the Oakland A’s on Wed Sep 2, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

There was good and bad news in Wednesday night’s game between the Oakland A’s and the Detroit Tigers (63-71). The good news was the As’ offense produced ten hits and six runs. The bad news was the Tigers pounded out ten hits, including three home runs, to beat the A’s 8-6.

The Tigers’ starter Wily Peralta lasted four innings. The A’s scored an unearned run in the first inning and two more in the fourth to chase Peralta.

Starling Marte led off the fourth with his tenth dinger of the year. Matt Olson walked and scored on Jed Lowrie’s double to give the A’s the lead 3-1 midway through the fourth. The A’s starter James Kapielian went four-plus innings.

The Tigers tied the game 3-3 when they put two on the board in the third. Kaprielian walked Ronnie Grossman leading off in the bottom of the fourth. Kaprielian had to face future Hall of Fame player Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera showed the A’s his greatness when he sent a hanging changeup into the seats into the left-field seats to tie the game. It was Cabrera’s 502nd career home run and 2962nd hit.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the fifth. Josh Harrison and Starling Marte singled to put two men on with no out. Matt Olson doubled to deep center-field to drive in both. Matt Chapman was retired for the first out.

A’s DH Jed Lowrie, one of the best hitters in baseball with men in scoring position, doubled to drive in Olson with the A’s third run of the inning. The A’s led 6-3.

The Tigers got one back in their half of the fifth. The Tigers’ left-fielder, Akil Baddoo, sent one of Kaprielian’s pitches into the right-field seats to make it 6-4. A’s manager, Bob Melvin, brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch. Petit retired the next three Tiger hitters. The A’s led 6-4 after five complete. 

The Tiger bullpen held the A’s to one hit and no runs over the last four innings of the game. The A’s bullpen could not hold the Tigers down. They scored one in the sixth, two in the seventh, and one more in the eighth. The Tigers win 8-6.

Game Notes and stats: The A’s are now 73-60 for the year. They remain five games behind the Houston Astros in the race for first place in the American League West. The Seattle Mariners beat Houston 1-0. The A’s now trail the Boston Red Sox by two games for the second Wild Card in the American League. The Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Wednesday.

The hitting stars for Oakland were Josh Harrison, Starling Marte, Jed Lowrie, and Matt Olson. Harrison had a double and two singles. He has six hits in the first two games of the series. Starling Marte had a home run and a single. Jed Lowries had two doubles and two RBIs. A’s reliever A.J. Puk was the losing pitcher. 

The hitting stars for Detroit were Akil Baddoo, Miguel Cabrera, and Harold Castro. Baddoo was two for four with a home run and a single. Cabrera, as mentioned above, had two hits. Cabrera hit his 502nd of his illustrious career to go along with a single.

He has 2963 hits and needs 37 to reach the 3000 for his career. Cabrera is 28th on the all-time home run list. He needs three to pass Eddie Murray. Tigers’ reliever Joe Jimenez received credit for the win. He is 5-1 for the year. Tiger closer Gregory Soto earned his 17th save when he set the A’s down in order in the ninth.

The teams will play the rubber game Thursday. The game will start at 10:10 am. The A’s will send Frankie Montas (10-9, 3.66 ERA) to the hill as Detroit will counter with Matt Manning (3-5, 5.46 ERA).

Chapman’s two home runs help propel A’s 9-3 win over Tigers at Comerica Park

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Oakland A’s Matt Chapman hits a top of the third inning home run against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit in the first of a three game series on Tue Aug 31, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (73-59) started a six-game road trip beating the Detroit Tigers (62-71) at Comerica Park in Detroit 9-3. The A’s swept the Tigers four straight when they met in Oakland in April. The Tigers started the season 8-19. A.J.Hinch, who won a World Series title in 2017 with Houston, helped turn the Tigers’ ship around.

The Tigers, entering Tuesday night’s game, were 54-51 since the slow start. The A’s knew the Tigers would love nothing better than upsetting the A’s applecart. 

The A’s won their last two games against the Yankees over the weekend. The offense was still in the doldrums, but they were able to eke out two wins. They beat the Yanks 3-2 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday.

Oakland’s skipper Bob Melvin was hoping the offense would come to life against Detroit. He got his wish as the A’s offense produce nine runs and 12 hits. Three of the hits were home runs.

The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Robbie Grossman, who was with Oakland the previous two seasons, slammed his 20th big fly of the year to give the Tigers the advantage. Grossman set a career-high with the blast. 

The A’s put three runs on the board in the top of the third. With one out, Starling Marte doubled to right field. Matt Olson followed with a double to drive in Marte with Oakland’s first run. Tiger starter, Tarik Skubal, retired Yan Gomes for the second out.

A’s third baseman Matt Chapman sent Skubal’s pitch over the fence in left field to give the A’s a 3-1 lead. It was Chappie’s 22nd homer of the year.

In the fifth, the A’s put three more on the board. Singles by Marte and Olson put men on at first and third with no out. Yan Gomes drove in Marte with Oakland’s fourth run on a sacrifice fly. Mark Canha hit an opposite-field dinger to put the A’s in the driver’s seat 6-1.

Cole Irvin ran into difficulty in the bottom of the fifth. Tigers’ catcher, Dustin Garneau, another former Athletic, led off the frame with his first homer of the season. Cole retired shortstop Zack Short for the first out. Tiger centerfielder Derek Hill homered to make it 6-3.

Cole retired Jonathan Schoop for the second out. Cole gave up a single to Grossman and walked Miguel Cabrera. Bob Melvin had seen enough. He brought in Deolis Guerra to pitch. Guerra retired Jeimer Candelario for the third out. 

The A’s added two more in the eighth. Chad Pinder started the frame with a single. Elvis Andrus’ double sent Pinder to third. Josh Harrison’s third hit of the night plated both of them. In the ninth, Matt Chapman sent Tigers’ reliever Derek Holland’s pitch over the wall in centerfield with two out. The A’s led 9-3.

The A’s bullpen of Guerra, Yusmeiro Petit, Andrew Chafin, and A.J. Puk gave up four hits and no runs to secure the win for Oakland.

Game Notes and stats: The A’s are now 73-59 for the year with the win. They picked a game on the Boston Red Sox as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Sox 8-5. The A’s are now one game behind Boston in the race for the second American League Wild Card slot. The Tigers are 62-71 for 2021.

The hitting stars for Oakland were Josh Harrison with a double, two singles, and two RBIs. Starling Marte had a double and a single. Matt Olson also had a double, single, and an RBI. Matt Chapman had two hits, both home runs. He drove in three with the two bombs. Chappie has 23 for the year. Mark Canha hit his 13th of the year and drove in two.

Cole Irvin went four and 2/3rds innings. He gave up seven hits and three runs. The Tigers hit three solo homers. Cole did not go the necessary five innings to get the win. Deolis Guerra was the winning pitcher. He went one and innings.

Derek Hill led the Tiger attack with three hits. He was three-for-five with a home run, double, and single. Former A’s players Robbie Grossman and Dustin Garneau each homered to torment their former mates. 

The A’s brought up Skye Bolt from Las Vegas to replace Mitch Moreland on the roster. Moreland is out with a sore wrist.

The second game of the series will start at 4:10 pm. The A’s will send righty, James Kaprielian, to the hill. Wily Peralta will pitch for Detroit.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: A’s need to get hot to catch Yanks and Sox in AL Wild Card; Giants Covid problems continue Wood positive, Cueto flu symptoms

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Oakland A’s Mark Canha was dropped from the leadoff spot to the seventh position of the A’s line up after hitting for a .151 average after the New York Yankees series over last weekend (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

On That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, how much work do the Oakland A’s have in front of them after splitting the four game series with the New York Yankees over the weekend in their bid to sniff post season.

#2 The A’s are 5 1/2 games behind first place Houston Astros in the AL West and in the AL Wild Card they are 2 1/2 game back behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees with a month left in the regular season the A’s have a huge task in front of them if they plan to get back into post season hunt.

#3 A’s leftfielder Mark Canha has been moved from the leadoff spot to the seven hole of the line up because his numbers have dwindled Canha is hitting .151 and said that when he’s off and getting o-fers it’s not a fun place to be. Canha said he needs to relax a little bit easier mentally.

#4 On other baseball news the San Francisco Giants had to switch out pitchers Alex Wood and Johnny Cueto Monday night because it was revealed that Wood had come down positive with Covid 19 and Cueto has the flu symptoms. Giants Donavon Solano and hitting coach Justin Viele are still back in a New York hotel quarantined after testing positive for Coronavirus.

#5 Cueto was scheduled to pitch on Monday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and with Wood out for Tuesday. Giants pitcher Jose Alvarez started on Monday for the Giants a big task after the Giants lost last Sunday in Atlanta 9-0 and opening up for four home games against another first place team like the Brewers.

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