Tag: Oakland A’s

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: How tight are the A’s?; Who do you like in Super Bowl LV?

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Oakland A’s outfielder Mark Canha seen here slugging a double against the Seattle Mariners on Sun Sep 27, 2021 at the Oakland Coliseum  says the clubhouse will be a lot different without former A’s infielder Marcus Semien around (file photo AP News photo)

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

#1 In a recent interview with NBC Sports Oakland A’s outfielder Mark Canha said that the impact of losing Marcus Semien will be felt and his presence will be lost in the clubhouse.

#2 Canha said that when he and Semien first came to the A’s in 2015 the clubhouse culture at that time was veterans ran the clubhouse and the rookies and younger players were expected to keep quiet and follow along.

#3 After some time Semien was instrumental in changing the clubhouse culture and was a positive presence and younger players and rookies were inclusive to say what was on their minds.

#4 There has been heavy criticism about the A’s letting pitcher Liam Hendriks and Marcus Semien that the organization is cheap and won’t spend the money. Critics feel that the team is less competitive without them. How does this image bode going into the pre season this month?

#5 Turning to the NFL and Super Bowl LV: A lot of anticipation Amaury is riding on this Sunday’s Super Bowl LV with two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks going head to head. For the Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tom Brady in a game that could be one for the ages.

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

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast Tue Feb 2, 2021 by Sports Radio Service | Free Listening on SoundCloud

A’s PA announcer Dick Callahan will be missed we were lucky to work with him

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Dick Callahan who was the Oakland A’s and formerly the Golden State Warriors PA announcer passed away on Fri Jan 29, 2021. Dick also owned his own Insurance company. (file photo from sfgate.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s announced via Twitter the news that beloved Public Address announcer, Dick Callahan, had passed away. Dick was 80 years old.

Dick was a special guy. He was a kind, pleasant man. He was always enjoyable to everyone around him. I usually saw him every when I was at the Coliseum to report on the A’s games. On occasion, I was fortunate, along with the A’s Spanish language broadcaster, Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, to have dinner with Dick in the Media Lounge. He always was cheerful, and he had the famous Irish twinkle in his eye.

Dick went to Scranton Prep High in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He came to California and made his home in the East Bay. Dick had a successful insurance business, too. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s University and started his public address career with the Gaels in 1975.

He later became the public address announcer for the Golden State Warriors. People remember Dick for his signature “shooting-two” when a Warrior player had to take two free throws. Dick called games for the University of California, too. He also worked at the University of the Pacific, Santa Clara University, and the University of San Francisco.

Dick had the unenviable task of succeeding Roy Steele as the announcer for the Oakland A’s. Steele, affectionately known as the “Voice of God,” held the job from 1968 to 2005. Not only did Dick not fail, but he was also known as the “Voice of God.” One evening, I told Dick that he had a great speaking voice. Dick replied the microphone aided his voice. I told him that was not true and we had a nice laugh together.

Dick now joins people like Roy Steele, John Ramsey of the LA Dodgers, Bob Sheppard of the New York Yankees, and Sherm Feller of the Boston Red Sox in the Pantheon of great Public address announcers.

Dick called over 1000 games for the A’s and over 2700 games in his career. His three favorite games were Dallas Braden’s perfect game on Mother’s day in 2010. Sean Manaea’s no-hitter against Boston in 2018, and Mike Fiers no-no on May 7th, 2019. Fiers’ gem was the 1000th game called by Dick.

My favorite story with Dick happened several years ago. One night, after finishing my report, as I was leaving the park, a fan came up to me and asked me for an autograph. I was taken aback. I had no idea why anyone would want my autograph. I asked the fan why. He answered: why you’re Dick Callahan.” I smiled and told him that I wasn’t. The next night I told Dick the story. Dick smiled and said: “you should have signed it:” We both laughed.

Dick took the 2020 Oakland A’s season off as a precaution due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Amelia Schimmel took Dick’s place as PA announcer for 2020 and said in a San Francisco Chronicle interview at the time “Nothing replaces him, obviously, Dick did give me pointers, and he’s such a good person. He called and said, ‘You did a fantastic job.’ I know how hard it is for him not to come in this season and he was so sweet about it. He said, ‘Your voice sounded great on the broadcast.’ I think he’s trying to let me know he approves and that support is really, really appreciated.” said Schimmel. 

The A’s organization has lost several longtime employees over the past three years. Dick joins people like Harold Miller, Chester Yarrow, Roy Steele, Gary Hughes( baseball scout) in our memories. We will miss you immensely, Dick. Rest in Peace, my friend.

Jerry Feitelberg is an Oakland A’s beat writer at http://www.sportsradioservice.com 

Marcus Semien says adios to the A’s; Signs one yr $18M deal with Jays

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Oakland A’s shortstop Marcus Semien signed a one year deal worth $18 million with the Toronto Blue Jays leaving the A’s after six years on Tue Jan 26, 2021. Ironically Semien will not play in the city of Toronto proper as all Blue Jays home games will be played in Florida (USA Today file photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s brain trust now has the unenviable task of replacing star shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien, who had been with the A’s for six years, signed a one-year deal worth $18 million with the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday.

Semien was the third player the A’s have lost to free agency this season. The A’s lost one of the best closers in all of baseball, Liam Hendriks, to the Chicago White Sox. Robby Grossman, who was in left field, headed to Detroit.

Semien’s departure continues a pattern that has haunted the A’s for many, many years. Because of financial considerations, the A’s cannot afford to pay players that have become stars. A’s president, Billy Beane, and General Manager David Forst have become adept at finding value in players discarded by other teams or finding and developing prospects from their farm system.

The A’s traded for Semien after the 2014 season. They sent pitcher Jeff Samardzija to the White Sox for Semien. Semien was a second baseman there. The A’s wanted him to move to shortstop. His first season at that position did not go well.

He made both fielding and throwing errors. The following season the A’s hired Ron Washington as a consultant to work with him. Washington had been a coach with the A’s and was credited with helping Eric Chavez win six Gold Gloves.

Washington and Semien worked for hours pre-game on his fielding and throwing. Fans could see Semien improve daily. Semien had other skills that helped the A’s win. He could hit and hit with power.

Semien was fleet of foot. The A’s missed the playoffs in 2016 and 2017. They made them in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The A’s were hoping to make it to the World Series this year. Their last appearance in the Fall Classic was in 1990.

Since then, the A’s failed to advance out of the first round with two exceptions. They advanced to the AL Championship round in 2006. The Detroit Tigers sent them home. They made it past the Wildcard round beating the Chicago White Sox. The Houston Astros beat them to advance to the AL Championship round in 2020.

Semien’s best year with the A’s was in 2019. He hit .285 with 33 homers and 93 RBIs. He finished third in the voting for Most Valuable Player.

A’s fans will be sorry to see him leave. They will wish Semien well in Toronto. Hopefully, the A’s will find capable replacements. The fans are hungry for a Championship team. It’s been a long drought.

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Buffalo offense just too much for SF; Colts take winning record into Vegas to face Raiders; plus more

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (19) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers defensive back Tarvarius Moore (33) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin/AP

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

#1 The San Francisco 49ers were coming off a big win against the Los Angeles Rams from week 12 and last night they played host in Glendale at State Farm Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. One thing about the switch from Santa Clara to Glendale is the 49ers will be not be doing much traveling in three of four games.

#2 The Las Vegas Raiders narrowly beat the winless New York Jets last Sunday on a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Derek Carr to receiver Henry Ruggs for a 46 yard game winning touchdown and as a consequence that last play was Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who was fired right after the game.

#3 The MLB winter meetings started on Monday and for the Oakland A’s they are expected to keep things on the down low due to the pandemic the A’s have taken a financial loss which included refusing to pay rent at the Oakland Coliseum just before the beginning of last season’s brief 60 game schedule.

#4 Like the Philadelphia Phillies who are also feeling the pinch and had a hard time trying to sign TJ Realmuto which they didn’t the report is out that Philadelphia lost $ 2 billion because of overall loses. The Oakland A’s may not have lost that much but they are behind the financial eight ball during these winter meetings.

#5 Also talk is that the A’s most likely will not offer A’s infielder Marcus Semien a deal because it will be relatively much lower than what other clubs are expected to offer him which has been in the neighborhood of $100 million. Who have you heard that is interested in obtaining Semien, Cubs, Cardinals, Reds, Yankees, Astros, Dodgers or maybe others?

Join Amaury for News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday morning at http://www.sportsrasdioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s asst gm Owens up for Angels gm job; Introducing the Curt Flood Award

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Oakland A’s assistant general manager Billy Owens is looking to join the Los Angeles Angels as their new general manager. Owens is waiting for an interview with the Angels and former A’s first baseman Scott Hatteburg said Owens is an encyclopedia of baseball knowledge (photo from San Francisco Chronicle)

#1 Oakland A’s executive Billy Owens who is being considered for the Los Angeles Angels general manager job. Owens is a known for his vast knowledge of talent in MLB.

#2 If Owens was to leave Oakland and so with A’s vice president Billy Beane who is considering joining the Boston Red Sox this would be the dismantling of some of the best baseball minds in the game for the A’s.

#3 A’s owner John Fisher said he has preserved 90% of the A’s personnel for next season but with no fans returning that would put into question the A’s budget to keep employees, it’s real wait and see until spring training.

#4 MLB will have a Curt Flood Award which will be presented to either a living or deceased player who exemplified selfless devotion to the MLB Players Association, and advancement for players rights.

#5 Jerry for this World Series your getting two of the best teams in the game with the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Join Jerry F each Thursday on the MLB podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Billy Beane brought winning teams but no World Series

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is waiting for the final touches on a deal that would send him to be a owner/partner with owner John Henry and the Boston Red Sox (file photo from windsorstar.com)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Hollywood made a movie titled “Moneyball”. The reign of Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics. Since Mr.Beane became the A’s General Manager in 1998, the team captured seven Western Division titles, including this season, always making money. Doing it with a small budget.

Billy Beane reminds me of the famous line in the movie “Godfather Two”, when Johnny Ola said: “Mr. Hyman Roth always makes money for his partners”. Mr.Beane is leaving the A’s (or so it has been reported) to join Red Sox owner John Henry business endeavors. Many are in the soccer arena, as Mr. Henry owns the famous Liverpool club among other businesses. Liverpool Football Club is a professional football club in Liverpool, England, that competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club has won 19 League titles.

Nothing wrong with making money, at least not in a free enterprise capitalistic system as ours. Nobody goes into business to lose money. However he will be remembered by his philosophy for over 20 years with the A’s as he brought a lot of wins to the delight of Oakland Athletics fans, but like a good and fervent fan of the A’s who has followed the club since the late 60’s, recently told me (quote) “Yes, he has been good for the A’s, but he never won a World Series for us”. Those fans, which will remain nameless, also spend a lot of money through the years buying season tickets. He told me that he is not resentful, he will always be an A’s fan.

That reflects the feelings of a lot of A’s fans if Mr.Beane exits Oakland on his way to Boston. In the past Mr. Billy Bean has said “My job is to get us to the playoffs”. He is quoted on Michael Lewis book (Moneyball) quote: “My s**t doesn’t work in the playoffs”. So, Mr.Beane has been transparent on his style of management.

The Tampa Bay Rays, one win away from moving to the World Series as of today, are in very similar to the current Oakland A’s. A small budget team with relatively very good success on the field, a team that won the AL East over the New York Yankees with their typical huge payroll, and ironically, the Rays are a team with very similar problems to the Athletics, i.e. both franchises want to build a new ballpark

Stay well and stay tuned.

MLB The Show podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: If Red Sox can’t be publicly traded will that keep Beane in Oakland?

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Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is exploring leaving the A’s for the Boston Red Sox which would give him a large partnership up to 25% with owner John Henry (file photo from (truthfinder.com)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry taking in account that Oakland A’s vice president Billy Beane is seriously considering leaving the A’s how much would the A’s miss his talents, his ability to put together competitive teams and frankly was the best part was his ability to find talent at low under market baseball prices?

#2 Jerry, the Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is merging the Red Sox with Fenway Sports Group and RedBall Acquisition Corp but MLB rules do state against public ownership and Henry does plan to trade the company publicly could that be the one sticking point that would keep Beane in Oakland if baseball clearly tells the Red Sox and their merging companies can not be publicly traded which would impact any investment Beane would be involved in?

#3 The investment number at 25% is what reportedly Beane would invest in the merged group at the Red Sox there is very little doubt that this is profit driven and that Beane to avoid a conflict of interest would sell his 1% ownership of the A’s to join the Red Sox.

#4 Looking at the success of Beane 11 post seasons out of the 21 years that he’s been with the A’s. With a Beane departure and keeping the payroll down and having a post season caliber club how much will that culture change without Beane?

#5 The A’s seem to think without Billy Beane at the top the A’s general manager David Forst has got this, that Forst has been at this quite awhile and can manage without Beane and still make the team a success on a low budget?

Join Jerry F each week for Headline Sports podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: The A’s got to Second Base What’s next?

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Oakland A’s manager Bob Melvin (left) and Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (right) meet with the umpires at home plate prior to game 1 of the ALDS Mon Oct 5, 2020 at Dodger Stadium Los Angeles (AP News photo)

The A’s got to Second Base. What’s next?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

This is how I rate a Postseason. First base is the Wild Card, Second base is the Division, Third Base is the Championship and Home is the World Series. So, at the end the A’s were stranded at second base as they brought the AL Western Division Title, their first since 2013.

When Tony LaRussa was the manager, he did a brief pre-game segment “El Show de Tony LaRussa” trans: “The Tony LaRussa Show”. Tony will talk about many things, in Spanish (one of the official languages of baseball) but he always said that winning the division was the most important during a season, the caveat was, that he considered winning the Division one stepping stone to the World Series, but not getting far after that was more like a mission failure.

1990 was the last time the Oakland Athletics played in a World Series. As a matter of common knowledge, we know that a generation averages about 25 years—from the birth of a parent to the birth of a child— It has been 31 years since the last time the A’s played in late October.

A lot of questions for the A’s this winter. Will they keep their lead off-hitter and shortstop Marcus Semien, who is now a free agent as well as closer Liam Hendricks, who finished second in the league in games saves with 14 and a 1.78 earned run average? Other free agents, in addition to Semien, and Hendricks, are Joakim Soria, Mike Fiers, Yusmeiro Petit, Robbie Grossman and T.J. McFarland.

That is half of the bullpen there. We do not know how many will be staying, after all it is a business and their agents have to negotiate deals with the Athletics ownership regarding these players, who by the way were all very important in the team success this season.

The A’s usually do not sign players to long deals. Khris Davis deal extension on April 2019 called for a two-year (2020-2021) for $33.5 million. During this 2020 season (granted it was 60 games) he hit two home runs and drove in ten runs during the regular season, a disappointment for what is expected of him.

During the recent Playoff he hit three home runs and drove four runs, in seven games. From 2016 to 2018 he hit a total of 156 home runs and drove 408 runs. One of the last four year deals was when the team acquired Cuban outfielder Yoenis Céspedes in 2012 for four years and $36 million, a bargain for a man of his talent.

Since then Céspedes has played with the Red Sox, the Tigers and Mets. The A’s should have kept Céspedes; he was one of the most popular players in Oakland in recent history. Also a case could be made that they should have kept Josh Donaldson. Donaldson was an excellent player while with the A’s from 2010-2014. When they did not keep him here, he left for Toronto and the next season (2015) he was the American League MVP with a .297 average 42 home runs and 123 RBI.

Nobody knows that keeping players of such caliber could have helped the A’s to their fifth World Series title, we will never know, but keeping your stars is always good for the morale of the team, the attendance and the overall value of the team.

It also doesn’t mean that the teams with the biggest payrolls are guaranteed success. The NY Yankees with one of the top payrolls in baseball was just eliminated by the Tampa Bay Rays, who every year seems to be in the bottom of the league in total payroll.

Yet, the Rays could be the AL Champions if they can beat the Houston Astros. For teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers, success is not defined by winning a wild-card spot of winning a division; it is the whole enchilada, the World Series.

Simple capitalism, if you invest big money, you expect big dividends. On the other hand, if you make a lot of money with little investment, that is even better. Fans are fans, and they also expect to see good teams, because the pay money to watch their team, so everybody has an interest in winning. Winning, is the American way.

The World Series should always be the goal for every team that is competing in the major leagues, but different teams have different philosophies. During this unusual 2020 season, having 16 teams go into the postseason, was a positive move by MLB and the Players Union. It created something positive during a very tough year.

FOX Network was rooting for a Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series, a coast-to-coast affair, a potential ratings bonanza, two huge media markets, loaded with superstars, a producers dream about two rich glory franchises, the Yanks with 27 Titles and the Dodgers with six.

It would have been a very sexy type of conclusion to this crazy truncated season, but it is not going to happen. It could be the Tampa Bay Rays vs. Atlanta Braves, because such is baseball, still the most unpredictable of all sports. A lot of people in LA want to see the Astros again and that might happen (they have their reasons) although they still have a formidable potent experienced lineup filled with hitting stars, the Rays still have much more pitching and that is always worth the price of gold at this time of the year.

As for the Athletics? Wait for next season.

One more thing: If you need a laugh, because the A’s or your team didn’t make it this far this season? I recommend you watch the movie Major League (1989). The new owner of the Cleveland Indians put together a purposely horrible team so they’ll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her. She wants to move the team to Miami for a warmer climate and a new stadium. Mind you, when that movie was made, there was not a Major League team in Miami, since then the Marlins were born in 1993.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Dusty Baker the best Happening for the Astros

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The Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker (12) heads out to pay a visit to the mound in a Sep 27th, 2020 game against the Texas Rangers at Globelife Park in Arlington (AP News photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Dusty Baker as manager of the Houston Astros was the calm after the storm and surely the best thing that could have happened to a team that was reeling from an infamous sign-stealing scandal.

The Astros who just eliminated the Oakland Athletics in the AL Divisional Series taking three of the four games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles are a happy bunch going into the AL Championship Series, and four (4) more wins away from a consecutive trip to the World Series, as they lost the October Classic last year in seven (7) exciting games to the Washington Nationals.

Dusty Baker’s team has gotten this far without their #1 starter Justin Verlander a Cy-Young-type of pitcher who had Tommy John surgery and will not be back for at least another year. Dusty who is the ultimate players-manager, and who sometimes still feels like he is playing is the type of man at the helm the Houston organization badly needed.

Before the beat the A’s in the divisional series, they swept the powerful Minnesota Twins. The Astros escaped the booing by fans all over the country, since there were no fans allowed this 2020 season, and they are one of the most experienced bunch of players advancing to the ALCS. At the time of this article they will face either the New York Yankees or the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Astros are filled with great Latino talent, such established stars like; José Altuve, Carlos Correa, Yuliesky Gurriel, Martin Maldonado, Aledmys Díaz, newcomers Framber Valdés, Elodi Paredes, José Urquidy. During some games they wear a T-Shirt (under the jerseys) that read, Somos Astros, translated We’re Astros. Dusty understands enough Spanish to hold an interview or conversation and he seemed to have bonded with this team.

With 23 years as a manager and his whole life as a baseball man, once a very good baseball player with a 19-year resumé that traveled through Atlanta Braves, LA Dodgers and last two years here in the Bay Area with SF Giants and then with the Athletics his last team in 1985, he is the winning-est major league active manager as of today.

Dusty’s Houston Astros are playing well and with a mission to go back to the World Series again. The Oakland A’s had a good run, won their division, took care of the young Chicago White Sox, but they ran into a much more post-season experienced team with one of the best line-ups in the game.

Not an excuse, but the A’s lost to injury/surgery their best player, third-baseman Matt Chapman for the last part of the season and the duration of the seven (7) games they participated in the playoffs.

Wishing Dusty all the luck in the world, the rest of the playoffs. Hey Dusty, you should have a special mask with a small hole for your toothpick!

Stay well and stay tuned.

Astros romp A’s 11-6 win to end Oakland’s season

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The Oakland A’s Matt Olson heads back to the Oakland dugout after striking out against the Houston Astros in the eighth inning as catcher Martin Maldonado sets up for the next hitter in game 4 of the 2020 ALDS at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Houston Astros ended the Oakland A’s season as they pounded the A’s pitchers to win 11-6. The Astros advance to the American League Championship series. The Astros, probably the most hated team in baseball due to the sign-stealing cheating scandal, wanted to prove that they are a top-tier team.

The Astros will be playing in the championship series for the fourth year in a row. They won the World Series in 2017 and lost the Series last year to the Washington Nationals. The Astros had a tumultuous year. They fired their General Manager, Jeff Luhnow, and their field manager, A.J. Hinch.

They hired Dusty Baker to help gain the team a modicum of respectability. Dusty became the first manager in baseball history to lead five teams into the postseason.

A’s manager, Bob Melvin, selected righty Frankie Montas to start for the Green and Gold. Montas did well for the first three innings. He allowed just three hits. The A’s offense put three runs on the board in the second inning. Former Astro, Ramon Laureano, who was five-for-nine lifetime against Zack Greinke, homered with two men on to give Oakland an early lead.

Things went south for Montas in the bottom of the fourth. Jose Altuve, leading off for Houston, walked. DH Michael Brantley homered into the right-field seats to make it 3-2. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker singled that put two men on with no out. Montas retired Yuli Guriel for the first out. Guriel was the last batter Montas would face.

The A’s inched closer when Laureano homered off Zack Greinke for the second time to make it 5-4 midway through the fifth.

The Astros onslaught continued in the bottom of the fifth. J.B.Wendelken was now pitching for Oakland. Michael Brantley, who homered in the fourth, took Wendelken deep leading off the fifth.

The pitch was up in the strike zone, and Brantley did not miss it. The Astros scored again when Bregman walked. Tucker singled, sending Bregman to third. Correa singled to drive in Bregman with Houston’s seventh run.

The Astros added two more in the sixth and two more in the seventh to take an 11-4 lead. Jose Altuve’s two-run homer sealed Oakland’s fate.

The A’s didn’t quit. They threatened in the eighth. They put two men on with two out. The threat ended when Marcus Semien’s blast to leftfield was caught at the wall for the third out. They scored two in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. The Astros win 11-6

Game Notes- The line score for Houston was 11-14-0

Oakland’s line was 6-11-1

None of the A’s starters managed to finish five innings of work. The A’s had two more home runs Thursday. They had 12 for the four games played.

The A’s are done for the 2020 season. They made the playoffs for the third year in a row. They were able to advance to the ALDS for the first time since the 2013 season. It was not a happy ending. The A’s will be back next season. One of the concerns will be signing Marcus Semien to a new contract. Semien is now a free agent.