Tag: Oakland A’s

Home Heroics Take A Day: A’s fail to rally, lose series finale to the Indians

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND — No longer stuck in last place after winning four of five, the A’s could have leapfrogged the Mariners, Rangers and Angels in the AL West on Sunday by sweeping the Indians at the Coliseum.

Instead, they couldn’t muster a third day of last at-bat heroics, losing the series finale to Cleveland, 5-3. Now the A’s face a far, different reality: hitting the road for a nine-game trip–where they’ve been dreadful–while staring at a season-worst 7 1/2 game deficit behind the first place Astros.

Call it the Mother’s Day swing, and we’re not talking about Dallas Braden parading his grandmother across the diamond. At some point, the A’s figure to play better baseball, but they don’t want to get to far behind in the division. Back-to-back playoff appearances would be great, but the A’s want no part of the crap shoot as a wild card again.

“You’re not playing great, you’ve got to find ways to win the games,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We did, obviously some dramatic and late. The offense still isn’t what we expect it to be. It will come around.”

Offensively, the A’s weren’t much better than they were on the 1-8 road trip that ended a week ago. They foraged 43 hits and a barely bearable 17 runs on the six-game home stand, but they won. Winning four of six was a nice bounce back, but not quite what 5-1 would have meant.

“Would have liked to sweep them today, but [if] we keep winning series, we’ll be in a good spot,” said Matt Olson, who advanced his offensive game by homering for the first time this season.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s get that walkoff feeling as the comeback team in series with Cleveland

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photo from mercurynews.com: Oakland Athletics reliever Liam Hendriks (16) throws in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

#1 The Oakland A’s came away on Saturday with their second straight walkoff win over Cleveland in a narrow 2-1 win. In baseball, the critics once said signs of a good club is one that can come back from behind.

#2 The A’s have improved their home record to 14-9 at the Coliseum and have taken the first two games of this current series with Cleveland.

#3 The Oakland A’s Liam Hendricks, who started the ballgame as an opener, succeeded in striking out a batter, surrendering one hit and pitching one inning the opener concept in this one worked out.

#4 The A’s reliever Aaron Brooks came in the second inning and pitched four innings giving up four hits and striking out four and his game plan worked out in setting the Cleveland order down.

#5 The A’s and Cleveland conclude this three-game series at the Coliseum. Jefry Rodriguez (0-2, 2.41 ERA) he’ll counter against newly recalled Daniel Mengden (0-0, 0.00 ERA), who was just recalled from the A’s triple A affiliate Las Vegas.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: Liam Hendriks for “openers”

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Photo credit: athleticsnation.com

By: Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

On Saturday, the Oakland Athletics against the visiting Cleveland Indians, started a game with Liam Hendriks, as an “opener” for the first time since October 3, 2018 at Yankee Stadium for the one-game Wild Card elimination game, which the Yankees won 7-2. After Hendriks was slated to open the game and pitch only the first inning, he allowed no runs, walked one and struck out one. A’s manager Bob Melvin followed with a parade of pitchers: Aaron Brooks, Yusmeiro Petit, Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen, who was accredited with the A’s 3-2 win over the Indians.

Thirty years ago, there were 622 complete games in MLB. Last season, just a total of 42 and just 13 pitchers threw for 200-plus innings. That was the way pitching has gone, and with just about every team hitting lots of home runs so far this season, with the exceptions of the Marlins and Giants, pitching is so deluded now, that I would not be surprised “openers” are here to stay.

I know it is the wrong sport, but the great Al Davis used to say “just win baby” and the same thing applies in baseball. Use whatever formula works. Soon the National League will adopt the DH rule. It is inevitable, you know it and everybody knows it. So there are some general changes and regulations that MLB will establish, but there are others that just happen and the “opener” is one of those.

Pitching is becoming a commodity as hard to find as diamonds, the hardest mineral to find on earth. Not many years ago, pitching coaches will tell their starters on the rotation “give me six good innings”.  Today, that is for the “opener” give me one good inning — three outs in the first inning and your are out of the game.

I am not the one who likes to predict the future, but I predict one record that will never be broken is that of Cy Young, who pitched 7,356 innings in 22 seasons. Of course, different eras. Back then, the only count was that of the attendance, but no count of pitches thrown. But that was then and it’s something that we will never see again.

Bob Melvin is one of the best managers in the game. In a perfect world, he would have had at least a semi-set rotation and would have never used the “opener”, but it is not easy to win a game in the majors.

After he retired and did TV commentary, I once asked my all-time favorite manager Sparky Anderson: “In your opinion how many games does a manager win during a season using pure strategy?” He told me: “Maybe 10 to 15 games.” Sparky and many others never had to manage “openers” because a pitcher that begins a game, if not abused in the first inning, is expected to go a long way.

The defensive shift, is slowly changing as hitters are adjusting. but you better get used to the “opener”, and if it becomes a common thing, there will also be a stats for openers and their success. Why not? Baseball is filled with changes. Remember there was no RBI recorded until 1920.

So, the tale of the story, you better get use to “openers”, because they could be as valuable as closers.

Chapman’s First Walk-Off Homer Gives A’s 4-3 Win Over Tribe

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND–The Oakland Athletics walked off 4-3 against the Cleveland Indians, thanks to Matt Chapman’s first career walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning at the Coliseum on Friday night.

The game was back-and-forth with both the A’s and Indians trading leads. Joakim Soria (1-2, 4.66 ERA) picked up the win after pitching two lights-out innings with three strikeouts while Brad Hand (2-2, 1.62 ERA) wound up the loser after the first batter he faced, Chapman, took him deep over the left field wall.

Until Chapman came to the plate to start the bottom of the 12th inning, neither team had so much as a baserunner in extras. Chapman worked a 2-0 count against Hand, but the Indians closer pumped two strikes over the plate that Chapman looked at. Hand missed badly with the 2-2 slider, then delivered a slider over the heart of the plate that Chapman bounced on for the walkoff and a double-digit (10) season homer total.

Frankie Montas was scheduled to pick up the win, pitching six innings with seven strikeouts to only one walk with the A’s ahead 3-2. He gave up two runs, an RBI double for Jake Bauers and a fielder’s choice in the top of the second, but Lou Trivino blew the save to tie the game 3-3 on Francisco Lindor’s sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.

The A’s scored two runs off opener Cody Anderson, plating a run in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, then tying the game in the bottom of the second on a Josh Phegley single. Ramon Laureano took a low and away slider from Neil Ramirez out of the park in the bottom of the sixth, his fourth homer of the season to give the A’s a 3-2 lead at the time and allow Montas to come out of the game ahead at the time.

San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael Duca: As much snow balls as there were runs and hits in Rox 12-11 win Thursday

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sfgate.com photo: Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado is congratulated as he returns to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Derek Holland in the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Denver.

On the Giants podcant with Michael Duca:

#1 If you like a lot of runs, this was your ballgame. The Giants paid the Colorado Rockies a visit to Coors Field on Thursday for a 12-11 Rockies win.

#2 The snow at Coors was an afternoon that would give goosebumps to chill fans trying to warm up during cold hockey nights in Canada, but this was Denver in May, did the snow give the hitters an advantage as pitchers might had a hard time to stay warm and hit their spots?

#3 The Rockies’ Nolan Arenado got a home run in the first and three hits to contribute to the cause. Arenado got on base five times. Arenado hit a ball that was ruled a foul in the second inning, which would have been his second home run and 11th of the season.

#4 Ian Desmond and Mark Reynolds poured it on with a home run each. Both teams keep swinging away in the snow and 40-degree weather.

#5 The Giants open up a three-game series Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the Reds, who were almost swept by the Oakland A’s in Oakland for the Reds Luis Castillio (3-1, 1.97 ERA) and for the Giants Derek Rodriguez (3-4, 5.75 ERA).

Join Michael Duca each Friday for the Giants podcasts heard at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

A’s lose in finale vs. Reds 3-0

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s were hoping to win Thursday’s game and sweep the three-game set from the Cincinnati Reds, but that didn’t happen.

The A’s sent Chris Bassitt to the hill, while the Reds had Tanner Roark on the mound.

Bassitt pitched well, but not well enough as the Reds’ hitters hit two home runs and the Reds’ pitchers held the A’s scoreless to win 3-0. Bassitt pitched 7 2/3 innings. He had trouble with Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Suarez touched Bassitt for two doubles and a home run.

Meanwhile, Roark went six innings and allowed no runs and three hits. He picked up his third win of the year.

The Reds put two on the board very quickly in the first inning. With one out, Reds’ third baseman Eugenio Suarez doubled. Derek Dietrich then took Bassitt deep for his 10th round-tripper of the year. The Reds led 2-0.

The Reds added a run in the top of the third when Eugenio Suarez, who doubled in the first, blasted his 11th dinger of the year into the seats of left field. The Reds led 3-0 in the middle of the third.

The Reds hurlers allowed the A’s six hits and no runs. They were able to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

Game Notes: The A’s won the series 2-1.

The Reds will be staying in the Bay Area as they play the Giants in San Francisco for three games starting Friday.

The A’s fall to 17-22. The Reds improve to 16-22.

The A’s line score was no runs, six hits, and one error.

The Reds’ line was three runs, eight hits, and one error.

Time of game was two hours and 36 minutes and 19,694 fans were at the park watching the game.

Up Next: The A’s will host the other Ohio team, the Cleveland Indians, for three games this weekend. Time of first game will be at 6:37 pm.

A’s manager Bob Melvin will have Frankie Montas on the mound, and the Indians will counter with righty Cody Anderson.

There will be a fireworks show after the game.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Red Legs exhibit more hustle in tight ball game with A’s on Wednesday night

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Photo credit: bleacherreport.com

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 After getting no hit by A’s pitcher Mike Fiers last Tuesday night, the Cincinnati Reds put a little more step into it on Wednesday night at the Oakland Coliseum and with four runs in the top of the second.

#2 Not too many hitters on the A’s remember Sonny Gray from when he used to pitch for the A’s, but he wasn’t a mystery as he got touched up and pitched 4.1 innings, six hits, three runs earned, five walks and three strikeouts.

#3 A’s starter Brett Anderson went six innings, five hits, four earned runs, and no strikeouts. The Reds scored twice in the second and twice in the fifth.

#4 At one time, the A’s were starting to get concerned about Jurickson Profar, who was struggling on defense, but Tuesday, he made a fine defensive play during the no-hitter, and on Wednesday, provided the A’s with two runs, two hits, and an RBI. Profar has looked pretty good in this series.

#5 The A’s and Red conclude this three-game series on Thursday afternoon. For the Reds, Tanner Roark (2-1, 3.82 ERA), and for the A’s, Chris Bassitt (1-0 ERA 2.12).

Jerry covers Oakland A’s baseball and does the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Warriors hang with Rockets to take series lead; Sharks’ Pavelski a big influence that inspires; plus more

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Photo credit: @warriors

On the Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria:

#1 The Golden State Warriors kept in step with the Houston Rockets with a 104-99 win. A game that went right down to the wire, which shows the Rockets dropped the first two of this series and came back to even it up, but the Warriors won Game 5 on the home floor.

#2 The San Jose Sharks advance to the third round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Game 7 was a squeaker in a 3-2 win. The Sharks had to be inspired after their team captain Joe Pavelski came out of the IL after suffering a concussion in round one, Game 7 and went out in Game 7 of the second round against the Avalanche and scored a goal.

#3 The Oakland A’s, who had a game delay because of lighting issues on Tuesday night; then on Wednesday night, the game with the Cincinnati Reds went extra innings. Either way you look at it there were no short games in this series.

#4 There are four quarterbacks who could replace quarterback Derek Carr for 2020. What are the reasons why he would be leaving and what do you think of the four quarterbacks who could replace him?

#5 The San Francisco 49ers signed offensive lineman Wesley Johnson, Johnson spent time with five teams and signed with the 49ers for a one-year deal. Johnson played with the Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins for 10 games last season.

Tony R does Headline Sports each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s needed 13 innings to edge Reds 5-4

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 Wednesday evening. The game went 13 innings and was ended when Stephen Piscotty hit his first career walk-off home run.

A’s starter Brett Anderson struggled in the second inning. He gave up four runs and four hits. He also issued two walks. However, he settled down and gave the A’s six innings of work and allowed just one more hit before exiting the game.

The A’s bullpen did not let the Reds put another run on the board the rest of the way. The A’s were down 4-2 when they rallied to score two in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game. The Reds’ Sonny Gray, who was the A’s ace until 2017, lasted 4 1/3 innings and he was charged with four runs (three earned).  Gray is 0-4 with the Reds this season.

The A’s plated two runs in the bottom of the first against their former teammate Sonny Gray. Gray walked A’s leadoff hitter, Marcus Semien. The next hitter, Jurickson Profar, who drove in the A’s two runs Tuesday night, sent Gray’s 3-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field to give the A’s an early 2-0 lead. It was Profar’s fourth tater of the season.

In the top of the second, the Reds sent 10 men to the plate and put four runs on the board to take the lead 4-2. Anderson walked the first two hitters he faced, and the Reds followed with four hits to score four runs.

The A’s tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Marcus Semien walked to start the inning. Jurickson Profar hit into a fielder’s choice. Matt Chapman singled and Kendrys Morales, who was pinch-hitting for Khris Davis, also singled to load the bases.

Reds manager David Bell removed Gray from the game and replaced him with lefty Amir Garrett. Garrett struck out Matt Olson for the second out. Stephen Piscotty singled to shallow right, Profar and Chapman scored on the play. Morales went to third, and Piscotty stopped at second. Ramon Laureano struck out to end the inning, The game was tied 4-4 after five innings.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 13th. Both bullpens did their job as they stymied the hitters for the next eight innings. The game ended when A’s right fielder, Stephen Piscotty led off with a walk-off home run to give the A’s the 5-4 win.

Game Notes: Jurickson Profar hit his second home run of the series in the first inning. Piscotty hit his fifth to lead off the 13th to send the 9,096 fans in attendance home happy.

The A’s improve to 17-21, and the Reds fall to 15-22.

Up Next: The A’s go for the sweep of the series Thursday afternoon at 12:37 pm. Chris Bassitt will be seeking his second win of the year. He will be opposed by the Reds’ Tanner Roark.

Fiers’ no-hitter against Reds is lights out after 1:38 delay in 2-0 win

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photo credit nbcsports.com screen shot by @adriangarro: Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Fiers is exuberant after tossing a complete, no hit game against the Cincinnati Reds as A’s catcher Josh Phegley prepares to meet Fiers on the mound Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

by Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — People in baseball say “you never know what you are going to see at a baseball game.” Tuesday nights game featured Mike Fiers tossing his second career no-hitter. Fiers had everything working for him as he did not allow the hard-hitting Cincinnati Reds a single hit. The A’s won the game 2-0. The game was delayed about an hour and forty minutes due to a malfunction of the lights in left field, Play started at 8:45 pm.

In most games when a no-hitter occurs, pitchers are helped out by excellent fielding. The A’s made two great defensive plays in the sixth inning. Second baseman Jurickson Profar, who has been maligned for his poor defensive play this season, made a sensational catch robbing Kyle Farmer of a hit. The ball was hit into short right field and Profar made a diving catch to prevent the Reds from recording their first hit of the game. The next batter, Joey Votto, slammed a ball to deep left-center-field. Ramon Laureano made a leaping catch and robbed Votto of a home run. Fiers walked two hitters in the seventh, but he was helped when the A’s made a 6-4-3 double play.

In the bottom of the second, the A’s put a run on the board to grab an early 1-0 lead. With two out and Stephen Piscotty on first, Profar doubled into the right-field corner. Piscotty scored all the way from first and was called safe when the Reds’ catcher missed the tag.

The A’s added another run in the bottom of the seventh. With two, out, Profar slammed his third dinger of the year over the right-center-field wall. The A’s led 2-0.

Fiers continued his mastery of the Reds as he set them down in order in the eighth and ninth innings to record his second career no-hitter.

Game Notes: Jurickson Profar was not only a defensive star Tuesday night, but he also drove in both runs for the A’s, He drove in Piscotty with the A’s first run in the second, and his home run in the seventh gave the A’s their second run.

Bob Melvin said that “it was a great night.” He also said that it was no fun for me after he reached 120 pitches.”

Fiers threw 131 pitches as he won his second career no-hitter. His first came when he was a member of the Houston Astros and he no-hit the LA Dodgers.

Melvin also said that Fiers “was using all his pitches to be more effective.”

Mike Fiers had this to say about Bob Melvin: “I was ‘really thankful for him leaving me in.'”

When asked about the one hour and 40 delay due to the malfunction of the lights in left field, Fiers replied: “it didn’t affect me.

Fiers also said this about his performance: “I had to keep them off balance.” He did exactly that.

The line score for the game was this: A’s: two runs five hits and one error. Reds: no runs, no hits and one error.

It was the eighth no-hitter in Oakland history and 13th in A’s history. Fiers’ no-hitter is the 300th in MLB history, and he is the 34th pitcher with multiple no-hitters.

Matt Olson played his first game of the season. He was placed on the IL on March 25th after breaking his right hamate bone.

The A’s improved to 16-21 and the Reds dropped to 15-21. Tyler Mahle’s record fell to 0-5, and Fiers evened his improved to 3-3.

Time of game was two hours and 25 minutes. 11,749 people watched Fiers pitch his historical masterpiece.

Up Next: Game two of the three-game series will be at the Oakland Coliseum Wednesday night. Game time will be at 7:07 pm. The A’s will send lefty Brett Anderson to the hill and Sonny Gray, the former A’s ace, will pitch for the Reds.