Tag: Oakland A’s

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: Too much Lopez as Twins shutout A’s 3-0 at Coliseum; A’s open road trip in Anaheim tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s baserunner Zack Gelof dives back into first base on a Minnesota Twins pick off move in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun June 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 Minnesota Twins starter Pablo Lopez had a perfect game going into the seventh inning against the Oakland until Oakland A’s Lawrence Butler hit a seventh inning single to break it up.

#2 Lopez needless to say had command of his pitches 14 strikeouts for a career high in eight innings of shutout ball. Lopez’s line eight innings, two hits and 14 strikeouts.

#3 Lopez had retired the first 17 batters he faced giving up two singles and a walk. With 14 strikeouts going the A’s line up just were off balance all game long.

#4 With the loss the A’s drop 6-17 and A’s starter Hogan Harris gets pinned with the loss he drops his record to 1-1. Harris allowed three runs and five hits in the 3-0 loss.

#5 The A’s hope to turn the page against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night. Starting pitcher for the A’s RHP Luis Medina (1-2, ERA 4.71) for the Angels Griffin Canning (2-8, ERA 5.02) first pitch 6:38pm PT at the Big A in Anaheim.

Join Barbara Mason for the A’s podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

1974 world champs honored, and Pablo Lopez dominates A’s on bittersweet day at the Coliseum, as Twins take series with 3-0 win

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Minnesota Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez throws to the Oakland A’s line up in the bottom of fifth at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun June 23, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Minnesota Twins 3 (43-35)

Oakland Athletics 0 (29-51)

Win: Pablo Lopez (7-6)

Loss: Hogan Harris (1-1)

Save: Griffin Jax (7)

Time: 2:11

Attendance: 18,491

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–Pablo Lopez pitched eight shutout innings, and Byron Buxton hit a home run and knocked in two runs, as the Minnesota Twins shut out the A’s 3-0 to take the series.

The A’s scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull off an exciting win over the Twins in the series opener Friday night, and the Twins turned around and spanked the A’s a seven-run second inning en route to a 10-2 win yesterday. Sunday, the A’s looked to bounce back and win the series on another beautiful day for baseball at the Coliseum.

Before the game, the A’s honored the 1974 world championship team that won the franchise’s third-straight title in a bittersweet ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of that season. 1974 was just the A’s seventh season in Oakland, and it was truly the golden era of Oakland A’s Baseball.

Despite the inner turmoil the A’s frequently had in their clubhouse, they pulled off back-to-back world championships in 1972 and 1973. Still, even with the two titles, the A’s flamboyant autocratic owner, Charlie O. Finley fired Manager Dick Williams and replaced him with Alvin Dark.

Finley was also at the center of a fashion revolution in baseball. The A’s teams of the early 1970s often wore Kelly green and gold jerseys over white pants with an elastic waistband. Those uniforms were commonplace in Baseball in those days, and Finley was one of the pioneers.

Finley also paid players to grow mustaches. That’s why Rollie Fingers originally grew his famous mustache. Fingers didn’t do it for the style; he did it for the $300 bonus that Charlie O gave him for it.

Former players, Fingers, Dave Hamilton, Darold Knowles, Gene Tenace, Blue Moon Odom, Burt Campaneris, Dick Green, Ted Kubiak, Bill North, Joe Rudi and Herb Washington were on the field for a ceremony that brought 18,491 fans to the Coliseum, which was the largest attendance for an A’s home game this season.

The ceremony brought bittersweet nostalgia for a large and dedicated A’s fan base that is most likely going to lose their team at the end of this season.

Back to 2024. Hogan Harris made the start for Oakland this afternoon, and while he worked his way out of trouble in the top of the first first inning, Byron Buxton got to him for a home run to left-center field in the top of the second.

Pablo Lopez, who came into today’s game 6-6 with an ERA of 5.63 made the start for Minnesota. Plain and simply, he’s having a bad season.

Sunday afternoon, however, was a completely different story. Lopez took a perfect game into the sixth inning, setting down the first 17 men he faced. With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Lawrence Butler finally got the A’s in the hit column with a soft line-drive into right field for a base-hit.

As for Harris, he was solid Sunday afternoon. Harris had given up just a run through his first six innings, and he was back out for the top of the seventh. However, Carlos Santana and Will Castro singled to put runners at the corners for Minnesota with nobody out.

Buxton, who homered in the second, doubled to center to make it 2-0, and that did it for Harris. Mark Kotsay summoned Austin Adams, and Castro scored when Buxton was thrown out at third base on a fielder’s choice.

When all said and done, Harris ended up giving up three runs and five hits over six-plus innings.

“The focus for Hogan is throw it in the zone,” said Kotsay. “[He’s] got good life to the heater, [and] you can see a slider that he’s developed here [at] the big league level, which is going to be a solid pitch for him. I think today during the seventh, maybe he could have thrown that slow breaking ball that he got [Carlos] Correa with a little earlier in the game.

Bouncing a couple more breaking balls might have helped him get some outs deeper into the game. Overall the strides he’s made, that’s what we’re talking about for these. We want to see this incremental growth. The success he’s having—maybe not wins [and] losses for him right now—will translate to wins [and] losses if he continues to make these steps in the right direction.”

As for Lopez, he ended up going eight shutout innings, and not only did he only give up just two hits, he struck out 14.

Lucas Erceg struck out two in a 1-2-3 top of the eighth for Oakland, and lefty Scott Alexander pitched a scoreless inning in the top of the ninth.

Lopez ended up throwing 102 pitches, so Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli opted for Griffin Jax in the bottom of the ninth, and Jax pitched a scoreless inning to close it out.

Lopez gets the win; Harris takes the loss; and Jax picks up the save. The A’s fall to 29-51, but they were able to go 3-3 against two strong teams in the Kansas City Royals and the Twins, and they started off this homestand by winning two-straight for the first time since the beginning of May.

“Obviously, we would [have] love[d] a winning homestand,” said Kotsay. “To have a chance over the last two days is where we wanted to put ourselves, but we ran into a couple buzzsaws against some good starting pitching. Overall, I would say we played good baseball.”

Now, the A’s are going back on the road, but they won’t have to go that far for a six-game swing through Anaheim and Phoenix, Arizona. They will have three against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim Monday through Wednesday, followed by a day off Thursday and three against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix Friday through Sunday.

Funny thing: With the new balanced schedule, teams only play the other teams in their division 13 games a year, and the A’s will play all 13 of their games against the Angels this season over the next five weeks.

Anyway, Luis Medina (1-2, 4.71 ERA) will make the start for Oakland at the Big A Monday night, and he will be opposed by right-hander Griffin Canning (2-8, 5.02 ERA). First pitch at Angel Stadium will be at 6:38 p.m PT.

A’s News and Notes:

J.D. Davis, whom the A’s designated for assignment on Tuesday, was traded along with cash considerations to the New York Yankees this morning for infielder Jordan Groshans.

Davis has had a bit of an adventure this season. He came into Spring Training as a member of the San Francisco Giants following an arbitration battle with them. Then they released him, and he ended up with the A’s after that.

Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O: WNBA’s Clark and Reese pack the house; Oilers can make Stanley Cup Finals history; plus more news

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

The Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese (left), Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (center), and the Los Angeles Sparks Cameron Brink (right) during the WNBA draft on Mon Apr 15, 2024. Reese and Clark have been big draws for the WNBA and Brink is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. (AP file photo)

On Headline Sports podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Charlie, this has been the year of the rookie in the WNBA and the league has never seen such coverage of their players starting with the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese who both have everyone even those who don’t follow the league that closely talking.

#2 The NHL Stanley Cup Finals could see it’s first team since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs come back down 0-3 and win it with four straight win if the Edmonton Oilers can pull it off on Monday night in Florida in game 7 against the Florida Panthers. The task would not only be historic but it’s a tall order if the Oilers can pull it off on Panthers ice.

#3 Charlie, the FBI raid on Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is just an added sad chapter to what is happening to Oakland as a city. Thao’s last interaction with the relocating Oakland A’s who leave after this season for Sacramento was when she and the Oakland Coliseum Joint Authority wanted $92 million for the A’s to play their remaining three years before they move to Las Vegas and Thao and the Coliseum ran the A’s away with the high rent ticket. When it rains it pours for the A’s and City of Oakland situation.

#4 Their known as the lovable losers the Chicago Cubs who had some success are back on hard times dead last in the National League East eight games back, four games below .500, the Cubs have lost six of their last ten games and open a four game series in San Francisco on Monday night. How has the Cubs demise surprised you?

#5 Three time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will make his 2024 debut for the Texas Rangers today against the Kansas City Royals. Scherzer hasn’t pitched in a game since game 3 of last year’s World Series. In the off season he had to have lower back surgery, in rehab he had thumb soreness which doctors determined it was nerve issues that extended into his right triceps.

Join Charlie O for Headline Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A baseball anomaly I do not recall seeing

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Daz Cameron (28) forearm bashes with Shea Langeliers (23) after Langeliers hit a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the bottom of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri Jun 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

A baseball anomaly I do not recall ever seeing

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-Gonzalez

OAKLAND– A’s Reliever Sean Newcomb recorded his first win of the year on Friday night with zero batters faced. So, how did he do it?

With the A’s trailing, 5-4, against the Minnesota Twins with two outs in the eighth inning and a man on first, Newcomb entered the game from the bullpen.

After getting to a 1-1 count, the left-hander decided to throw over to first, but the runner got in a rundown.

Eventually, Austin Martin was tagged out, which ended the inning. Statistically speaking, a batter is “faced” if the at-bat itself results in an out, whether it’s the batter or a runner via a fielder’s choice.

However, since Newcomb’s pickoff resulted in the out, no batter was “faced.

Then, in the bottom half of the inning, Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer off Jhoan Duran to give Oakland a 6-5 lead.

So, with the lead, Oakland brought in their flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, and he recorded the save – thus giving Newcomb the win, despite throwing two pitches.

I do not recall ever seeing this unless my memory is just started to deteriorate.

I think this should be in the TV show Jeopardy.

Listen to Amaury Pi Gonzalez for News and Commentary podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

No Mercy A’s lose in 7 run 2nd inning 10-2 in Twin killing

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Saturday, June 22nd, 2024

By Troy Ewers

The Oakland A’s host the Minnesota Twins on Saturday matinee game. The starting pitchers are Bailey Ober for Minnesota and JP Sears for Oakland. Sears got lit up for nine hits and eight runs as the Twins took out the A’s 10-2.  

The game for the Twins opened up in the top of the first with Ryan Jeffers getting hit by pitch and scoring Manuel Margot, 1-0 Twins. The A’s followed up with JJ Bleday solo homer to even up the score 1-1, but the 2nd inning was where the Twins blew it up. 

Margot hit a three run homer and it was 4-1 Twins. JP Sears seemed visibly rattled after that home run and then gave up a Jose Miranda double to score Lewis and Correa. 6-1 Twins. Byron Buxton would then score Miranda off a double and it initiated a pitching change for the A’s. 7-1 Twins. 

Osvaldo Bido replaced JP Sears, but it didn’t matter in the inning. Kyle Farmer hit an infield single and scored Jeffers for an 8-1 lead in second.Tyler Soderstrom hit a home run to try to get some ground back for Oakland, 8-2.

In the third Miranda doubled and scored Lewis for a 9-2 lead for Minnesota. 

The next score would be in the seventh when Correa doubled to left and scored Margot to make it 10-2 at this point. From here it was a close job for Minnesota. Margot with a three hit game. 

Sunday the A’s face the Twins in the closing game of the series. With Hogan Harris (1-0, 2.37) on the hill for Oakland and Pablo Lopez (6-6, 5.63) on the hill for Minnesota.

A’s comeback with Langelier’s 2 run homer in 8th to defeat Twins 6-5 at Coliseum

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) rounds the bases after belting a two run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at the Oakland Coliseum on Fri June 21, 2024 (AP News photo)

Minnesota (41-35). 100 001 300. 5 10. 0

Athletics (29-48). 100 030 02x. 6 6. 0

Time: 2:20

Attendance: 9,158

Friday, June 21, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–After failing by a hare’s breath to sweep the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night, the nomadic Athletics got back on track for the long journey that just might get them close to the .500 mark before the season’s end, coming from behind to defeat the Minnesota Twins in a roller coaster of a 6-5 win.

The victory was not, however, without its cost. Abraham Toro, who has been a mainstay for this struggling team, had to leave the game after suffering a hamstring injury running out a grounder to third in the seventh inning.

Before the game, the A’s DFA’d Vinny Nitoli and recalled Osvaldo Bido from Las Vegas.

Joey Estes, another recalled Aviator, who had rejoined the parent club on May 11, made his eighth start of the year, bringing a record of 2-2,5.97 with him. His only previous 2024 appearance against the Twins came five days ago, when he exited after 2-2/3 inning in which he yielded six earned runs but escaped with a no decision.

In this mid-summer night’s contest he held his opponents to two runs, both earned, on five hits, one of them a home run, and a walk in six full innings. He managed only one strikeout, but it’s his 18 outs that count. He threw only 76 pitches, 58 for strikes, to earn his third win and lower his earned run average to 5.53.

Estes’s opponent for the Twins had unimpressive numbers, for both the season and his career. Chris Paddack came to work at 5-3, 5.25 for the year and 22-21, lifetime. Those figures are pretty drab, but Paddack’s a pretty colorful guy.

The native of Austin, TX, tickled the fancy of San Diego fans when, as a Padre, he began wearing a cowboy hat and boots on his start days, earning himself the nickname of “The Sheriff” and a following of similarly attired fans calling themselves Paddack’s Posse.

The number 236, his number in the 2015 draft, is tattooed on his rib cage The 6’5″, 232 pound righty ‘s eccentricities extended to the record book. As he was making his way from the bullpen to the pitcher’s mound in Anaheim last September 24, play was halted because of rain.

Play was resumed after a 50 minute delay. Paddack never threw a pitch, but was credited with an appearance. This Friday, he threw 82 pitches in 4-2/3 innings and was charged with three runs, all earned, but two of them posthumous, on five hits and three walks. He wound up with a no decision, and his ERA inched up to 5.29. Kody Fundurburk, Jorge Acalá, and Jhoan Durán, who took the loss, also pitched for the Twins.

The Twinkies got off to an early lead on a game opening double by Will Castro, who defied The Curse by scoring on a pair of ground outs by Carlos Correa and Trevor Larnach, respectively.

The A’s erased that transient advantage in the bottom of the first on singles by Abraham Toro, JJ Bleday, and Tyler Soderstrom. They drove the sheriff out of the town in the bottom of the fifth with a two out rally that began with Miguel Andújar’s single to right single and Rooker’s ditto to left center that brought, Fundurburk to the mound. Tyler Sonderstrom greeted him with a bases clearing triple that put the homeless hosts ahead , 4-1.

That didn’t last long. Royce Lewis’s 10th homer of the season, a solo shot to right with one down in the sixth, narrowed the gap to 4-2. Estes hung around to finish the inning; Austin Adams replaced him to start the seventh.

He retired one batter before Christian Velásquez singled to right and Austin Martin drew a walk, setting the stage for Castro’s 363 foot wallop over the right field fence that put the Twins ahead, 5-4. A walk to Correa, and Lucas Erceg came on to put out the fire.

He did that and started off the eighth in fine fettle, retiring the first two Twins he faced. Successive singles to Velásquez and Martin put runners on the corners and Sean Newcomb on the mound. He picked Velásquez off first to keep the A’s within a run of Minnesota.

Still and all, things were looking pretty grim when they faced Jhoan Durán in the eighth in But Minnesota’s right handed reliever hit lead off hitter Sodersrom with a pitch, and Shea Langeliers smacked a 397 foot home run over the left field fence to put the green and gold back on top, 6-5. Durán surrendered a two out double to Max Schuemann, but the A’s lead was still just one run after eight.

It was Miller time. Castro ground out to second. Correa broke his bat grounding out to short. Larnach went down swinging. Miller had thrown seven pitches and earned his 14th save.

Saturday, JP Sear (4-6, 4.25) will face Minnesota’s Bailey Obere (6-4, 4.81) at 1:07 in the second of this three game series.

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel Dullum: Source-Oakland Mayor will have to resign over FBI raid and investigation

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home was raided by the FBI on Thu Jun 20, 2024. Agents were seen walking out with ice chest size cases. It’s speculated that they were searching for documents related to propriety of campaign contributions. Thao or her office had no comment regarding the raid. (San Francisco Chronicle photo)

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Daniel:

#1Daniel Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s home was raided by FBI agents Thursday morning. Reporters on the scene asked agents present what was the reason for the raid they didn’t reply. Miles away in Oakland a dozen agents raided the homes of president and CEO David Duong of Cal Waste Solutions and his son Andy Duong. The City of Oakland in the past had investigated Cal Water Solutions over ownership of campaign contributions that went to Thao and other elected officials.

#2 Teresa Hoang who spoke to the press and is a staff member at Cal Waste Solutions said that they are confident that they’ll be cleared from any wrong doing at the conclusion of the investigation. Mayor Thao’s last and latest involvement with the Oakland A’s was attempt at an interim deal to keep the A’s at the Oakland Coliseum that fell apart after the A’s declined to pay $97million for three years rent between 2025-27. The Coliseum Joint Authority and the City dropped the price to $60 million and the A’s declined again and made a deal with Sacramento and Sacramento Rivercats owner Vivek Ranadive.

#3 Daniel, talk about the economic damage moving the Oakland A’s will do to not only the City of Oakland and the East Bay but it also impacts the market share of the Bay Area being the sixth largest market?

#4 Even at this point right now there is still an uncertainty that this move to Las Vegas will even go through in the first place. Will A’s owner John Fisher be able to find those minority investors that the Los Angeles investment firm he hired be able to come through so far just like in Las Vegas no one has stepped up.

#5 The A’s will be playing rent free at Sutter Health Field but for how long? The A’s situation needs to be resolved by closing in of April 2025 which is the target date for putting shovels in the ground in Las Vegas if they want to meet the April 2028 opening of the new park deadline.

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

#4

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s face one of their toughest nemesis in the Twins tonight

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Freddy Fermin is in a groove for the Kansas City Royals taking the Oakland A’s pitching deep for his second home run in the top of the fourth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu Jun 20, 2024 (AP News photo)

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The Oakland A’s are coming off a very close effort to a sweep after losing nine straight games as they just lost to the Kanas City Royals on Thursday afternoon 3-2 at the Oakland Coliseum.

#2 The Royals struck first with two home runs one in the second and another in the fourth by Freddy Fermin to give KC a 2-0 lead. For a moment there any thoughts of a sweep of the Royals might be in doubt.

#3 The A’s Zach Gelof struck back with a two run bottom of the seventh home run to tie it up 2-2 and the possibility of a sweep was back on again.

#4 Then came the Royals Bobby Witt Jr in the top of the eighth who cleared the fence with a solo home run that turned out to be the gamer for a Royals 3-2 win. The did win the series taking two out of three from the Royals.

#5 The A’s open a three game series tonight against the Minnesota Twins. Starting pitcher for the Twins RHP Chris Paddock (5-3, ERA 5.25) the A’s will start Joey Estes (2-2, ERA 5.97) The last time these two clubs met June 13-16 in a four game series the Twins swept the A’s in two single games, rained out on the 15th and the A’s were swept in a doubleheader on Sun 16th. No doubt the Twins are a tough customer.

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

#3

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: 2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum–(Part V) – Rickey’s 939

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A’s hoists his 939th career stolen base for the Oakland Coliseum crowd to see. Rickey is the subject of That’s Amaury News and Commentary. (photo from ebay)

2024: The Final Season of the A’s at the Coliseum (Part V) – Rickey’s 939 —

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

Since 2024 is the last year that the A’s will play at the Coliseum, I have highlighted the great moments that took place there in this series of articles. Over the decades, I have given my opinion on who is the best player ever to have worn an Oakland Athletics jersey, and I have spoken about it and written about it in two languages.

That guy is Rickey Henderson. On May 1, 1991, during a warm and muggy afternoon at the Coliseum, Rickey made history as he broke Lou Brock’s 938 stolen base record. The A’s were facing the New York Yankees. Rickey tried to steal second base in the first inning, but Yankee catcher Matt Nokes made a perfect throw, and Rickey was out.

In the fourth, Henderson made another try. It was a different outcome. He reached base on an error and took second on a Dave Henderson single. Rickey took off, and he had stolen third base, no doubt about it, with his typical head-first slide. That was his 939 stolen base, breaking Lou Brock’s record.

Rickey stood up and lifted the base over his head, and seconds later, he said, “I am the greatest of all time”. A’s equipment manager, Frank Ciensczyk, brought out a replacement base. Rickey and his mother, Bobbie and Lou Brock all join the recently crowned stolen base king on the field around third base. They all share hugs with Rickey.

Then Rickey talked to the crowd (36,139). “It took a long time, huh?” and finished by saying, “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today I am the greatest of all time.” The first thing that surprised me was that Rickey has shown no humility. It sounded like what the great Muhamad Ali (in Boxing) used to say: that he was the greatest of all time. However, Rickey was saying a statement of fact; it just happened.

He just became the King of Steal; Rickey also personally thanked Lou Brock, who has been in the Bay Area for a while, following Rickey Henderson each at-bat, when he got on base, and especially when he went for a steal. Lou Brock was a class act; he passed in 2020. He was patient while waiting for baseball history to be made, and he witnessed Rickey Henderson’s outstanding achievement.

I covered that game and will remember it forever. Rickey Henderson went on to play for another 12 years, with various teams amassing 467 more steals. Today, Rickey Henderson remains the undisputed King of Steal in the history of Major League Baseball, with 1,406 stolen bags.

Note: Today, the active player with the most stolen bases is Starling Marte on the New York Mets, who in his 13-year career has 350 steals. Marte, born in the Dominican Republic, is 25 years old. Quote: “I’d walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball. -Rickey Henderson..

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Royals hit three home runs in 3-2 win over A’s to salvage game in series

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Kansas City Royals Bobby Witt Jr connected for a go ahead home run in the top of the eighth inning as the run stood up and helped the Royals avoid being swept by the Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Thu June, 2024 (AP News photo)

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

Kansas City Royals 3 (42-34)

Oakland Athletics 2 (28-49)

Win: James McArthur (3-4)

Loss: Vinny Nittoli (0-1)

Save: Chris Stratton (4)

Time: 2:23

Attendance: 8,753

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The A’s were unable to get the sweep, as the Royals hit three home runs, two by Freddy Fermin, and beat Oakland 3-2 to take the series.

It hasn’t been the best of times for the A’s. After a six-game winning streak got Oakland back to .500 on May 4, following a 20-4 blowout of the Miami Marlins, they went on to go 9-31 in their next 40 games. They then hit rock bottom with a nine-game losing streak that was snapped Tuesday night with a 7-5 win over the Royals.

The A’s won again last night 5-1 to win back-to-back games for the first time since their six-game winning streak. Thursday, they looked to make it three in a row with Mitch Spence on the mound on this cool and beautiful partly cloudy afternoon at the Coliseum. 

Spence pitched a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, and the A’s came to bat in the bottom of the first against the Royals’ veteran right-hander, Seth Lugo. JJ Bleday drew a one-out walk, but Lugo got Miguel Andujar to ground to short for a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Freddy Fermin hit a home run to left field with one out in the top of the second to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead. MJ Melendez followed Fermin’s home run with a double to left, and Dairon Blanco reached on an infield hit that hit off the glove of spence and died out in the middle in the middle of the infield.

The Royals were looking to add on, as they had runners at first and second base with one out for Garrett Hampson. Spence was then able to settle down, as Hampson popped out to second on an infield fly, and Kyle Isbel struck out swinging to end the inning.

The A’s went down 1-2-3 in the top of the second, as did the Royals in the top of the third. Zack Gelof lined a base-hit out to left-center for Oakland’s first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the third, but Kyle McCann immediately followed that up by grounding into a double play. Aledmys Diaz singled with two outs, but he would be left at first.

The game was going along quite quickly, as it took just 35 minutes to get through the first three innings

Fermin hooked a ball down the left field line for his second home run of the game with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 Royals. Just like in the top of the second, Melendez followed up Fermin’s home run with a double, but like the top of the second, Spence escaped further damage.

Andujar singled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, but Brent Rooker grounded into Oakland’s third double play of the afternoon to end the inning. Spence and Lugo both pitched 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, and even though the game had slowed down a bit, both pitchers were on in what was a pitcher’s duel.

Spence retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but Fermin singled the other way to right for his third hit of the game, and Melendez worked a 12-pitch plate appearance into a walk. At that point, Mark Kotsay got his bullpen going, but Spence struck Blanco out looking on a cutter just off the outside to end the inning and his day.

Spence was solid this afternoon, and though the 12-pitch walk may have taken him out of this game earlier than he would have liked, he still gave the A’s everything he needed. Spence did give up six hits, but he limited the Royals to two runs over six innings, while striking out seven.

“I’m starting to get confidence in the rotation,” said Spence. “[I’m] just trying to do the best I can. If the A’s see me in the rotation, then I’ll be in the rotation.”

Max Schuemann singled off Lugo with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, and Bleday walked, and the A’s had a two-out rally going. However, Andujar flew out to left to end the inning.

The new pitcher for Oakland in the top of the seventh with Vinny Nittoli, and he struck out the first two men he faced en route to a 1-2-3 inning. Lugo also struck out the first two men he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but he wouldn’t be so lucky with two outs. 

Lawrence Butler doubled, and Zack Gelof tied the game with a home run to center. The A’s were now looking to do even more. Kyle McCann drew a walk, and Kotsay had Abraham Toro pinch-hit for Aledmys Diaz. Royals Manager Matt Quataro then brought in James McArthur.

Toro ripped a double down the right field line. Right-fielder Dairon Blanco picked it up in the corner and got it in to the second-baseman, Adam Frazier. A’s Third-Base Coach Eric Martins surprisingly waved in McCann, who was thrown out by a mile at the plate by Frazier’s relay.

It was a brand-new game at 2-2 going to the eighth, as Nittoli came out for another inning. However, Bobby Witt Jr. immediately greeted Nittoli with an absolute bomb to left to put the Royals back ahead.

Schuemann walked off McArthur to start the bottom of the eighth, but he was picked off at first base. That proved to be costly for Oakland, as they got runners to the corners with two outs, but left-hander Angel Zerpa came in and got pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin to ground out to short to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the ninth, and Zerpa was back out to try and convert the four-out save in the bottom of the ninth.

Lawrence Butler reached on a bobbled ground ball by Witt at short to start the inning, and Zack Gelof was called out on a slider right at the knees by Home Plate Umpire D.J. Reyburn for the first out. Kotsay then brought up Shea Langiliers to pinch-hit for catcher Kyle McCann, and even though Gelof was the one called out, McCann had some words for Reyburn from the dugout and was promptly ejected.

“The zone was good; DJ was doing a good job all day,” said Kotsay. “It’s just the emotion of the game.”

Langeliers singled Butler over to second, and that prompted Quatato to bring in Chris Stratton. The A’s were in perfect position, as they had runners at first and second—the tying run at second, and the winning run at first—with one out. However, Stratton got pinch-hitter Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann to both fly out, and the Royals held on to win 3-2. 

James McArthur got the win; Vinny Nittoli took the loss; and Chris Stratton picked up his fourth save of the year.

The A’s fall to 28-49, and they will welcome the Minnesota Twins to the Coliseum for three starting Friday night. Joey Ested (2-2, 5.97 ERA) will make the start for Oakland in the series opener Friday night, and he will be opposed by Chris Paddock (5-3, 5.25 ERA). First pitch will be at 6:40 p.m.