Tag: Oakland A’s

Astros’ bats come alive in 16-2 hammering of A’s

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Photo credit: @astros

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Houston Astros, defending World Champions and losers of six of their last seven games, pounded the A’s with a vengeance. The New York Yankees swept a four-game series from the Astros in Houston and the lost two of three to Arizona in Phoenix. The Astros found themselves in second place in the AL West, and they came out swinging against A’s starter, lefty Brett Anderson. The Astros scored early and often, and the game was over by the middle of the fourth. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel won his second of the year, and the former Cy Young award winner pitched eight innings and allowed the A’s just one run and five hits. For the A’s and their fans, it was not a night to remember as the Astros won 16-2 at O.co Coliseum Monday night.

The Astros wasted no time as they took advantage of Brett Anderson’s wildness to score twice in the first inning. The Astros’ center fielder, George Springer, led off with a double. Anderson retired Jose Altuve for the first out. Springer advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anderson then issued a free pass to Carlos Correa. Yuli Guriel popped out to first baseman Matt Olson. Anderson walked Alex Bregman to load the bases. Marwin Gonzalez, playing left field, singled to drive in Springer and Correa. With Evan Gattis at bat Gonzalez was caught in a rundown trying to steal second. The A’s realized that Bregman could score before the out was recorded and the throw came home, and Bregman was tagged out as he attempted to score. The Astros led 2-0 after the first inning.

The Astros scored three times in the top of the second. Josh Reddick started the rally going with a single with one out. Max Stassi, another former Athletic, doubled to left-center. The next hitter, George Springer, who started the game with a double, hit a ball in his wheelhouse that was a no-doubt-about-it home run that went about 20 rows deep into the left-field seats. It was Springer’s eighth of the year. The A’s trailed 5-0 midway through the second inning.

The Astros didn’t score in the third inning but made up for in the top of the fourth as they scored six times on four hit. A’s first baseman Matt Olson made a throwing error that helped contribute to the Astros’ onslaught. The key hits were Max Stassi’s second double of the night, and Marwin Gonzalez’ home run that broke that broke the game wide open. The Astros have pounded the A’s for 11 runs and 12 hits in just four innings of play.

The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, but they had a long way to go to get back in the game. The A’s trailed 11-1 after six innings.

Houston added two more runs in the eighth. Derek Fisher took A’s reliever Wilmer Font deep for his third big fly of the season. Ylui Guriel walked and then score on a double off the bat of Alex Bregman. The Astros lead 13-1 after eight complete. The Astros continued to punish the A’s pitching as they scored three more in the ninth.

The A’s, with two out in the night, scored their second run when Mark Canha and Johnathan Lucroy doubled. The Astros won 16-2.

Game Notes and Stats: Almost all of the hitting highlights belong to Houston. George Springer had a double, home run, and four singles as he was the 115th player in Major League history to have six hits in a nine-inning game. There have been more no-hitters (298) than six-hit games in nine innings.

Marwin Gonzalez had two hits, including a home run and Max Stassi, a Yuba City, California, native, also had two hits to pace the Astros’ attack. The line score for Houston was 16 runs, 20 hits, and two errors.

The A’s scored twice on eight hits, and they made one error.

Sean Manaea will pitch for Oakland Tuesday night, and he will be opposed by righty Lance McCullers.

The A’s had a moment of silence for Stephen Piscotty’s mother, Gretchen, who passed away Sunday from complications of ALS. The Sports Radio Service writers send our condolences to the Piscotty family.

Up Next: The A’s and Astros play Game 2 of the series Tuesday night at 7:05 pm PT.

That’s Amaury’s Podcast, News and Commentary: As A’s put Orioles in the rear-view mirror, Astros are a beast to deal with

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Photo credit: @Athletics

On this edition of That’s Amaury’s podcast:

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is joined on the podcast with co-hosts Jerry Feitelberg and Michael Duca talking about the A’s latest sweep over the last place Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles, who played three at the Coliseum and were swept, have now lost six straight.

This is the second worst start in team history for Baltimore at 8-26. In 1988, the O’s didn’t win a game until April 21st after going 0-21. That’s not to say the A’s didn’t play well, but it’s a big difference as they are playing the Houston Astros to open up a three-game series at the Coliseum on Monday night.

The Astros are the World Champions who are leading baseball with a 21-15 record in the AL West. The Astros have the best rotation in baseball. This series is going to be a challenge for the A’s as it was when they played each other last week in Houston.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the MLB Hispanic Heritage Museum, the Spanish play-by-play talent for the Oakland A’s, and does News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

Don’t leave town now, Stay awhile!: A’s sweep hapless Orioles with 2-1 win

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By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–The A’s sweep of the Orioles came with all the necessary elements: superior pitching, timely hitting and dependable defense.

But would that list accurately explain how the A’s won three games–by a combined five runs–in three days?

No way. This story starts with sorry state of affairs for the visiting Orioles and those 12 consecutive road losses.. and counting. Rarely, does one big league team catch another at its lowest point. The A’s did that when they welcomed the stumbling O’s to the Coliseum’s visiting clubhouse on Friday.

“They have an explosive offense and a great manager. You just hope they stay down while they’re here,” said manager Bob Melvin.

When the series began the A’s had their own issues, scuffling to score runs in a skid that saw four losses in five games. In response, Melvin implored his club to find its run-scoring groove earlier in ballgames. Melvin’s nudge worked Friday night when the A’s put up a four-spot in the first inning, but then his club scored twice in the next 18 innings, while going scoreless for the first 11 frames Saturday.

From Oakland’s perspective, not much change.

But it hardly mattered with the Orioles committing five errors in the series, scoring one run over the final 24 innings of the weekend, and looking defeated before they actually lost.

What’s wrong with the Orioles? Well to start, just about everything. They entered the year in a rebuilding phase, unable to go any further with a roster clearly inferior to AL East rivals Boston and New York, and things got worse from there. After Sunday, they’re a major league worst 8-26, hitting just .220 as a team, and they can’t catch or throw. Their 26 errors in 34 games ranks second-worst in the American League.

“We’ve got to man up, grow up, start playing better. Period. No ands, ifs or buts about it. We’ve just got to play better. We’re just not good enough right now,” said Orioles’ catcher Caleb Joseph.

On Sunday, veteran outfielders Adam Jones and Trey Mancini were late scratches, and platoon guys, CF Adam Gentry and 3B Pedro Alvarez, were in the Baltimore lineup but scuffling in one way or another. A’s starter Andrew Triggs, possibly still smarting from his unceremonious release from the Baltimore organization in March 2016, took it from there.

Triggs pitched seven, strong innings allowing two hits and striking out a season-high nine. The A’s pushed across a pair of runs in the fourth, and made them stand up in a 2-1 win. The Orioles threatened in the ninth, with a runner at third and one out, but closer Blake Treinen shut the door, getting Jace Peterson to ground out to second with the infield playing in. Then after intentionally walking Manny Machado, Treinen retired Chris Davis on a fly out to end it.

Standing near the game’s summary–as in foul territory adjacent to the diamond–was the story behind the story of how this game was won involving Triggs and Alvarez. In the spring of 2016, the then 29-year old Alvarez was a free agent, after he was non-tendered by the Pirates despite hitting 27 homers and appearing in 150 games for Pittsburgh in 2015.

When Alvarez drew little interest on the free agent market likely due to him averaging 177 strikeouts per season over his six full big league seasons, and being a below average defender at first and third base, the Orioles entertained the idea of signing the slugger and playing him in right field.

At the same time, Triggs had established himself as a minor league standout in the Baltimore organization, saving 17 games as a closer for Double-A Bowie while compiling a microscopic 1.03 ERA. That prompted the Orioles to add Triggs to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season, to prevent some team from poaching the right-handed prospect via the Rule 5 draft.

But when the Orioles agreed to a one-year deal with Alvarez for a price-friendly $5.75 million for one year, plus incentives, Triggs was released to make room for Alvarez on the 40-man roster. Soon thereafter, Triggs signed with the A’s.

Fast forward two years to Sunday, and what transpires? Alvarez hits a home run off Triggs in the second inning, but it’s the only run the A’s pitcher allows. Two innings later, Alvarez–playing third base despite his error-laden history–bobbles a throw from pitcher Alex Cobb, then recovers, only to make an errant throw to second base that ends up in right field. That allows two A’s baserunners to advance a base. The baserunners–Mark Canha and Matt Joyce–end up scoring the tying and eventual game-winning runs later in that inning.

The A’s moved a season-best, two games over .500 with the win.

On Monday, the A’s get a much stiffer challenge from the AL West-leading Astros at 7:05 p.m. Brett Anderson gets the start for the A’s, Dallas Keuchel for the Astros.

 

 

 

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel Dullum: D-backs to move out of Chase Field; Baseball looking to expand to 32 teams; Albert Pujols in the 3000 hit club

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http://www.pinterest.com file photo: Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field

MLB The Show podcast with Daniel:

1 Diamondbacks reach agreement with Maricopa County, seeking new stadium to replace crumbling Chase Field

2 Commissioner Rob Manfred hints at possible expansion to 32 teams

3 Albert Pujols reaches 3,000 hits; Ichiro Suzuki moves to Mariners’ front office

Daniel does the MLB podcast each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

A’s Score 4 in First, Need a Few More for 6-4 Win Over O’s

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Matthew Harrington

The Oakland A’s opened the weekend homestand against the Baltimore Orioles with a 6-4 win over the Birds friday night. The A’s rode homers from Khris Davis and Matt Olson in a four-run first inning, but needed Jed Lowrie’s RBI single in the sixth inning to pick up the win. Daniel Mengden fired five innings of three-hit, one-run ball for Oakland (16-16), but the Orioles tied the game off reliever Yusmeiro Petit in the sixth inning. Lou Trivino (2-0, 0.93 ERA) picked up the win in relief.

Adam Jones, appearing in career game 1,500 with the O’s, started the game with a solo homer for a 1-0 lead. Oakland bounced back in the bottom of the 1st though, with Khris Davis launching a three-run homer off Andrew Cashner and Matt Olson going back-to-back with a solo bomb.

Apart from Jones’ solo shot, Mengden pitched effectively outing but was pulled after five innings with 84 pitches under his belt. Petit entered the game giving up four consecutive singles to put the A’s ahead by just one at 4-3. He got the punch-out prone Pedro Alvarez for the first out, but gave up another single to Danny Valencia for a tie ballgame. Trivino came in and got a double play from Jace Peterson on just his 2nd pitch thrown.

Brad Brach, on in the bottom of the sixth after getting the last out in the fifth, saw  Stephen Piscotty reach base on a throwing error by Manny Machado. Jonathan Lucroy collected one of three hits on the night, doubling to put runners on second and third with no outs. Brach got Matt Joyce to fly out weakly, then saw his defense cut Piscotty down at the plate on a fielder’s choice, but the major’s hit leader Jed Lowrie would knock in his 31st RBI on a single to tag Brach (0-2, 5.84) with the loss. Marcus Semien would single in the insurance run in the 8th inning.

Oakland sends Trevor Cahill to the mound for Gme 2 of the series. The Orioles counter with Kevin Gausman. First pitch is at 6:05 pm PT.

Mariners win rubber match 4-1 over the A’s on same night Ichiro Suzuki shifts from field to front office

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Photo credit: @Mariners

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Seattle Mariners removed future Hall of Fame player Ichiro Suzuki from the active roster and moved him into a front office job with the club. The 44-year old Ichiro has amassed almost 3,100 hits in his MLB career and well over 4,000 when his hits in the Japanese League are added to the total. It was a very emotional night for Ichiro, the Seattle players and the entire city of Seattle.

Now for the Oakland A’s story of the game: The A’s ace, Sean Manaea, who was named as the American League Pitcher of the Month, had his worst outing of the year as the Mariners won the game 4-1. Manaea was done in by the Mariners’ Dee Gordon, Robinson Cano, and Nelson Cruz. Gordon was channeling his inner Rickey Henderson Thursday night as he finished the night 3-for-4, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. Gordon led off the bottom of the first with an infield single. Gordon promptly stole second and went to third on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Jean Segura. Second baseman Robinson Cano singled to drive in Gordon.

The Mariners’ believed that history repeats itself as Gordon double down the right-field line. Stephen Piscotty made a valiant effort to get to the ball. He could not get to the ball in time as it landed near the foul line and Gordon, who is very speedy, made it into second base handily. Segura laid down another sacrifice bunt to move Gordon to third. Cano singled to make it 2-0. Manaea now had to deal with Mariners’ slugger Nelson Cruz. Cruz, who has tormented the A’s over the years, sent Manaea’s pitch over the left-centerfield wall to put the Mariners ahead 4-0.

The A’s Stephen Piscotty hit his second homer of the year off reliever Chason Bradford in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1.

The Mariners did not score after the third, and the A’s were done after the fifth. Manaea’s line was six innings pitched, six hits, and four runs. Lou Trivino pitched one inning and gave up a hit. Casilla also went an inning and did not allow a hit. The Mariners’ starter, lefty Wade LeBlanc who was filling in for the injured Erasmo Ramirez, was lifted after four innings of work. LeBlanc allowed just three hits and no runs. Chason Bradford went 2 1/3 innings and picked up his third win of the year. James Pazos, Juan Nicasio, and Edwin Diaz closed out the game for Seattle.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the Mariners improved to 18-12 and find themselves just a 1/2 game behind the Los Angeles Angels (19-12) and the Houston Astros (20-13) for first place in the AL West. The A’s are 15-16 and are four games back of the Angels and Astros. The Angels moved into the first-place tie with Houston after sweeping the three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles, and the Astros had their problems with the New York Yankees, who beat the Astros three out of four.

Up Next: The A’s return home Friday night to face the woeful Baltimore Orioles for three games. The Orioles’ record is 8-23, and the team has been floundering. Hopefully, the A’s can make some hay this weekend as they have to face four top teams in the next two weeks. The schedule has them playing the Astros for three at home then they are off to New York, Boston, and Toronto.  Not an easy task.

Daniel Mengden (2-3, 4.68) starts Friday night for the A’s. Mengden was pounded by the Astros last week in Houston, but he is 2-1 in his last three starts. Mengden has never faced the Orioles. Andrew Cashner will take the ball for the Orioles. Cashner is 1-4 with an ERA of 4.76. Cashner is 1-0 lifetime against Oakland, Game time is at 7:05 pm PT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s rely heavily on pitching corp to get out of current rut; Oak A’s Manaea takes the stain off bad pitching starts Thursday

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Photo credit @Athletics: Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea gets ready to face Wade LaBlanc and the Seattle Mariners tonight at Safeco Field for the get away game catch on the coverage tonight with Jerry at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

On the A’s podcast with Jerry:

#1 The Oakland A’s pitching corp are trying to get things together it was another tough night for A’s starter Andrew Triggs, who went four innings, six hits, four runs, three walks and four strikeouts in the 6-3 loss to the Mariners Tuesday night.

#2 The A’s face Seattle in the getaway game on Thursday night. A’s starter Sean Manaea (4-2) gets the call for the A’s and he’ll face Mariners starter Wade LaBlanc (0-0). Manaea has had great command since he pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox in April.

#3 Wednesday, the A’s started Brett Anderson. Anderson made his first appearance for Oakland since September 28, 2013. Anderson last started a game for the A’s in April of that year.

#4 A’s pitcher Trevor Cahill has kept the A’s in ball games since he’s been up with the team and A’s manager Bob Melvin has been happy with the way Cahill has helped out.

#5 The A’s, after playing their series in Seattle, head back to the Oakland Coliseum to open a three-game series with the last place Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles, who have also been struggling, are last and 13 games back in the AL East

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

 

Mariners’ James Paxton dominates, but the A’s come back to win a thriller 3-2

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The A’s evened the series with the Seattle Mariners at one apiece Wednesday night. The A’s Brett Anderson, who was making his first start since being recalled from the Nashville Sounds, gave the team a quality start as he went 6 1/3 innings and allowed two runs and five hits. Anderson struck out four and walked one.

Anderson’s opponent, James Paxton, was dominant. Paxton struck out 16 A’s hitters, which was a Major League-high so far this year, and the A’s could not touch him. Paxton went seven innings and allowed no runs and five hits. Paxton walked just one hitter and struck out 16. Paxton was taken out of the game as he reached the 100-pitch limit. Yet, neither pitcher figured in the decision as the Mariners’ bullpen blew the save and the A’s bats woke up to win a thriller 3-2 at Safeco Field.

The Mariners scored twice in the bottom of the third. Former A’s third baseman, Ryon Healy, led off the inning with his fourth home run of the season. Anderson walked the ageless Ichiro Suzuki. The next hitter, Dee Gordon, grounded out 1-3. Ichiro was running on the pitch and Anderson’s only play was to get Gordon at first. Mariners’ shortstop Jean Segura lined a ball to left to drive in Ichiro with the second run of the inning. Segura was out trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Both Anderson and Paxton continued to pitch well. Anderson left the game in the top of the seventh with one out. Anderson had given up singles to Mitch Haniger and Kyle Seager. Bob Melvin had seen enough and brought in Ryan Dull to pitch. Dull did his job as he retired the next to hitters and the score remained 2-0 in favor of Seattle.

The Mariners brought in Juan Nicasio to pitch the eighth. Nicasio retired the first hitter. Melvin sent in Matt Joyce to pinch-hit for Chad Pinder. Joyce came through with a double to right-centerfield. Nicasio then had to pitch to Jed Lowrie. Lowrie, hitting from the left side, blasted his eighth big fly of the year to tie the game for Oakland. Lowrie now has 30 RBIs and leads the AL in that department.

A’s closer Blake Treinen was brought in to pitch the eighth and ninth. The Mariners loaded the bases with one out. Dee Gordon reached on an infield single. Segura lined a ball that hit the left-field wall on one bounce. Segura was called out at second, but the call was overturned. The A’s gave Robinson Cano an intentional walk to load the bases. Treinen reached back and struck out Nelson Cruz and Mitch Haniger to end the threat.

The A’s took the lead for good when Mark Canha slammed his fourth dinger of the season off Mariners’ closer, Edwin Diaz. Diaz retired the next three hitters. In the bottom of the ninth, Treinen had to walk the tightrope one more time. With one out, Mariners’ catcher Mike Zunino walked. Ryon Healy singled to put men on at first and second. Treinen struck out Ichiro for the second out.Dee Gordon reached on an infield single to load the bases. Gordon was called out but the Mariners challenged, and the call was overturned. Treinen had to find a way to retire Segura. His sinker was working, and he grounded out to end the game. The A’s win 3-2.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s evened their season record at 15-15. The Mariners dropped to 17-12, but did not lose ground as the Yankees beat the Houston Astros again 4-0. The Angels beat the Orioles and picked up a game on both the Astros and Mariners. The A’s remain in fourth place in the AL West.

Blake Treinen recorded the win and the Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz took the loss. Nicasio was charged with a blown save.

The three-game series concluded Thursday night in Seattle. It will again be a battle of two left-handed pitchers. Sean Manaea, who was named AL pitcher of the month, will go for Oakland. Manaea is 4-2 with an ERA of just 1.03. His opponent will be Wade LeBlanc. LeBlanc is 0-0 with an ERA of 4.61. Erasmo Ramirez was supposed to start, but he is out with an injury.

Time of game was two hours and 25 minutes.

11,603 fans attended the game.

Up Next: Game 3 between these two teams will be at 7:10 pm PT.

Mariners start May right with 6-3 win over A’s, thanks to Hernandez and Cruz

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Photo credit: @Mariners

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s knew that they were in for a tussle Tuesday night as they had to face their nemesis, Felix “King Felix” Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners’ big righty has owned the A’s over the years as he entered the game with a lifetime record of 25-10 against them. The A’s beat Hernandez in Oakland on April 15th, but they did not have any pixie dust working for them in Seattle. Hernandez went six-plus innings and gave up three hits and three runs. The A’s Andrew Triggs took the loss as he gave up six hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings of work. His record is now 2-1 for the year. The Mariners won the first game of the three-game series 6-3.

The A’s Jed Lowrie gave his team an early lead in the top of the first when he blasted his seventh home run of the year to right field. The Mariners tied the game in the bottom of the second. Kyle Seager doubled to start the rally. He tagged and went to third when Mitch Haniger flew out. Mariners’ catcher Mike Zunino followed with a double to drive in Seager.

The Mariners got to Triggs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Dee Gordon singled. He went to second when Triggs uncorked a wild pitch. Triggs walked Mariners’ shortstop Jean Segura to put men on at first and second. Triggs retired the next hitter but could not get by designated hitter Nelson Cruz. Cruz hit the pitch 410 feet and ended Triggs’ night. The Mariners lead 4-1 after five.

The Mariners added a run in the sixth, and the A’s came back and put two on the board in the seventh. Hernandez started the seventh, but had to come out after he walked Khris Davis and gave up a double to Matt Olson to put men on at second and third with no out. M’s manager Scott Servais brought in Nick Vincent to pitch. Vincent struck out Matt Chapman for the first out. Mark Canha reached on an infield single to drive in Davis with the A’s second run of the night. Matt Olson went to third, and he scored when Chad Pinder grounded out. The Mariners finished the scoring in the bottom of the eighth when they added an insurance run. The Mariners win 6-3.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s drop to 14-15, while the Mariners improve to 17-11. The Mariners have won three in a row and six of the last seven. The Mariners are now just 1 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The Astros lost to the Yankees 4-0 earlier in the evening.

Dee Gordon had five hits in five trips to the plate. Nelson Cruz continued to pound Oakland as he hit his sixth big fly in the fifth to put the M’s in the lead for good.

The line score for Oakland was three runs on four hits and no errors. Seattle’s line was six runs, nine hits, and no errors. M’s closer Edwin Diaz picked his 12th save of the year. Diaz leads the majors in that department.

Up Next: Game 2 of the series will be played Wednesday night in Seattle. The A’s will send lefty Brett Anderson to the mound to handle the pitching chores. Anderson, who broke in with Oakland in 2009 at age 29, was recalled from Nashville where he had a record of 1-1 and an ERA of 1.89. Anderson pitched for the Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays last year. Lefty James Paxton (1-1, ERA 5.12) will go for Seattle. Game time will be at 7:05 pm PT.

Oakland A’s podcast with Charlie O: Will playing opening season games in Japan be a norm; A’s and Mariners to open 2019 in Japan

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FILE – In this March 28, 2012, file photo, ground staff work prior to the American League season opening Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Oakland and Seattle will play an opening two-game series in Tokyo on March 20 and 21, the fifth time Major League Baseball will start its season in Japan. Oakland will be the home team for both games, Major League Baseball said Tuesday, May 1, 2018.(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File)

On the A’s podcast with Charlie O:

#1 Major League Baseball has committed to Japan the Oakland A’s and the Seattle Mariners who will play two exhibition games against two Japanese teams and two regular season games, which will open 2019 on March 20 and 21st.

#2 The A’s look like they’re focusing on the Howard Terminal Waterfront as their new stadium.

#3  The rumors about those aerial trams to get fans to the waterfront from 12th Street BART.

#4 You got to visit the Bronx Zoo for the first time in your broadcast career. What was that experience like?

Charlie O does the Oakland A’s podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com