Tag: Oakland A’s

Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara Mason: A’s just couldn’t stop Pads bats Sunday; Oakland hosts Seattle tonight at Coliseum

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The San Diego Padres Juan Soto helped the club pour it on the Oakland A’s. Here’s Soto taking a curtain call after hitting a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Barbara:

#1 The Oakland A’s (46-103) just completely got lit up on Sunday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum 10-1 by the San Diego Padres (72-78). The A’s dropped got swept by the Padres at home after going 3-3 on their last road trip.

#2 The Padres clubhouse was jubilant after the game with the win they captured their first four game win streak.

#3 The Padres Juan Soto hit two home runs in the nine run win. The Padres were noted to have been the only MLB team not to have over a three game win streak and were somewhat relieved to have picked up that fourth straight win.

#4 The A’s picked up their 103rd loss of the season the mark ties the 1979 A’s for 103 loses the most in A’s franchise history.

#5 The A’s open a three game series with the Seattle Mariners starting Monday night. Starting pitcher for Seattle Bryan Woo (3-4 ERA 4.16) he’ll be opposed by the A’s JP Sears (5-11 ERA 4.49) a 6:45pm PT at the Oakland Coliseum.

Barbara Mason does the Oakland A’s podcasts Mondays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Soto has grand time with 2 HRs in Padres landslide win over A’s 10-1

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Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers pegs out the San Diego Padres Jose Azocar at first base in the top of the sixth inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Sun Sep 17, 2023 (AP News photo)

San Diego (NL) (72-78). 000 202 240. – 10 13. 0

Oakland (46-103) 000 000 010 – 1. 6. 0

Time: 2:50

Attendance: 8,680

Sunday, September 17, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND—The A’s thought enough of Joe Boyle to have sent Sam Moll and an undisclosed amount of cash to the Cincinnati Reds two weeks before the Notre Dame alumnus’s 24th birthday to pluck him from the roster of the AA Southern Association Chattanooga Lookouts and assign him to the AA Midland Rock Hounds of the Texas League.

Three weeks later he was with the AAA Las Vegas Aviators, where he went 0-2, 2.25 over 16 innings in three starts in the hitter friendly PCL. Today he opened for the Oakland Athletics. It was an impressive debut for the fireballing right hander, who has been working on reducing his velocity in order to improve his control.

The youngster hurled three innings of one hit shutout ball, striking out four and walking two. He threw 58 pitches to the 12 batters he faced; 35 of those offerings counted as strikes. He wasn’t involved in the decision, an overwhelming 10-1 triumph for the visitors.

San Diego came into the game with a record of 71-78, considerably better but no less disappointing than Oakland’s game time 40-102. The Padres were considered a legitimate threat to the Dodgers’ domination of the NL-West, but Bob Melvin’s crew took the field with an elimination number of seven with 13 games left to play.

So it was a day to enjoy the game and not think about its consequences in the standings. If you’re looking for a meaningful contest in the bay area, the Modesto Nut’s open the California League’s championship round at 7:30 tonight at John Thurman field.

The visitors also went the bullpen route, using Rick Martínez, whose two most frequently used pitches are the changeup and sinker, although he also employs the curve, cutter, and four seamer, as an opener. His last 11 appearances had been in relief.

He had started seven games before this one, which he began at 5-4, 3.84. He shut the A’s out on one hit, a broken bat single by Zack Gelof in the first, before departing after three frames, replaced by Pedro Avila.

Ken Waldichuk relieved Boyle to start the fourth inning and promptly gave up three consecutive hits, a lead off double to Manny Machado and singles to Xander Bogaerts and Luis Campsano. A late throw to first on a double play attempt and an infield single netted two runs for the visitors.

Avila also had trouble with the first batters he faced, issuing a base on balls to Gelof and allowing a single to Brent Rocker before settling down to retire Seth Brown, Shea Langeliers, and Lawrence Butler to preserve the Padres’ 2-0 lead.

Waldichuk set down San Diego in order in the fifth but yielded a sharp single to Bogaerts, leading off the sixth. Luis Camposano’s hard shot to short took an unexpected hop over Nick Allen’s head , and what looked like it would be a double play became a single that put two men on with no one out.

José Azocar laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved both of them up 90 feet, and Matthew Batten drove the two of them in to double the friar’s advantage.

Juan Soto’s 31st home run of the season with one on and no one down in the top of the seventh stretched the gap between the two teams to a half a dozen tallies. Soto’s blast sailed over the 388 foot marker in right center field travelled 411 feet and left his bat at 106.9mph, about 16mph faster than Waldichuk’s four seamer came in at.

Avila capped his three inning shutout performance by fanning all three batters he faced in the sixth. Tom Cosgrove, the first of two southhpaws to pitch for the Padres this afternoon, took over in the bottom of the seventh. The A’s touched him for a couple of singles by Seth Brown and Lawrence Butler, but that was all.

Devin Sweet, the rookie recently claimed off what used to be called the waiver wire from Seattle, got the nod to pitch the top of the eighth. He plunked Azocar, gave up a single to Batten and a walk to Profar but struck out Eguy Rosario and Tatis.

Oh, and by the way, after Tatis fanned, Soto blasted his second four bagger of the afternoon, his first career grand slam, a 407 foot wallop to left that gave Ray Kerr, the Pads’ other lefty to pitch today, a 10 run lead to protect in the bottom of the frame.

Geloff’s two out homer to left cut insignificantly into that lead. It was the rookie’s 13th dinger of the year, and Kerr went on to protect that nine run margin with a 1,2,3 ninth

Francisco Pérez, Oakland’s fourth pitcher of the afternoon, pitched a perfect ninth.

Avila earned the win. His record now is 2-1, 3.38. Waldichuk earned the loss. His record now is 3-8, 5.40.

The Seattle Mariners come to town to open a three game series with the A’s, starting tomorrow, Monday, evening at 6:40. The probable pitchers are Oakland’s JP Sears (5-11, 4.45) and Seattle’s Bryan Woo (3-4, 4.16).

Mason Miller struggles in second start back from 60-Day IL, as A’s fall to Padres for third-straight loss

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Sep 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Brett Sullivan (29) appeals to the third base umpire on a check swing by Oakland Athletics first baseman Ryan Noda (49) during the fifth inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Noda was ruled out on the play. Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023

Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland, California

San Diego Padres 5 (71-78)

Oakland Athletics 2 (46-102)

Win: Matt Waldron (1-3)

Loss: Mason Miller (0-3)

Save: Josh Hader (29)

Time: 3:15

Attendance: 14,376

By Stephen Ruderman

OAKLAND–The San Diego Padres beat the Oakland A’s, 5-2, in the second game of this three-game series on a partly cloudy Saturday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum to hand the A’s their third-straight loss.

The A’s sent the young right-hander, Mason Miller, to the mound. Miller, who was making his second start since coming off the 60-Day Injured List, struggled with his control.

Miller walked Ha-Seong Kim, following a 1-2 count, to start the game; and then Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out for Juan Soto, who knocked Kim with a sacrifice fly to right. Xander Bogaerts then hit a donk single off the end of the bat into center for a base-hit to knock in Tatis and make it 2-0 Padres. Miller then issued a pair of two-out walks to load the bases, but he escaped further damage.

“Everytime [I’m] out there is a blessing and an opportunity,” said Miller. “I look to capitalize on things I’m struggling with, [and] make those adjustments week to week, outing to outing.” I don’t want to make any excuses for [my command].”

The knuckleballer, Matt Waldron, got the start for the Padres, and pitched scoreless innings in the bottom of the first and second. The A’s got to Waldron for a run to put the A’s on the board in the bottom of the third, as Nick Allen doubled to left with one out, and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Ryan Noda.

“I think that was my first time getting [a] hit off a knuckleball,” said Allen. “It was nice getting a double, [and] getting in scoring position for the guys.”

Luis Medina succeeded Mason Miller on the mound for the A’s, and threw a 1-2-3 top of the second, as well as a scoreless third. Medina remained in a groove in the top of the fourth, as he struck Trent Grisham out swinging to start the inning, and he got Matthew Batten looking for the second out. However, Medina walked Brett Sullivan, and gave up a single to Kim, which put runners at first and third. Medina walked Tatis to load the bases, and then he walked Soto to give the Padres a run for free.

Waldron pitched a scoreless bottom of the fourth for the Padres, and Medina came back out for the A’s in the top of the fifth. Medina hit Luis Campusano with a pitch to start the inning. He got Ji Man Choi to strike out swinging for the first out; he walked Grisham with one out; and got Batten looking again for the second out.

A’s Manager Mark Kotsay then opted to pull Medina for the lefty, Easton Lucas to face the left-handed-hitting Brett Sullivan. Sullivan hit a chopper to first that was picked up by A’s first-baseman, Ryan Noda, who threw a bouncer that went all the way to the A’s dugout.

Campusano and Grisham both scored to open the Padres’ lead to 5-1. Sullivan was originally awarded second base, but the third base umpire and crew chief, Dan Iassogna, convened the crew, and awarded Sullivan third since he had reached first before Noda got his throw off.

Mark Kotsay wanted an explanation as to why Sullivan was awarded third, and Iassogna checked in with the replay center in New York for a rule’s check, but he was backed up by Approved Ruling of Rule 5.06(b)(4)(G), which states:

“If all runners, including the batter-runner, have advanced at least one base when an infielder makes a wild throw on the first play after the pitch, the award shall be governed by the position of the runners when the wild throw was made.”

Zack Gelof hit a home run to left off Waldron to start the bottom of the sixth to cut the Padres’ lead to 5-2. Seth Brown struck out swinging, but after Aledmys Diaz singled to center, Waldron’s day was done. Padres Manager Bob Melvin brought in Scott Barlow, who gave up an opposite-field single to Lawrence Butler, which brought the tying run to the plate. However, Carlos Perez grounded back to the mound for a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning.

Easton Lucas ended up pitching two innings in total, and with two outs in the top of the seventh, he was replaced by Lucas Erceg, who would’ve ended up pitching a perfect inning and a third had Tatis not reached on an error with two outs in the top of the eighth.

Barlow ended up pitching an inning and a third of scoreless ball for San Diego, as did Robert Surarez. Dany Jimenez pitched a scoreless top of the ninth for the A’s, and the Padres summoned their closer, Josh Hader, for the bottom of the ninth.

Carlos Perez singled to left to start the bottom of the ninth, but Brent Rooker flew out to left; Nick Allen grounded into a fielder’s choice; and Shea Langeliers pinch-hit for Tony Kemp and struck out swinging to end the game.

The A’s will try and salvage a game in this series tomorrow, as they will send the young 6’7” right-hander Joe Boyle to be the opener in his major league debut.

[Joe Boyle] will open tomorrow,” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay. “We’re looking forward to this day tomorrow to see a young man that [has] earned this opportunity.” said A’s Manager Mark Kotsay.

Stephen Ruderman is a http://www.sportsradioservice.com contributor and podcaster

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Taking a look at the steps MLB will take to move A’s out of Oakland

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Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman is part of a three man MLB committee that will recommend relocating the Oakland A’s to Las Vegas. The committee will send their recommendation onto MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after doing the first step of the study. (AP file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, MLB announced that there will be a relocation vote in mid November. There are several steps to the process beginning with a three man executive committee which consists of Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, who is chairing the committee, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman. 

#2 The second step of the process is the recommendation gets passed along to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred who will look over the relocation application and no doubt put his stamp approval on it.

#3 After Manfred is finished with his approval it moves onto a eight man committee who will look it over for the renderings, the blue prints, how the move will benefit MLB, the topic of moving to the smallest MLB market will no doubt be part MLB considerations.

#4 Once the eight man committee has completed their study they will pass it onto the 30 MLB owners for the mid November vote which requires 75% approval to relocate the A’s from Oakland to Las Vegas.

#5 You have to wonder if Oakland was going to get an expansion team out of this then why move out of Oakland in the first place. Also revisiting Howard Terminal could be tougher than it was the first time with John Fisher and the A’s.

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

Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will MLB owners relocate A’s in mid November relocation vote?

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New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner will be one of the 30 owners to vote on the Oakland A’s relocation in mid November. Sources say Steinbrenner is not too favorable to the A’s leaving a big TV market for the smallest TV market in MLB. Will the other owners feel the same way? (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Daniel Dullum:

#1 Thursday MLB owners have decided to vote on the future of the Oakland A’s and their relocation to the Las Vegas Tropicana location. They have decided to hold the vote in mid November.

#2 Daniel, talk about the first step of the process with the MLB owners three man committee Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, who is chairing the committee, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman. They will be reviewing the A’s application and will send it for review to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

#3 After Manfred reviews the application he will send it to an MLB eight man executive council with his recommendation. The eight man council will be reviewing the environmental impact reports, the financial benefits, the TV market, the funding of the park, and weigh the benefits of moving to Las Vegas and moving out of Oakland.

#4 After the eight man council review the application they will then send it to the 30 Major League teams where the owner of each team will vote on the A’s relocation. The A’s need 75% of the vote in order to move the team to Las Vegas.

#5 Taking all things into consideration Daniel with what’s in front of the three steps at MLB to make this happen do you see any outside chance that MLB can get at least eight MLB teams to say no and get on board against the relocation? The minimum that would stop the move of the A’s.

Daniel Dullum does the Oakland A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: A’s have won 12 of last 22 games; Oakland has shown improvement despite picking up 100th loss

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Former Atlanta Braves starting pitcher now with the Oakland A’s Sean Newcomb works in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park in Cobb County GA on Sun Jul 29, 2023. Newcomb had to apologize after the game for sending sexist, racist and homophobic tweets six years ago. On Sat Aug 5, 2023 Newcomb kicked a garbage can into a fire extinguisher sending chemical spray all over the Braves clubhouse after a 10 inning loss. Newcomb had to apologize for both incidents. Newcomb starts tonight for the A’s against the San Diego Padres (AP file photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson:

#1 The A’s who went 3-3 on the last road trip in Arlington and Houston, lost two out of three in Texas and won two out of three in Houston. The A’s have played improved baseball going 12-10 in their last 22 games.

#2 The A’s were nearly no hit on Wednesday night in Houston by a combination of five Houston Astros pitchers. The A’s avoided getting no hit when Ryan Noda broke up the no hit bid with a single and later scoring in the inning.

#3 The A’s just couldn’t come back and fell to the Astros by four runs. The A’s lost their 100th game of the season with the 6-2 loss on Wednesday. This is the second year in a row they’ve lost 100 games.

#4 A couple of notes on tonight’s A’s starting pitcher Sean Newcomb, he comes over from the Atlanta Braves and nearly threw a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Jul 29th. After the game Newcomb also had to apologize during a post game presser with the media not about losing the no hitter but about sexist, racist and homophobic tweets he sent out six or seven years ago. Later Newcomb on Sat Aug 5th kicked a garbage can that hit a fire extinguisher in the Braves clubhouse in frustration that sent chemical dust up in the clubhouse while a large fan was running, the team couldn’t come in the clubhouse to change out of their uniforms this was after a long ten inning game. Newcomb was angry for giving up the game winning hit to the Miami Marlins for the 7-6 loss. Do you think these might have been some of the reasons why Newcomb was dealt to the A’s?

#5 Jeremiah talk about tonight’s match ups to open the series Seth Lugo(6-7, 3.80 ERA) will go for the Padres and will be opposed by the A’s lefty, Sean Newcomb (0-1, 0.75 ERA). First pitch at 6:40pm PT.

Join Jeremiah for the A’s podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB-Owners will vote in November regarding A’s Relocation

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Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio is part of a three owner relocation committee that will review the Oakland A’s relocation application and will forward the application to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. The relocation vote is expected to take place in mid November amongst the 30 baseball owners. (file photo by Bally Sports)

MLB-Owners will vote in November regarding A’s Relocation

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–It is now official. The major league baseball owners are scheduled to vote in November regarding authorization for the A’s to move from Oakland to Las Vegas. This vote is expected during the owners’ meeting in mid-November. The A’s need 75 percent of the owners to vote Yes, which is scheduled after the A’s submitted their relocation papers in August, according to what A’s owner John Fisher told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The MLB relocation committee is currently reviewing the A’s relocation papers. This committee includes Milwaukee Brewers chairman Mark Attanasio, Philadelphia Phillies CEO John Middleton, and Kansas City Royals CEO John Sherman.

Once they are finished reviewing this application, it will go directly to the Office of Commissioner Rob Manfred and the eight-man executive council with a recommendation.

Then the executive council will review their findings and make their recommendation to the 30 MLB clubs, before the vote in November. MLB expects all this to be resolved before their MLB Winter Meetings which will take place in Nashville, Tennessee from Dec 4 – 7,2023, which mostly deals with  the teams administrative business, trades, players contracts and so on.

If all this “committee business” sounds to you like something politicians do in Washington,D.C., it is because of all the major professional sports leagues in the country. Major League Baseball Is the oldest of the major American leagues and in cases of this importance (relocation) they do operate like the US Congress.

Note: The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world with millions of items a variety of formats. The world’s largest collection of things related to baseball is housed at the Library of Congress,in Washington, D.C.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the vice president of the Major League Baseball Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame Museum and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s Preview: A’s open 10 game homestand at Coliseum Friday

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Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Newcomb will get the start on Fri Sep 15, 2023 at the Oakland Coliseum against the visiting San Diego Padres (photo by clutchpoints.com)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s (46-100) come to the Oakland Coliseum Friday night to host the San Diego Padres (69-78) for three games. The A’s finished the six-game road trip against the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros with a record of 3-3. The A’s are 12-10 in their last 22 games. The team has done better in all three phases of baseball lately. The pitching has been good, the offense has come to life, and the A’s defense has been solid.

The A’s will welcome their former skipper, Padres manager Bob Melvin, back to the Coliseum for the first time since leaving Oakland after the 2021 season. Melvin managed the A’s starting midway through the 2011 season and was with the club for ten and 1/2 years.

Melvin took the A’s to the playoffs six times in his tenure at the helm. Melvin was named manager of the year in 2012 when the A’s won the AL West division title on the last day of the season, and in 2018 when the team won 97 games.

Unfortunately for Melvin, his 2023 Padres team has been a disappointment. The Padres finished second in the NL West in 2022 with a record of 89-73. The Padres superstar Fernando Tatis, Jr. was suspended for 80 games for using an illegal substance.

The Padres signed free agent Xander Bogaerts to an eleven-year contract in the off-season to bolster the Padres infield. The Padres, in the 27th largest market, have a payroll of $251.1 million, the third highest in baseball. The Mets are number one with $336 Million, and the Yankees are second with a payroll of $268.

All three teams are underachieving this year. The Padres are 69-78 in fourth place in the NL West. Bob Melvin is in the second year of a three-year contract. There have been rumors that Melvin is on the hot seat, and his days as the Padres manager might end at the end of the season.

The Padres, like many other teams in baseball, have had injuries to key players. Two starting pitchers, Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish, are out for the season. Catcher Gary Sanchez will not play again this year due to a wrist injury. First baseman Jake Cronenworth is also out for the year. However, the Padres have several key players that can be productive.

Their key players are third baseman Manny Machado, Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, and outfielders Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis. Soto leads the club with 30 homers and 90 RBIs. Machado is right behind with 28 dingers and 84 runs batted in.

Tatis, who missed the early part of the season due to his suspension, has belted 24 homers and knocked in 74. Bogaerts helped the offense with 18 big flies and 50 ribbies. Other players that can do damage include second baseman Ha-seong Kim, outfielder Trent Grisham, and first baseman Garrett Cooper.

As mentioned above, the injury jinx has hit the Padres pitching staff hard. However, starters Blake Snell and Michael Wacha have performed well for San Diego. Neither pitcher will face the A’s this weekend. The probable pitchers for the series will be Seth Lugo(6-7, 3.80 ERA) will go for the Padres and will be opposed by the A’s lefty, Sean Newcomb (0-1, 0.75 ERA).

On Saturday, The A’s Mason Miller, who pitched two scoreless innings against the Astros last Monday, will be opposed by Matt Waldron. Sunday’s game will feature Lefty Ken Waldichuk against the PAdres’ Pedro Avila. Waldichuk no-hit the Houston Astros for six innings last Monday, and it was Waldichuk’s best outing of the season.

The A’s, as mentioned above, have been playing better lately. Second baseman Zack Gelof has helped the A’s gain respectability with his outstanding play. Other players contributing to the A’s recent success include first baseman Ryan Noda, catcher Shea Langeliers, and outfielders Brent Rooker and Seth Brown.

Neither team has much to play for except bragging rights. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how the teams perform. A’s manager, Mark Kotsay, has his team playing hard until the final out. They may be down, but there is no quit on this young team. The Padres are a mystery. With all their talent, the question is, why are they floundering? On paper, they should easily handle the A’s. Will it happen? That’s why they play the games.

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Good pitching beats good hitting; A’s can’t sweep nearly no hit by Houston

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The Oakland A’s Ryan Noda (left) runs past Houston Astros Yanier Diaz (right) for the A’s first run of the game in the bottom of the ninth inning at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed Sep 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

On the Oakland A’s podcast with Jerrry F:

#1 The Oakland A’s were prepared to sweep the Houston Astros on Wednesday night but as the old baseball saying goes good pitching beats good hitting. The Houston Astros used five pitchers who narrowly no hit the A’s. The Astros wound up with a two hit 6-2 win at Minute Maid Field.

#2 The Astros pitching into the ninth inning coughed up two runs but it wasn’t enough for the A’s to come back falling four runs short. Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly gave up the two hits and two runs in the failed no hit attempt.

#3 Jerry, talk about the Astros four run third inning off A’s pitcher Paul Blackburn who exited after the inning. Blackburn’s line three innings, four hits and four earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts.

#4 Jerry talk about Ryan Noda’s single on the bottom of the top of the ninth inning off Pressly to end the Astros no hit bid.

#5 The A’s will open up a ten game homestand against the San Diego Padres on Friday night. Starting pitcher for San Diego Seth Lugo (6-7 ERA 3.80) for Oakland Sean Newcomb (0-1 ERA 0.75) a 6:45pm PT first pitch at the Oakland Coliseum.

Jerry is a A’s reporter and does A’s podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Astros almost no-hit A’s beat the Green and Gold 6-2 at Minute Maid

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Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly thanks the almighty after striking out the Oakland A’s Brent Rooker to end the ball game in the top of the ninth at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Wed Sep 13, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s were set to sweep the Houston Astros Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park . The A’s won the first two games by shutting down the Astros’ potent lineup. The A’s had Paul Blackburn on the hill. His task was to give the A’s a quality start and hope the A’s offense could come through for the third straight game.

Unfortunately for Oakland, the Astros’ pitchers turned the tables on the A’s. The A’s recorded their first hit of the game with one out in the ninth. Had the Astros no-hit the A’s, the A’s would have been the second team in Major League history to have been the victims of a perfect game and a no-hitter in the same season. The only team to have that happen was the 2010 Tampa Bay Rays. As it was, the Astros beat the A’s 6-2.

With one out in the bottom of the third, Blackburn walked Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena. The next hitter, Yordan Alvarez, who had hit 21 home runs against the A’s since 2019, stepped to the plate. Alvarez launched a missile that left the park traveling 117.7 miles per hour. It was Alvarez’s 27th big fly of the season. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman followed with his 23rd home run of the year to give the Astros a 4-0 lead. Blackburn labored through the inning. He threw 34 pitches and was done for the night. 

The Astros added a run in the fifth to make it 5-0. Lefty Kyle Muller was pitching for Oakland. With two out, Michael Brantley singled.. Astros’ catcher Yainer Diaz doubled to drive in Brantley. The Astros made it 6-0 in the seventh.

Lefty Easton Lucas, acquired from Baltimore in the trade for Shintaro Fujinami, retired the first two Houston hitters. Lucas had to face Kyle Tucker now. Tucker was hitless in ten trips to the plate in the series. However, Tucker had owned A’s pitching before this series.

Tucker found one of Lucas’ pitches to his liking and sent it out of the park to make it a 6-0 game. For Tucker, it was his 105th run batted in. Tucker leads the AL in that department. It was his 27th home run of the year and his 100th career homer.

The A’s put two runs on the board in the ninth. Astros’ closer Ryan Pressly was on the mound to finish off the A’s. Four Houston pitchers had held the A’s hitless for eight innings. Pressly retired Tony Kemp for the first out. Zack Gelof walked. He was the fourth base runner of the game for the A’s. All Pressly had to do was get the next two outs without a hit.

Ryan Noda, who hits from the left side, broke up the no-hitter with a single up the middle, sending Gelof to third. Seth Brown singled to drive in Gelof with Oakland’s first run. Noda went to third on the play and scored on Shea Langelier’s sacrifice fly. Pressly struck out Brent Rooker to end the game. The Astros won 6-2.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 46-100 for the year. This is the second consecutive year that the A’s will have lost 100 or more games in a season. The Astros improved to 83-64. The Astros needed the win as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Seattle Mariners beat the LA Angels. The Astros have a one-game advantage over the Rangers and a game and 1/2 lead over Seattle. With 15 games left in the season, the race will go down to the wire.

The Line for Oakland was two runs, two hits, and no errors. Blackburn was the losing pitcher. He pitched three innings, allowing four runs, four hits, and two home runs. 

The line for Houston was six runs, nine hits, and no errors. The Astros hit three home runs. The winning pitcher was Hunter Brown. Brown went five innings, allowing no hits and no runs. He struck out seven and walked two. 

The A’s are off on Thursday. The A’s will host the San Diego Padres for three games starting Friday night. Former A’s manager Bob Melvin will return to the Coliseum for the first time after leaving in 2021. Melvin took the A’s to the playoffs six times in the ten years he managed the club. Lefty Sean Newcomb (0-1 ERA 0.75) will go for Oakland. Seth Lugo (6-7 ERA 3.80) will go for San Diego. The game will start at 6:40 p.m.