San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws to the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of an exhibition baseball game Thursday, March 30, 2017, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
by Ana Kieu
The San Francisco Giants shutout the Oakland Athletics 3-0 in the first game of the Bay Bridge Series at AT&T Park Thursday night.
Giants fans got their first look at infielder Chris Marrero, who hit an opposite-field double and made a running catch in left field.
A’s pitcher Sean Manaea held the Giants hitless for four perfect innings, throwing 43 pitches in his final start as Oakland’s No. 2 starter.
Manaea told MLB.com: “Today was a good indicator of where I’m at…Mentally, physically, everything’s feeling really good. So, happy with how spring ended and just want to take it into Opening Day.”
Manaea added: “Came into spring and I just wanted to be more consistent with everything — mechanics, changeup, slider…I felt like I definitely accomplished that. It was a little rough at the beginning, but the past two or three starts have been right where I wanted to be. Today, everything just came together.”
Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto had six hits and two strikeouts over five innings on the mound.
Cueto told the San Francisco Chronicle: “Didn’t feel like a spring training game. It felt like it was already the regular season, but I guess that has to do with the fans who’re always really good here in San Francisco.”
But then the Giants broke through in the bottom of the seventh inning with three runs. Brandon Crawford and Eduardo Nunez hit RBI singles. Joe Panik added a sacrifice fly.
The Giants took game one of the three-game Bay Bridge Series with a 3-0 shutout victory over the A’s. Tyson Blach (2-1, 4.22 ERA) picked up the win. Closer Mark Melancon made one save.
Daniel Coulombe (0-3, 5.79 ERA) lost his third straight start with the A’s.
Notes Longtime Giants television broadcasters Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper signed multi-year extensions on NBC Sports Bay Area.
Giants pitcher Mark Melancon made his first appearance in San Francisco.
Up Next
The Giants return home to host the A’s Friday at 7:15 p.m. PST on KNTV. Then, both teams return to Oakland for a Saturday matinee at 12:05 p.m. PST on CSCA before having a much-needed day off before 2017 MLB Opening Day. The Giants face the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday at 1:10 p.m. PST on CSBA, ESP2 and FSAZ.
Sonny Gray returned to action in the A’s loss to the Angels on Wednesday (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today Sports)
By: Eric He
ANAHEIM — Sonny Gray made his return to the mound and threw a scoreless inning on Wednesday night, but the A’s fell 8-6 to the Angels at Angel Stadium.
An 8-run fourth inning by the Angels making the difference.
Ross Detwiler, who replaced Gray in the second inning, was charged with all 8 runs and a 2-0 A’s lead turned into a blowout for the home team rather quickly.
It started with Andrelton Simmons knocking in Jefry Marte with a single to right to cut the lead to 2-1. After a double by Jett Bandy to center field, Los Angeles evened the score when Danny Valencia couldn’t handle a ground ball hit to third, and Simmons crossed home plate to tie the game. And the next batter, Shane Robinson, ripped a double down the left field line to plate two more and give the Angels a 4-2 lead.
A’s manager Bob Melvin thought Detwiler looked good in his first couple of innings.
“Early on, it looked like he had good stuff,” he said. “Usually you can tell when he’s on. He had good movement, good mix right away and then got some balls up, got some funky counts.”
Melvin then went out to the mound to check in on Detwiler, but the lefty promptly allowed a 2-run home run to Kole Calhoun on the very next pitch. Chris Smith relieved Detwiler, but Smith walked in a run with the bases loaded and the Angels scored once more on an error by catcher Bruce Maxwell. In all, 8 runs crossed the plate in a disaster of an inning for Oakland.
“The Calhoun [home run] was the one that really hurt,” Melvin said. “Coming in and not being the starter … He’s relieved and started for us and shouldn’t have been an issue.”
The A’s did come back with four unanswered runs, as Khris Davis drilled his 41st home run of the season in the sixth and Marcus Semien hit a 2-run blast in the eighth to cut the deficit to 8-6.
“That’s a big blow for us right there where we feel like we’re back in the ball game,” Melvin said. “[Angels closer Andrew Bailey] wasn’t available today and we thought going into the ninth, we had a chance.”
But they could not duplicate that success in the ninth, as the A’s went down 1-2-3 to end the game.
The A’s jumped on Angels’ starter Alex Meyer right off the bat, taking a 1-0 lead three batters into the game on back-to-back doubles by Stephen Vogt and Ryon Healy, who just missed a home run in center field. Later in the inning, Yonder Alonso singled to right to bring Healy home after Calhoun bobbled the ball in the outfield.
As for Gray, he was satisfied with his performance. He pitched around a leadoff single in the first inning before being taken out with 18 pitches thrown. Detwiler replaced him to start the second.
“It was an inning but honestly I felt like I could’ve went longer,” Gray said. “I hadn’t thrown an inning in more than two months. I was little nervous before the game.”
Gray has been bottled up by injury and has struggled this season, coming into the game with a 5-11 record and a 5.74 ERA in 21 starts. He went on the disabled list on Aug. 7th with inflammation in his right elbow and forearm.
“That’s our guy,” Melvin said. “Just for us to know as a team, he went out there and was healthy, looked like the old Sonny — psychologically, it was good for our ballclub.”
The A’s head to Seattle tomorrow to face the Mariners their final series of the season.
The comeback of right-handed pitcher Henderson Alvarez has come to an abrupt halt after another disappointing development in his rehabilitation.
The A’s signed Alvarez expecting that he could return to pitching as soon as May as he recovered from shoulder surgery. There have been three attempts to get Alvarez ready in the minor leagues to make his major league comeback, but all have fallen short.
The next step is for Alvarez is to see Dr. James Andrews who will examine the shoulder and recommend further action. A recent MRI showed no structural damage but a second shoulder surgery looms as a possibility.
The 26-year-old Alvarez is under the A’s control for 2017, but a shoulder surgery would mean he would be unable to pitch next year. The A’s would have to decide if they would want to invest in a contract that would not pay off until 2018.
“I really feel bad for him,” Melvin said Tuesday. “This is a guy that’s worked so hard to get back with us and been right on the cusp a couple different times and had to go back and go through the rehab process again, which is very difficult to do, so my heart goes out to him.”
There is another Alcantara in the house
The A’s have added another player to the expanded September roster. Infielder/outfielder Arismendy Alcantara was recalled from the Stockton Ports on Tuesday. This will be the fourth time Alcantara has been on the Major League roster this season.
Alcantara was used a pinch runner in the Tuesday night game versus the Angels. After Billy Butler singled in the eighth inning, Alcantara ran for Butler and scored the A’s second run of the game when Joey Wendle singled to right field.
A’s claim RHP off waivers from Tigers
The A’s claimed right-handed pitcher Donn Roach off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. Roach was assigned to Triple-A Nashville. The Sounds will need pitching help for the Pacific Coast League Playoffs as they have lost three starting pitchers – Mengden, Alcantara and Cotton – to the A’s expanded Major League roster.
Roach started the season in the Seattle organization. He made four relief appearances for the Mariners and 17 starts for Triple-A Tacoma before being designated for assignment on August 6.
The TigerS claimed the 26-year-old Roach off waivers and assigned him to Triple-A Toledo. He made five starts for the Mud Hens and posted a 3-1 record with a 3.03 ERA.
Roach made his Major League debut in 2014 with the San Diego Padres. He has also pitched for the Cubs in the big leagues.
A’s nominate Doolittle for Clemente Award
The Oakland A’s have selected relief pitcher Sean Doolittle as the A’s nominee for the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award for his outstanding efforts in the community.
Each Major League team nominates a player they believe deserves the award based on their service to the community.
Doolittle works to assist military families, is a leader among Major Leaguers in helping to create LBGT alliances and hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for Syrian refugees at his home in Chicago.
The award is named after and is a tribute to the Hall of Fame baseball player and great humanitarian who lost his life in an airplane crash bringing aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972.
Fans can vote for their favorite nominee by posting the nominee’s hashtag to @MLB on Twitter or on Facebook.com/MLB. Doolittle’s hashtag is #VoteDoolittle.
Scarsone named PCL Manager of the Year
Nashville Sounds manager Steve Scarsone has been named Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year. The award is given based the voting of the league’s managers and media representatives.
Nashville – which won the American Southern Division title – had 22 players spend time with the Sounds before being called up to the Oakland A’s this season. Of the Athletics’ current 25-man roster, 14 were with Nashville before being promoted to Oakland.
Scarsone is in his fourth season as the A’s Triple-A manager having been the skipper in Sacramento prior to the move to Nashville. He has been a manager in the A’s minor league system in Class-A and Double-A as well.
Scarsone played seven seasons in the Major Leagues as a utility infielder.
Christenson awarded Texas League Manager of the Year
Midland RockHounds manager Ryan Christenson has been named Manager of the Year in the Texas League. He is currently trying to lead his team to its second consecutive Texas League Championship.
Christenson is in his second year as manager at Midland. He managed for the A’s minor league teams in Beloit and Stockton before being promoted to the Double-A RockHounds.
Christenson spent parts of six seasons in the Major Leagues with most of his games being played for the Oakland Athletics. He also spent time with Arizona, Milwaukee and Texas.
Oakland Athletics left fielder Khris Davis Photo Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
by Charlie O. Mallonee
Just when it looked like a no-hitter was going to be pitched against the Oakland Athletics by Eduardo Rodriguez on Sunday, a 19-second video review overturned a call at first that would have been the third out in the bottom of the eighth inning and the bid for a no-hitter was over. Frankly, what happened next was unexpected.
The Red Sox brought in closer Craig Kimbrel to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning of the scoreless game. Danny Valencia led off the inning with a base on balls. With the potential winning run at first, the power-hitting Khris Davis came to the plate and hit a double to left field. Boston left fielder Brock Holt had trouble fielding the ball and Valencia was able to come home for the winning run. Davis was credited with a double and Holt was charged with an error so the run was unearned.
The Athletics defeated the Red Sox 1-0 in the final game of the three-game series. For the A’s, they score one run on just two hits while leaving six men on base. Oakland committed one error. Boston scored no runs off six hits and left nine men on base. The Red Sox committed two errors in the game.
On the Bump
It was a day that was all about pitching. The A’s had given up 27 runs in the first two games versus the Red Sox. Oakland needed a shutdown performance to give them a chance to salvage a win in the final game of the series.
A’s starter Kendall Graveman (10-9, 3.81) gave his team that chance on Sunday. He worked 6.1 scoreless innings for his team. Graveman struck out seven and walked just two. He threw 112 pitches (71 strikes).
A’s manager Bob Melvin said after the game that the key to the win was Graveman’s ability to work his way out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the fourth inning.
For all of his hard efforts, Graveman earns a no decision for the day.
Ryan Dull came on to relieve Graveman in the seventh inning with runners at first and second. Dull closed out the seventh and faced just four batters in the eighth inning to keep the shutout intact.
Closer Ryan Madson was brought in for the top of the ninth inning. He put the side down in order to keep Boston without a run on the board. Madson was the pitcher of record when Valencia scored the winning run so he picks up the win. Madson is now 5-4 on the season.
Graveman, Dull and Madson combined to shutout a very powerful Boston Red Sox team.
For most of the game, it appeared that Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 4.83) would be the story of the contest by pitching a no-hitter. The Red Sox left-hander was in command on the mound right from the beginning of the game. He struck out five and walked just two batters. Rodriguez had three 1-2-3 innings.
Rodriguez was cruising to another three-up, three-down inning when the unthinkable happened. With two out and Marcus Semien at the plate, the A’s shortstop hit a ball right back to the mound at the feet of the pitcher. Rodriguez could not find the ball. When Rodriguez finally found the ball, he fired it to first and Semien was called out. Almost immediately, the A’s were calling for a review and the umpires initiated a review because it was after the seventh inning.
It only took 19-seconds for video control in New York to overturn the call and Semien was called safe. That was all for the no hit bid. Rodriguez got Jake Smolinski to ground out to end the eighth inning.
Rodriguez pitched 8.0-innings giving up no runs on one hit. He struck out five and walked two. He threw 110 pitches (72 strikes). Rodriguez is now 0-2 with a 2.83 ERA in his last five starts.
Craig Kimbrel takes the loss for the Sox. He gave up one run on one hit. He walked one hitter. Kimbrel’s record falls to 2-4 for the year.
In the Batter’s Box
The Khris Davis double was the highlight for the Athletics on Sunday. Davis went 1-for-4 in the game including two strike outs but kept his concentration and aggressiveness when his team needed it the most. For Davis, it was his 20th double of the year and his 85th RBI.
It was Big Papi’s last appearance at the Coliseum on Sunday and things did not go the way he would have liked them go. Ortiz went 0-for-2 on the day with two walks.
Rookie Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 for his second consecutive multi-hit game.
In the Field
The Red Sox $60-million man – Rookie Yoan Moncada – committed his first big league error on Sunday. In the bottom of the second inning, Moncada attempted to field a ground ball hit to third by Ryon Healy. Moncada did not get in front of the ball and wound up waving at the ball with his glove as it bounced by him into left field. Even top prospects are humbled by the baseball.
Danny Valencia was charged with an error in the fourth inning when his throw to Marcus Semien drew the shortstop off the bag and allowed the runner to be called safe in what should have been a force out. The runner was originally called out and the Red Sox had to challenge the call. It took 1-minute 19-seconds for the original call to be overturned and for the error to be charged to Valencia.
Up Next – Here come the rookies
The A’s will host the LA Angels for a three-game series that will get underway on Monday afternoon at 1:05 PM. That game will feature the debut of RHP Raul Alcantara for the Athletics. Alcantara began the season at Double-A Midland and was then promoted to Triple-A Nashville. Alcantara made eight starts at Nashville and posted a 4-0 record with a 1.18 ERA.
LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 4.66) will start for Oakland on Tuesday night. The Angels have not named a starter.
The Wednesday afternoon game will feature another Major League debut as RHP Jharel Cotton will take the mound for the A’s. Cotton came to the A’s from the Dodgers as a part of the Josh Reddick/Rich Hill trade. Cotton made six starts for the Sounds and recorded a 3-1 record with a 2.82 ERA. One of those wins was a one-hitter that came very close to being a no-hitter. That performance won Cotton the PCL Player of the Week.
Alcantara and Cotton will be the 11th and 12th rookie pitchers to appear for the A’s this season. They will be the 26th and 27th pitchers used by Oakland in 2016.
The Coco Crisp era in Oakland has come to an end. The A’s and the Cleveland Indians have reached an agreement on a trade that sends Crisp back to his original major league team.
In return, the Athletics will receive minor league left-handed pitcher Colt Hynes.
Cleveland has been looking for outfield help since Michael Brantley went out for the rest of the season due to surgery on his right biceps. The Indians have been using a group of five players to platoon against right-handed and left-handed pitching. The switch-hitting Crisp can be used in all situations.
The Indians will lose one of the outfielders they are using in post-season play. Abraham Almonte is not eligible for the post-season because he was suspended for the first 81 games of the season due to a positive test for a performance-enhancing substance. He is not allowed to participate in the post-season as a part of his punishment.
Crisp gives the Indians a player with post-season experience. He has participated in divisional and championship play with Boston and Oakland. Crisp was also a member of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox team.
Crisp was batting .234 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 102 games for the A’s this season. He leads the majors with a .424 batting average with runners in scoring position. Crisp can play all three outfield positions.
Crisp had recently expressed his unhappiness with the A’s over the way he was being used as a player. Crisp has an incentive based $13-million contract for 2017 that would automatically vest if he plays 130 or more games this season. He felt the A’s were deliberately platooning him in the outfield to avoid having the final year of the contract go into force.
LHP Colt Hynes has been well traveled this year. He started the season with the Toronto organization and was traded to Cleveland on August 3rd. Hynes has pitched at the Double-A and Triple-A level this year with a combined record of 3-1 with two saves and an ERA of 3.99 in 38 relief appearances. He has pitched in the Major Leagues for San Diego and Toronto.
Infielder Joey Wendle has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take Crisp’s place on the roster. He was battling .279 with 12 home runs and 61 RBI for the Sounds. Wendle came to the A’s from Cleveland in 2014 as part of the Brandon Moss trade
The Oakland Athletics bats came alive on Sunday as they hit two home runs and three doubles to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-4. The victory also gave the A’s the series win 2 games to one. To win a series from a potential playoff team on the road has to be very satisfying to an Oakland team that has struggled so much in the month of August.
The A’s offense was facing left-hander Jamie Garcia who was seeking his 11th win of the season. The A’s served notice in the top of the first that they were not going to go down easy when Khris Davis hit a two-run home run (34) to right center field to give Oakland an early 2-0 lead.
The A’s never trailed in game as they scored seven runs on nine hits while leaving four runners on base. The A’s played error free baseball. The Cards scored four runs on eight hits and left three runners on base. St. Louis committed two errors in the contest.
The A’s are now 57-73 for the season and the Cardinals fall to 68-61 for the year.
In the Batter’s Box
Khris Davis continues to lead the way for the A’s by using his power to put runs up on the board. Davis hit his two-run home run with a 3-2 count, two out and Danny Valencia on at first. For Davis it was his 34th home run of the season and his 84th and 85th RBIs of the campaign.
Ryon Healy extended his major league leading hitting streak to 14 games as he went 2-for-3 on Sunday. Both of Healy’s hits were doubles off Garcia. He did score a run when he was driven home on Vogt’s home run in the third inning.
Speaking of Stephen Vogt, he had a 1-for-3 day by hitting his 11th home run of the year – a three-run shot and had a total of four RBIs in the game. Vogt has 40 RBIs for the season.
Danny Valencia was a real contributor on Sunday as he went 3-for-4 with the bat. He hit his 18th double, scored two runs and added an RBI. Valencia did all of that in seven innings as he was lifted in a double switch (inter-league game in a National League park).
Matt Carpenter was the man with bat for the Cardinals on Sunday. He had a 3-for-4 game that included a home run (17), two doubles (29), 3 runs scored and a RBI (58). Carpenter did all of that from the leadoff spot in the order.
On the Bump
Right-hander Andrew Triggs made his fifth start of the year for the A’s on Sunday and picked up his first win as a starter. He worked 6.0 innings giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits (one hit was the HR to Carpenter). Triggs struck out eight Cardinal batters and walked none. He threw 88 pitches (58 strikes) while facing 22 batters. Triggs should be very happy with his performance and the run support from his teammates.
Ryan Dull came on to relieve Triggs in the seventh inning. Dull gave up one run on two hits in his time on the hill. After allowing a single to Greg Garcia, Alberto Rosario hit a double to right field off Triggs. Eibner fielded the ball, threw it to Pinder -the cutoff man. Pinder decided to throw home. It was too late to put out Garcia who scored but catcher Stephen Vogt realized Rosario was heading for third. Vogt fired the ball to Healy who put the tag down and Rosario was the third out of the inning. For our Sabrmetrics readers, the play went 9-4-2-5. You will not see that scoring breakdown very often during the season.
Liam Hendriks worked an inning for the second game in a row. He allowed no runs on no hits while striking out one batter. It was his sixth hold of the year.
Ryan Madson came on in the bottom of the ninth because it was a save situation. The A’s closer did give up two hits in the inning but Madson kept things under control to close out the game and pick up his 27th save of the season.
Up Next
The A’s left St. Louis and traveled to Houston where they will begin a three-game series with the Astros on Monday night.
LHP Sean Manaea (5-8, 4.53) will be the starter for Oakland. Manaea’s last outing was a 7.0 inning performance versus the Cleveland Indians where he allowed just one run on three hits and struck out eight batters. He picked up his fifth win of the season in that game.
The Astros will counter with RHP Joe Musgrove (1-2, 5.20). Musgrove was called up from Triple-A Fresno on August 2nd. This will be his fifth start for Houston since being promoted. Musgrove has lost his last two starts. In his last start on Tuesday against Pittsburg, Musgrove lasted just 4.0 innings giving up five runs on eight hits. He was charged with the loss.
The A’s and Astros play a night game on Tuesday and wrap up the series with a day game on Wednesday.
The Cardinals left for Milwaukee where they will play a three-game set with the Brewers.
The Oakland Athletics ended up on the right side of a one-run game on Saturday night when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2. For a team that has been on the wrong end of so many close games this season, to win a one-run game on the road against a team that may well wind up in the playoffs has to be a confidence builder.
The game was decided in the top of the eighth inning. With Oakland (56-73) trailing 2-1 and one out, the A’s Khris Davis lined a single to center. Rookie Ryan Healy extended his major league leading hitting streak to 13 games when he hit a double to left field that moved Davis up to third.
The Cardinals (68-60) made a pitching change after Healy’s double sending reliever Matt Bowman to the showers and bringing in Seung Hwan Oh to pitch. Max Muncy hit a grounder to first baseman Brandon Moss who decided to throw home to try and throw out Davis who was attempting to score from third. Davis scored and Muncy was safe on a fielder’s choice while Healy moved up to third. It was one of those “hero or goat” decisions that did not go the way Moss wanted it to go.
Brett Eibner was the next A’s batter and he hit a fly ball to shallow center field. When the ball was caught, Healy was on the third base bag and he took off for home. The throw home bounced away from catcher Yadier Molina and Healy scored what would turn out to be the winning run of the game.
The series is tied at 1-1 with the rubber game of the match to be played on Sunday.
On the Bump
RHP Zach Neal made his fourth start of the year for the A’s on Saturday. He gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 6.0 innings of work. He struck out six hitters and walked none. He did give up a home run Randal Grichuk. Neal threw 91 pitches (61 strikes) while facing 24 Cardinal batters. Despite his strong outing, Neal did figure into the decision.
LHP reliever Daniel Coulombe took over for Oakland in the bottom of the seventh inning. Coulombe worked 1.1 innings allowing no runs, no hits and no walks to go with three strike outs. He was the pitcher of record when the A’s took the lead in the top of the eighth inning so Coulombe picked up his second win of season.
The A’s changed pitchers with one out in the top of the eighth inning and RHP Liam Hendriks entered the game. Hendriks faced two batters and struck both out to end the inning.
The bottom of the ninth was closer time. RHP Ryan Madson set the side down in order allowing no hits and no walks while striking out one. He recorded his 26th save of the year.
The big story of the game for St. Louis was the start by RHP Alex Reyes. Mike Leake was scheduled to pitch but has be diagnosed with shingles and may be on the sidelines for sometime.
Reyes – who had to deal with a 50-game suspension earlier this year – made his first start for the Cards. He pitched 4.2 innings giving up just one run (earned) on two hits while striking out four and walking four. Reyes was pulled in the top of the fifth inning primarily due to pitch count. He had thrown 89 pitches (51 strikes) and with two men on base St. Louis manager Mike Matheny decided it was time for a pitching change. Reyes did not figure into the final decision.
Right-hand reliever Matt Bowman (2-5) who was on the mound when Davis scored and was responsible for Healy because he gave up the hit to the A’s third baseman took the loss.
RHP Seung Hwan Oh who gave up the sacrifice fly to Eibner was charged with his third blown save of the season.
In the Batter’s Box
The A’s scored their three runs on just four hits. They also took advantage of the four walks that were issued to them.
The spotlight has to be on Ryon Healy extending his hitting streak to 13 games. His batting average now stands at .281 with 39 hits including eight doubles and six home runs in 139 at bats. Remember this is from a young man who played his first 36 games of the season at Double-A Midland in the Texas League.
Khris Davis had a timely hit in the top of the eighth inning and scored the tying run for the A’s. He picked up his 83rd RBI of the year when he walked in the top of the fifth inning and forced catcher Bruce Maxwell home to score the A’s first run of the game.
The A’s do not win the game if Brett Eibner does not do his job and put wood on the ball that would become the sacrifice fly – RBI in the eighth inning that would win the game for Oakland.
Cardinals leadoff man Greg Garcia did his best going 2-for-4 and scoring a run on Saturday night. Garcia hit his eighth double of year off Zach Neal.
Center fielder Randal Grichuk also had a big game for St. Louis. Grichuck hit his 18th home run of the season in the second inning off Neal. He went 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored and a RBI (47).
Up Next
The A’s and Cardinals close out the three-game series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 11:15 AM PDT. RHP Andrew Triggs (0-1, 4.38) will start for the A’s and will face the Cardinals LHP Jamie Garcia (10-9, 4.37) who is looking his 11th win of the season.
The Oakland Athletics made a trade today with the Washington Nationals that makes it abundantly clear they are in a youth movement as the end of the season approaches.
The A’s sent left-handed relief pitcher Marc Rzepczynski and cash to the Nationals for minor league infielder Max Schrock.
Rzepczynski was acquired over the winter from the San Diego Padres as part of the Drew Pomeranz trade. He was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 56 relief appearances for Oakland this season. Rzepczynski will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Rzepczynski broke into the major leagues in 2009 with Toronto. He has also pitched for St. Louis, Cleveland and San Diego.
The A’s received second baseman Max Schrock from the Nationals. Schrock was selected by Washington in the 13th round of the 2015 draft out of the University of South Carolina.
The 21-year old Schrock is 5-foot-8, 180 pounds. He bats left and throws right. Schrock is known as being a pure hitter. He is not a power hitter but he makes the most of every opportunity he has with the bat. Schrock is a good fielder and average runner.
Schrock was promoted from Class-A to High Class-A Potomac of the Carolina League at mid-season. In 54 games with Potomac, he hit .341 with a .373 on base percentage. Schrock collected 79 hits in 232 at bats including 11 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI. Schrock also was trying to make a name for himself as a base-stealer at Potomac by going 7-for-9 in the stolen base category.
Schrock can be considered to be on the fast track of player development as he has gone from short-season A ball to High Class-A in less than a season. Scouts are projecting that Schrock could be ready for major league service as early as the 2018 season.
The A’s have their number 14 prospect – 2B Joey Wendle – at Nashville and Franklin Barreto – Oakland’s number one ranked minor leaguer – is playing second base for Double-A Midland. So, where does Schrock wind up playing? For now, he will probably wind up in a Stockton Ports uniform for the rest of the season unless there are some major late season roster moves in the farm system.
With Pinder, Wendle, and Barreto all at second base, how does Schrock fit into the A’s players development plans? Simply put – he can hit. In baseball if you can hit, a team will find a position for you to play. In the case of Schrock, do not be surprised to see him being worked out at a corner outfield spot – especially in left field where arm strength is not as crucial.
For now, the A’s minor league spotlight is on Max Schrock.
OAKLAND–Baseball’s supposed to me fun, and it was just that for the A’s on Tuesday, in need of some enjoyable moments in the midst of 17 losses in 23 games.
After beating the AL Central-leading Indians 9-1, even business-like manager Bob Melvin loosened up, recounting some of the memorable moments of a rare laugher for his club.
“Guys getting their first RBIs, playing full games, not subbing guys out, not hitting for guys,” Melvin said. “You think back and remember what your first RBI and so forth was like so it adds a little bit more to it.”
The A’s makeshift lineup featured guys better known in Midland, Texas than in Oakland, but they made themselves at home one hit a time. Eight Athletics had at least one hit, and Chad Pinder and Bruce Maxwell picked up their first big league RBI, as the A’s piled up 13 hits, quite a departure for a team that’s been mostly quiet at the Coliseum, hitting .239 as a team at home.
While Pinder and Maxwell recorded career firsts, Jake Smolinski landed full out in right center with the ball in his club, which in turn landed him on SportsCenter with one of the evening’s top plays. Danny Valencia had spent the week embroiled in his controversial fight with teammate Billy Butler, but on Tuesday he was flashing the leather as well, playing Mike Napoli’s one hopper of the wall cleanly, then throwing out the Cleveland catcher at second base with his one-hop throw.
So good were the A’s, the outcome was never threatened after Indians’ starter Danny Salazar saw himself saddled with a three-run deficit after facing just four batters. The fourth batter, Khris Davis hit his 33rd home run with two runners aboard. But the A’s didn’t take their foot of the gas, scoring two runs in the third, one in the fifth, and three more in the eighth.
Sean Manaea was the beneficiary of all the offense, winning for the fifth time in his 13 starts at home. Manaea lasted seven innings, allowing three hits and a run, about a nice of a line a young pitcher can achieve against a powerful lineup that’s been limited to two runs in two nights by Oakland pitching.
Salazar had never gotten much fuss from the A’s, winning each of his 2015 starts easily. But 2016 in general has been more challenging for Salazar, trying to regain his form after ending a lengthy stint on the disabled list on August 18. He came in with wins in 11 of his 15 decisions, but left after failing to retire a hitter in the fifth, and the A’s ahead comfortably 6-0.
“I thought he was up with too many fastballs and because of that it didn’t really seem like they had to respect his off-speed pitches. The hope is that he gets some repetition including side days and stuff and gets back to the Danny we saw in the first half,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.
The A’s have their initial win against Cleveland after dropping the first four meetings this season. They’ll look to capture the series on Wednesday afternoon in the finale when Kendall Graveman faces the Indians’ Trevor Bauer.
The details are now coming out on the clubhouse fight between Billy Butler and Danny Valencia on Friday night in Chicago. Apparently, it was just as advertised. Butler told a shoe representative that Valencia was not wearing the brand named spikes in games that he is paid to wear, and Valencia took exception to Butler involving himself in his endorsement deals.
The situation deteriorated and yelling turned into a fight. Reports have Butler taking a punch off the side of his head that has now brought on concussion like symptoms. Butler was kept out of all three games in Chicago over the weekend. He would normally have been the Designated Hitter on Saturday and Sunday against left-handed starting pitchers.
The bottom line is that it appears Butler was stepping in on Valencia’s business and possibly affecting Valencia financially. Players get paid for wearing certain shoes, gloves, batting gloves, etc. As with most people, Valencia did not appreciate someone messing with his money. Does that make hitting a man on the side of his head and possibly giving him a concussion justified? No, of course not, but it does become more understandable.
A’s general manager David Forst told the media prior to the Cleveland game on Monday that both players have been fined undisclosed amounts. Forst said nothing about suspensions for the players which means none are probably forthcoming.
Butler has been placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list which means he will have to pass testing and be cleared by MLB before returning to play, so seven days off is a minimum. Infielder Arismendy Alcantara has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take Butler’s place on the roster.
Valencia is not in the lineup for the Monday night game with Cleveland but the Indians are are starting a right-hander on the mound for game one.
This situation is just another pothole on what has been a very rough road that has been the A’s 2016 season. Flare ups happen in every major league locker room and most go unreported because they end without injury. In this case, the flare up became a case of unacceptable workplace violence. Both players are very lucky they are highly paid athletes and not a couple of analyst working side-by-side in cubicles. If they were analyst, they would be unemployed tonight.
by Charlie O. Mallonee
Sports Radio Service 