Tag: Sam Long

A’s Lose 7-3 to Red Sox; Sox do most of the damage with 5 run second inning at Fenway

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By: Mary Anne

The Oakland Athletics’ last series of their road trip was at the Boston Red Sox. The A’s began a three-game series against the Red Sox on Friday night. The A’s lost 7-3 to the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Oakland fell to 25-65, while Boston improved to 46-43.

The A’s starting lineup featured Tony Kemp, Jordan Diaz, Ryan Noda, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Jace Peterson, Shea Langaliers, Seth Brown, Tyler Wade, and Sam Long. Long pitched just one inning and gave up three hits, three earned runs, one walk, and two strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning, Boston opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning. Yu Chang singled on a ground ball to JJ Bleday. Alex Verdugo and Enrique Hernandez scored for a 2-0 lead as Triston Casas went to second base. Jarren Duran singled on a ground ball to Tony Kemp.

Casas scored for a 3-0 lead as Chang went to third base. Justin Turner singled on a line drive to Seth Brown. Chang scored for a 4-0 lead as Duran went to third base. Rafael Devers grounded into a forceout fielded by Tyler Wade. Duran scored for a 5-0 lead as Turner was out at second base, while Devers went to first base with two outs.

The A’s finally got on the board in the top of the fifth inning. Tony Kemp singled on a ground ball to Rafael Devers. Seth Brown scored to cut the Red Sox’s lead to 5-1. Tyler Wade went to third base while Kemp went to second base. Devers committed a throwing error.

The A’s inched closer to the Red Sox in the top of the seventh inning. Seth Brown homered on a fly ball to right center field. Shea Langaliers scored to cut the Red Sox’s lead to 5-3.

The A’s chances of a comeback were short-lived as the Red Sox scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Adam Duvall singled on a ground ball to Tyler Wade. Jarren Duran scored for a 6-3 lead as Rafael Devers went to third base. Alex Verdugo singled on a line drive to Brent Rooker. Devers scored for a 7-3 lead as Duvall went to second base.

Notes
A’s LHP Richard Lovelady turned 27 on July 7.

The A’s recalled RHP Angel Felipe from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The A’s selected OF Cody Thomas from Triple-A Las Vegas.

The A’s placed OF Esteury Ruiz on the ten-day injured list retroactive to July 6.

The A’s optioned and designated RHP Rico Garcia for assignment.

Up Next
The A’s and Red Sox will continue their series on Saturday at 1:10 pm Pacific. Starting for Oakland Paul Blackburn (1-1 ERA 4.50) for Boston James Paxton (4-1 ERA 2.70).

Craw Delivers: Giants complete comeback on Crawford’s walk-off hit, win 4-3 over the Diamondbacks

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Consecutive wins have the Giants looking like their old selves.

As in the 2021 version with the 107 wins, the record number of homers and late comebacks. It’s not a bad look.

After trailing 3-0, the Giants got a game-tying home run from Wilmer Flores in the eighth, and a game-winning RBI single from Brandon Crawford in the ninth to put the squeeze on the Diamondbacks in a 4-3 win.

The Giants have won four of five to stay within striking distance of the Phillies and Cardinals, the two teams ahead of them in the National League standings and the race for one of the three wild card spots.

“We’re getting back on track and these kinds of games can definitely help you pick up the momentum and carry into the next games, next series and rest of the year,” said Brandon Belt, who homered in the seventh to get the Giants their initial run. “I’ve seen it happen in our World Series years. I saw it last year with Atlanta. You just get momentum and a lot of crazy stuff happens.

“We battled and didn’t give up the entire game,” Belt continued. “To come back in the last inning and to see the whole team clicking a little bit, that’s the kind of baseball we have to play to win ballgames.”

The Giants employed their bullpen from the start in this one with John Brebbia opening, then giving way to Sam Long. But Long labored, allowing five hits and two walks, enough to stake the D’Backs to a 3-0 lead in the third inning. But four more relievers followed Long, allowing just two hits, and halting Arizona’s afternoon on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, Gabe Kapler turned to his pinch-hitting game in the eighth and it paid off with Flores’ homer to tie it and a Darin Ruf single to chase reliever Joe Mantiply. Yermin Mercedes struck out and Luis Gonzalez grounded into a double play to end the inning, but the four, consecutive pinch-hitters got the game tied, and set up the Giants for their winning rally in the ninth.

Belt singled to leadoff the ninth against Mark Melancon, then Thairo Estrada struck out. Mike Yastrzemski doubled, moving Belt to third. And after David Villar drew a walk to load the bases, Crawford delivered the walk-off single.

The Giants conclude their first half of the season prior to the All-Star break with four home games against the NL Central-leading Brewers with the hope they can move closer to the Phillies, Cardinals, but the Padres and Brewers as well. Speculation that the Giants will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline has begun, but the suspense dissipates without the wins. Right now, the Giants are maintaining that suspense and trying to put a rough month of June behind them. Getting back to their situational game might be the trick, it was just that a season ago.

“Everyone knows how we play and everyone on the bench is always ready,” Flores said. “I was ready since the fourth inning.”

Giants’ All-Star Carlos Rodon gets the start on Thursday night in a matchup against Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes.