Game Thread #59: A’s ‘at’ Mariners

Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images

Doubleheader, Part 2, with a twist

The Oakland A’s dropped the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader to the Seattle Mariners, in an eight-inning extra-inning loss that would seem odd any other year, but they get another crack at it a few minutes later. Here comes the second game!

Oddly, although the teams are playing at the Coliseum, this will count as a home game for the Mariners. That’s because the game being made up was originally supposed to in Seattle, and this was merely the only viable way to fit it into the remaining schedule. So, the A’s will bat first in Oakland, and it’s technically possible that they could suffer a walk-off loss in the 8th inning at their own park.

The A’s will do that batting against Mariners starter Justin Dunn. The 25-year-old right-hander is having a solid season, albeit with some worrisome peripheral stats including too many homers and walks. He hasn’t faced Oakland this year.

Meanwhile, the green and gold turn to Paul Blackburn, for his 2020 season debut. The local product has appeared in each of the last three seasons for the A’s, but hasn’t found a long-term spot on the team yet. He’ll bring his pitch-to-contact, ground ball style, hoping to earn weak contact against a Seattle lineup that has scored one run in 16 regulation innings so far in this series. (Unfortunately, the A’s have scored the same number in those innings.) Click here to read more about Blackburn, who is just up for the day as the bonus 29th man for the doubleheader.

First pitch is 4:35 p.m., with the following options to watch or listen:

• TV: NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM
• Online video stream: fuboTV
• Online audio stream: iHeartRadio

A’s lineup (home)

1. LF Tony Kemp (L)
2. RF Robbie Grossman (S)
3. DH Tommy La Stella (L)
4. CF Mark Canha (R)
5. 1B Matt Olson (L)
6. C Sean Murphy (R)
7. 3B Jake Lamb (L)
8. 2B Vimael Machin (L)
9. SS Nate Orf (R)

• Paul Blackburn, RHP

Now THAT’S an interesting lineup. Kemp in the outfield, Grossman in right, and Orf finally gets a start.

Mariners lineup (away)

1. SS J.P. Crawford (L)
2. DH Kyle Seager (L)
3. 3B Ty France (R)
4. LF Jose Marmolejos (L)
5. RF Tim Lopes (R)
6. 1B Evan White (R)
7. CF Braden Bishop (L)
8. C Joseph Odom (R)
9. 2B Dee Strange-Gordon (L)

• Justin Dunn, RHP

Same idea as Oakland, with some new names and position shifts.

Let’s Go Oakland!