OAKLAND — Not since the New York Yankees’ Don Larsen in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series has a perfect game been thrown in the postseason. The Oakland A’s flirted with being on the unfortunate end of the rare feat in Game 1 of the AL wild-card round Tuesday.
Chicago’s Lucas Giolito took a perfect game against the A’s into the seventh inning, finally broken up by leadoff hitter Tommy La Stella’s single up the middle. Oakland went on to lose to the White Sox 4-1 at the Coliseum.
A perfect game wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. Giolito has emerged as one of the game’s most dominant right-handers and had already thrown a no-hitter this season, against Pittsburgh on Aug. 25.
And the A’s bats have cooled off of late. For as meaningless as offensive momentum is said to be in baseball, an Oakland lineup tailored to squeeze as much power from Chicago’s ace as possible was just as dry as it was in the final weeks of the regular season.
If the A’s want to escape their crippling postseason drought, they’ll need to score some runs as manager Bob Melvin spelled out afterward.
“We have to do more offensively,” Melvin said. “We can’t score one run and think we can win tomorrow.”
Oakland had no answers for Giolito’s changeup, mixed to perfection with a biting slider and mid-90s fastball.
“He had it working today,” La Stella said. “He threw the ball extremely well.”
The A’s finally rid themselves of Giolito in the eighth inning when Mark Canha drew a leadoff walk and Jake Lamb — who had two hard-hit balls in his previous at-bats — knocked a single into right field to put runners on the corners with no outs. Ramón Laureano hit into a fielder’s choice to score Canha for the A’s only run.
With Laureano on, Chad Pinder hit a line drive that left the bat with a .710 expected batting average that Anderson robbed at shortstop for the second out. Murphy followed with a single, but La Stella grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
The A’s went down in order in the ninth against Sox closer Alex Colóme.
They just couldn’t make the right adjustments until they saw Giolito a third time. By then, the deficit was pretty much insurmountable against a tough bullpen.
It didn’t matter that comebacks have been a staple of the A’s success this season — and last. They have 16 comeback wins in 2020, including six walk-offs and six in extra innings. But in the postseason, against good teams and pitchers, rallying is harder to achieve.
So, a shadow continues to follow the A’s in the postseason. Oakland extended its playoff losing streak to six games, tying a record the organization set between Oct. 10, 2006 and Oct. 7, 2012.
Jesús Luzardo showed the White Sox his electric stuff that’s earned him national recognition. But he allowed two home runs, both on egregious fastball mistake pitches over the plate.
“Two mistakes, two home runs,” Luzardo said. “That’s a team that hits a lot of home runs, and they capitalized on those two mistakes. Otherwise, I feel like my pitches were good after that.”
Luzardo was rolling at first, staying ahead in most counts. But that didn’t matter against Adam Engel. Luzardo got ahead 0-2 and then served up a 97-mph fastball that catcher Sean Murphy wanted a little higher up in the zone. The pitch ended up middle-middle, and Engel launched it over the left-field wall for a solo blast.
Luzardo has four strikeouts thru two innings. Had Engel 0-2…he’ll want this fastball back. pic.twitter.com/RIsSycsdpJ
Against José Abreu a second time, Luzardo fell behind in the count 2-0 — the second ball call could have gone either way — and served up a 96-mph fastball right over the plate. Abreu, an AL MVP candidate, smashed it into the left-field bleachers for a two-run homer and a 3-0 advantage for Chicago.
“I was trying to go down and away, left it more middle than it was supposed to,” Luzardo said. “Guy is an MVP-caliber-type hitter, so you have to be careful, and I made a mistake. That’s not where I meant to put it.”
Leadoff hitter Tim Anderson had been on base after collecting his second hit off Luzardo in a three-hit game. Engel’s double off the wall in the fourth inning spelled the end of Luzardo’s first career postseason start and second appearance.
There were silver linings for the A’s left-handed rookie, a day shy of his 23rd birthday.
“He just centered some balls that they hit hard,” Melvin said. “He had pretty good stuff. He had five strikeouts. He didn’t walk anybody.”
But it was more of the same for the A’s. In their last three postseason games, here are the stat lines for their starting pitchers:
Luzardo: 3 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 2 HR
2019: Sean Manaea against Tampa Bay Rays, 2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 HR
2018: Liam Hendricks against New York Yankees, 1 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 1 HR
The Chicago White Sox went 14-0 against left-handed starters. Anderson said the A’s clearly “didn’t do their homework” when selecting left-handed Luzardo as their starter. Luzardo is no ordinary lefty, but the White Sox sluggers are no ordinary right-handed hitters.
Luzardo seems to have taken Anderson’s comment into account.
“I know there’s a lot of pessimism going around, but not in this clubhouse,” he said. “Whatever is said negatively about our team, we don’t let that get in our head. (Chris) Bassitt’s going to dominate tomorrow and our hitters are gonna hit. We’ll go to Game 3 and see what happens.”
If the A’s survive Wednesday, Melvin said Tuesday’s results could alter who they might start in a Game 3. Perhaps that means right-hander Mike Fiers over leftie Sean Manaea. It could mean Frankie Montas makes a brief appearance — if he can after throwing 113 pitches Sunday.
The A’s bullpen is in good shape. J.B. Wendelken, back from a mysterious injury that had him on the IL, worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Yusmeiro Petit threw a shutout inning with one strikeout.
Joakim Soria allowed a Yasmani Grandal home run in the eighth inning. At that point, more runs for the visiting team hit a numb spot.
Unlike their last three postseason losses, the A’s will get another try. They’ll have right-handed starter Bassitt on the mound Wednesday afternoon. But it doesn’t get any easier with left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who has a 1.99 ERA this year, pitching for Chicago.
“We have good record off lefties as well,” Melvin said of the A’s 11-3 record against left-handed starters. “So hopefully that plays out for us.”
The A’s can only hope some of the solid contact they mustered against Giolito will fall against Keuchel. La Stella didn’t seem overly concerned.
“They’re gonna fall eventually, it’s a game of probability,” he said. “We were on the wrong side of it today.”
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Joakim Soria (48) wipes his forehead after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) heads to home plate to score on his solo home run in front of Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy (12) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Robbie Grossman (8) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Luis Robert (88) in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) celebrates his solo home run with Chicago White Sox's Leury Garcia (28) against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien (10) makes a catch for an out on a hit by Chicago White Sox's Nick Madrigal (1) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the first inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after the final out of the top of the third inning during their game against the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) fields a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yoan Moncada (10) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Moncada was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) reacts to the last out of the top of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox during Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) traps a ball hit by Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) in the third inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. Grandal was out at first. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) is welcomed to the dugout by Oakland Athletics' Mark Kotsay (3) during their game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) heads to the dugout after being pulled from the game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' J.B. Wendelken (57) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (27) throws against the Oakland Athletics in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Yasmani Grandal (24) heads to third base in front of Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Diekman (35) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the ninth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Jake Lamb (4) hits a single against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) high-fives teammates after their 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) yells at the home plate umpire after he struck out looking against the Chicago White Sox in the sixth inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson (28) heads to the dugout after striking out to end the game in a 4-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics' Tommy La Stella (3) fist-bumps Oakland Athletics first base coach Mike Aldrete (17) after hitting a single against the Chicago White Sox in the seventh inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
(Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) walks on the infield after giving up a solo home run to Chicago White Sox's Adam Engel (15) in the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (41) throws against the Chicago White Sox in the the second inning for Game 1 of their American League wild-card playoff series at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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