Game #127: A’s Drop Series Finale to Rangers, 4-2
The A’s dropped the finale of the three game series with the Rangers, 4-2 this afternoon.
The A’s 9 game homstand was marked by winning 2 of 3 from the Mariners, Astros and Rangers which all of us would take in a heartbeat, however in all three series, the A’s had the opporunity to sweep after winning the first two games and couldn’t close out the final game against all three division opponents.
***Today’s Gamethread***
E-Jax Gets Knocked Around
After going through the first two games without allowing a run to the Texas Rangers (18 innings, 0 runs on 5 hits), today’s game started off on the wrong foot for Edwin Jackson and the A’s as Shin-Soo Choo ambushed the first pitch of the game for a solo homer to left-center to make the score 1-0 after one delivery.
After Choo’s lead-off homer (is there anyway we can acquire this guy through waivers this month?!!), E-Jax settled down the rest of the way in the 1st and through the 2nd, before running into trouble again in the third inning. It started with back to back walks to Choo (seriously, please get this guy Forst and Beane) and Odor and then with two outs in the inning, Adrian Beltre singled home Choo to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead after 3 innings.
In the 4th inning, the Rangers would once again strike, this time it was Joey Gallo doing the damage, driving a 1-2 offering from Jackson over the rightfield alley wall to put the Rangers up 3-0. Beltre would drive in the Rangers 4th run in the fifth inning, knocking out Jackson and putting the A’s in a 4 run hole. Yusmeiro Petit relieved Edwin Jackson, immediately got into his own trouble, giving up a double and issuing an intentional walk to load the bases with one out. Then Petit craftily struck out Robinson Chirinos and Ronald Guzman to limit the damage to 4 runs.
Jackson’s Final Line:
4 1⁄3 innings, 7 hits allowed, 4 runs, 3 walks
Texas’ New Strategy: I Guess We Shouldn’t Pitch to Khris Davis
Throughout Khris Davis’ Oakland tenure, the Rangers haven’t figured out how to
get him out or keep him in the ballpark..Much has been written about Krush’s offensive numbers vs. Texas, but it bears repeating, coming into today he was hitting .311 (19-for-61) with nine home runs and 24 RBI in 15 games against Texas this season and is a .311 (59-for-190) career hitter against the Rangers with 27 home runs and 62 RBI in 52 games while a member of the A’s. Today, the Rangers finally must have talked amongst themselves and came to the conclusion, “Maybe we shouldn’t pitch to this guy?” In Davis’ first at-bat he walked on five pitches but was erased by a Matt Olson double play. After a flyout in the 5th inning, he was hit by a pitch in the 7th and reached third but failed to score.
The Rest of the A’s Offense
Didn’t muster much against Rangers starter Mike Minor. Minor allowed only two baserunners (a 2nd inning Khris Davis walk and a 3rd inning Chad Pinder single) in his six innings of work.
A’s Bullpen vs. Texas Bullpen
With the A’s Jackson done in the 5th inning and the Rangers Minor out after six innings, the game turned over to the bullpens.
For the A’s Petit, Shawn Kelly, Fernando Rodney and Ryan Buchter limited the Rangers to two hits and no runs over 4 2⁄3 innings.
This allowed the A’s to slowly pull back in the ballgame off of the Rangers bullpen, scoring single runs in the 7th inning (Piscotty double plated Chapman who had walked with two outs) and 8th inning (double by pitch hitter, Jed Lowrie scored Chad Pinder who had singled). After 8 innings, the score was 4-2, Texas....
9th Inning - Unfilled Hope
In the 9th inning, Buchter set down the Rangers quietly, brining up the A’s heart of the order to face Rangers reliever, Jose LeClerc. Matt Chapman led off the inning with a walk to bring up Khris Davis, perfect man, perfect spot! Chapman moved to third during Davis at-bat on a wild pitch that rollled almost to Livermore, setting the stage ever more for Davis. Sadly, Davis didn’t come through as a 2-2 check-in was called a “swing” by first base umpire, Marvin Hudson. With out out and Chapman on 3rd, Stephen Piscotty stepped up. Piscotty doubled in the 7th inning for the A’s first run and was looking to deliver again. Piscotty would find himself in a 0-2 hole before popping out to shallow rightfield, leaving Chapman at 3rd base with two outs. Matt Olson then came up and battled through seven pitches before drawing a walk. Chad Pinder was the winning run and LeClerc hit him to load the bases with two outs. Nick Martini became the sixth batter of the inning and the Colisuem crowd was coming to life, could we be witnessing another epic comeback? Today the answer was no, as Leclerc pitched out of the jam, striking Martini on a 1-2 breaking ball to end the threat, inning and game.
Scoreboard Watching
The Mariners and Astros played the rubber game of their three game set this afternoon with Houston leading 9-7 in the 8th inning (will update when score become final)
A’s Hit The Road
The team flies out tonight, headed for Minnesota, where they will play a four game set at Target field over the weekend against the Twins (60-65). Trevor Cahill takes the mound FOR the A’s tomorrow night at 5:10pm (PST).