A’s drop series finale to Arizona 5-1

Relievers Soil Medina’s Great Outing

The Oakland Athletics will finish off the three-game series today at Chase Field in Phoenix against the National League West’s Arizona Diamondbacks. Mark Kotsay sent 25-year-old righty Luis Medina to the mound to face Brandon Pfaadt for the D-backs.

Luis Medina held the D-backs hitless into the third inning but gave up a one-out double to Tucker Barnhart. A Geraldo Perdomo ground out moved him to third, but a Corbin Carroll ground out ended the inning.

Brent Rooker led off the top of the fourth, reaching on a two-base error by third baseman Eugenio Suárez. But following strikeouts from Soderstrom and McCann, Tyler Neven lined out to centerfield stranding Rooker at second.

Ketel Marte walked to open the bottom of the fourth inning. Joc Pederson singled to move Marte to third and Christian Walker singled to drive him home. After loading the bases, he refocused and retired the sides having allowed just the one run.

Zack Gelof tied the game back up again with a leadoff homer in the top of the fifth inning. The home run was the 9,000th in Oakland Athletics history. Quite the milestone, and Gelof joins some impressive company on the homer list! Lawrence Butler singled and stole second. But Pfaadt slammed the door to keep the score tied at 1-1.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Christian Walker doubled, and Luis Medina (the batter) was intentionally walked. That set up a matchup with Eugenio Suárez with two down. Medina struck out Suárez swinging to end the inning and the threat.

Joe Mantiply replaced Brandon Pfaadt in the top of the seventh and retired the A’s in order. T.J. McFarland replaced Medina who was stellar for six innings but blew up the game loading the bases with one out and then giving way to Austin Adams. Adams gave up a two-run single to pinch hitter Blaze Alexander. Christian Walker singled on a ball that Aledmys Díaz clearly should have handled. Ketel Marte scored to bring the Diamondbacks lead to 4-1 through seven innings.

Sean Newcomb replaced Adams and promptly walked Eugenio Suárez. He moved to second on a Newcomb wild pitch. Jose Herrera dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move Suárez to third with one out. Geraldo Perdomo doubled into the left field corner scoring Eugenio Suárez. Newcomb walked Corbin Carroll bringing up Marte with just one down. Marte hit into a double play to end the inning.

Arizona’s closer, Paul Sewald, entered the game in the ninth despite it not being a save situation. Sewald struck out McCann. Nevin grounded out pitcher to first for the second out. Then Gelof struck out to end the game 5-1 in favor of the hometown D-backs.