Losing Streak Continues, A’s Lose To Twins 6-1

Nine straight losses and counting

Another day, another loss. The A’s dropped their ninth straight game on a warm Wednesday night in Sacramento, falling to the Twins for the third straight time 6-1 and now face the prospect of getting swept in a four-game series at home. No bueno.

Going with an opener strategy for the second night in a row, right-hander Justin Sterner got the call to get this game started for the A’s. It didn’t work out as the second batter of the game launched a solo home run for the Twins to give Minnesota the early lead.

After Sterner it was Jeffrey Springs’ turn. Acting as the bulk pitcher tonight, the left-hander had it working early on, striking out five Twins hitters over his first three innings of work. It seems he liked coming into the game in the second inning. Why did the team wait so long to try this?

The A’s offense meanwhile was going up against rookie right-hander Zebby Matthews, who was making his fourth start of the season. The A’s threatened here and there with a few walks and a couple hits over the first four innings (including a single from freshly-promoted Max Muncy) but kept coming up short.

The runs finally started coming in the fifth. Minnesota struck first with their second home run of the night, this time a two-run blast from Harrison Bader off Springs to expand the lead to 3-0.

Matthews was still in the game for the Twins and he didn’t look like he was wearing down. The righty punched out the first two A’s hitters of the bottom of the fifth, getting to just one out away from a shutdown inning. Instead the top of the order got it done themselves. Lawrence Butler whacked a two-out single to left and brought up Jacob Wilson to the plate. All the AL Rookie of the Year frontrunner did was smack an RBI double for the team’s first run of the night:

It was a good start but just starting to chip into the lead. Matthews stranded Wilson with a strikeout of Tyler Soderstrom and that would be it from him tonight. The A’s would have to mount their comeback against a tough and intimidating Twins bullpen.

Springs was still pitching in this game as late as the eighth inning. He began the frame at 88 pitches but still seemed in control. After putting up six innings of two-run ball the Twins got to him for a couple more at the end of his night. It didn’t help matters seeing rookie center fielder Denzel Clarke make his first error on defense, which ultimately allowed an unearned run to score. Springs’ finished his night with his seventh punchout before finally getting pulled.

• Jeffrey Springs: 6 ²⁄₃ IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 7 K, 106 pitches

A quality outing for the left-hander in his first taste of bulk pitcher action. While the outcome wasn’t what anyone wanted Springs looked very comfortable on the mound tonight and really only made one mistake to Bader for most of his game before wearing down at the end. There’s a more than solid chance that the team goes back to the opener method next time Springs’ turn in the rotation comes around, which should be next week in Los Angeles against the Angels.

Lefty Hogan Harris came on in relief and finished the inning without anymore damage but allowed another run to the Twins in the top of the ninth. Not that it mattered because the A’s had no clue against the Twins’ bullpen so the insurance runs were a moot point. Four relievers came on for the Twins and each fired off a scoreless inning, with only one hit and one walk against the unit. The A’s went down with a whimper, ending this game with their tails tucked between their legs and heading home losers of their ninth straight game.

The bad times never stop, do they? It feels like it’s been ages since this team won a game because it has. And it’s been even longer since they won back-to-back games. It’s hard to remember what that feels like. Springs was awesome during his time in the game today and the opener strategy is one than could work more in the future, but not much else outside of him and Jacob Wilson went right for the team. They’re now 23-40, which is the fourth-worst record in all of baseball. They’re on a 1-20 skid and now face the prospect of getting swept for the third straight time. When will it end?

Hopefully tomorrow in the series finale! Neither team has their starting pitcher announced online as of tonight, which is strange because the Twins had originally had right-hander Bailey Ober set to take the ball for tomorrow afternoon. As for the home team it’s anyone’s guess as to who will take the ball tomorrow. Hopefully whoever it is can play stopper for the club. They need a hero.