The Athletics managed to split the first two games of their weekday series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Now they’ll get the opportunity to put on their spoiler hats and hand the Rays their 64th loss of the season. The postseason is slipping out of Tampa’s grasp and a series loss to the A’s would be a massive disappointment for them. But we like playing spoiler, don’t we?
Taking to the bump for the home squad this evening for the finale will be rookie right-hander JT Ginn, who will be making his ninth
start of the season. He’s made four starts since rejoining the rotation late last month, providing two quality outings and then a couple up-and-down starts his last two times on the mound. Overall on the year Ginn has a solid 4.39 ERA in 16 games (8 starts). He’s also faced the Rays once this year, tossing 3 2/3 perfect innings out of the bullpen back in June, also collecting five strikeouts along the way. That bodes well for his chances tonight against the slumping Rays.
Here’s how manager Mark Kotsay ordered the starting lineup for tonight’s contest:
As you can see the A’s have a new leadoff man for tonight’s series finale. Rookie outfielder Carlos Cortes will bat first for the third time with the big league club. He’s gone just 2-for-10 in his two previous times as the leadoff man but with a right-handed pitcher on the mound Kotsay wants to see what the rookie can offer as a sparkplug. Behind tonight’s left fielder in the lineup will be catcher Shea Langeliers and All-Star DH Brent Rooker.
From there things change up. Rookie first baseman Nick Kurtz will get the night off for the first time in over two weeks. Instead Tyler Soderstrom, who began the year as the Athletics’ starting first baseman, will return to the dirt and man his old position. Rookie Colby Thomas draws his second straight start in right field after going 2-for-3 with a double, a pair of RBI’s and a stolen base last night. Shortstop Darell Hernaiz and current center fielder Lawrence Butler will bat behind Thomas while Gio Urshela and Max Schuemann handle the final two spots in the batting order and third and second base, respectively.
For the desperate Rays, they’ll rely on staff ace Drew Rasmussen for the finale hoping he can get the Rays some momentum before departing Sacramento. Rasmussen has had a terrific (and healthy) season for Tampa Bay in what is his fifth big league season. After missing tons of time the previous two seasons the right-hander has made 23 starts and posted a terrific 2.66 ERA, which would be good for 4th-best in the American League if he had enough innings to qualify. Not an easy matchup for the A’s bats, but he tied a season-high four runs allowed to the Green & Gold back at the end of June so the offense has that going for them.
Tampa’s starting nine tonight for the finale:
All the primary in there for the Rays tonight. If Ginn can keep the middle of the Tampa lineup from inflicting damage then chances are good the Athletics can win their 55th game of the season this evening.
First pitch is in about one hour folks. Let’s go A’s!
