The Athletics took on the San Francisco Giants in the second game of this three-game interleague series on a breezy summer night in The City by the Bay”.
It looked like Max Muncy’s eighth inning home run would be enough to win this pitching duel. However, the A’s beleaguered bullpen had a final say, blowing its sixth save of June as the Giants rallied with two home runs in the ninth inning for the 2-1 series clinching victory. Not only did the A’s lose a fourth straight game, but they now could be without
shortstop Jacob Wilson for another extended period of time.
Pitching Duel
Both pitchers—Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle and A’s left-hander Gage Jump—got off to strong starts, working scoreless first two innings. Jump struck out the side in his first inning of work before stranding a runner at second base in the next inning.
In the bottom of the third, A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz made a nice diving catch to rob Giants’ third baseman Matt Chapman of a base hit. Kurtz then stepped on the bag to complete the unassisted, inning-ending double play.
A’s First Scoring Chance
A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson recorded his team’s first hit off Mahle with a one-out single in the fifth inning. Mahle then walked designated hitter Joey Meneses.
Right fielder Lawrence Butler crushed a ball right to the Giants second baseman Casey Schmitt, who made the catch for the second out. He tried doubling off Wilson at second base, but his throw was wild. Wilson tried scoring on the errant throw, but he was thrown out at home and appeared to hurt himself trying to evade the tag. That was a super aggressive send, especially considering that Wilson is not the fastest runner. He would have been better served staying at third to give the next batter a chance to get a two-out RBI hit.
Jump Dominant Again
Jump pitched exceptionally well once again. He completed five scoreless innings, only allowing three hits and one walk, while accumulating a career-high nine strikeouts. Jump likely would have gone deeper into the game had the Giants not fouled off 30 pitches against the A’s young left-hander. According to A’s MLB.com reporter Martin Gallegos, Jump became the third A’s pitcher in the Integration Era (since 1947) to not allow a home run in their first six career starts, joining Tim Conroy (1978-82) and Jim Archer (1961).
Kurtz Fails to Come Through
With two outs in the sixth, Bolte crushed a double for the A’s first extra-base hit of the evening. That was the final batter Mahle faced. The Giants turned to left-hander Sam Hentges to face Kurtz. Mahle pitched well in his first start off the injured list, holding the A’s scoreless over 5 2/3 innings, striking out four and inducing six groundouts and three fly outs.
Kurtz swung at the first pitch and drove a deep fly ball to center that died at the warning track where center fielder Jonah Cox made the catch. That was the second straight inning in which the A’s just fell short of breaking the deadlock in this pitching duel.
Maximum Muncy!
A’s relievers Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris kept the game scoreless, each tossing a scoreless inning of relief.
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, A’s third baseman Max Muncy put his team ahead with his fifth home run of the season, a 416-foot shot to center field off Giants reliever Dylan Smith. The solo homer gave the Athletics a 1-0 late lead.
Medina Holds the Lead
In front for the first time tonight, hard-throwing right-hander Luis Medina entered out of the A’s bullpen to pitch the bottom of eighth, hoping to preserve the visitors slim lead. He issued walks to two of the first three batters he faced, with Cox’s sacrifice bunt between them. Medina escaped the jam unscathed by striking out San Francisco’s first baseman Bryce Eldridge and Schmitt.
A’s Rally Fizzles Out
Seeking some insurance runs, Bolte was hit by Smith’s first pitch of the ninth inning. The Giants promptly brought in left-hander Erik Miller to face the “Big Amish”. With one out, Bolte stole second, his ninth stolen base of the season.
The A’s squandered a chance to add a prime insurance opportunity. Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom popped out and then Giants right fielder Jung Hoo Lee took an RBI hit away from backup catcher Jonah Heim, who was pinch-hitting for Wilson. Heim entered the game because the A’s shortstop’s left shoulder was bothering him so much that he could not swing the bat at that moment.
A’s Blow Another Save
Heim stayed in the game to play third base, a position he had never played before.
That did not matter as Athletics reliever Elvis Alvarado quickly blew the save opportunity. San Francisco’s designated hitter Rafeal Devers led off the bottom of the ninth with a game-tying solo home run to center field, his 12th of the season.
The Giants did not want to play extra innings. Alvarado hung a slider in the middle of the plate which left fielder Victor Bericoto crushed for a 445 foot walk-off home run to send Giants fans home happy and leave A’s players and fans dejected.
What looked to be the team’s biggest weakness entering this season has indeed proved their biggest barrier to winning more games. The Athletics still do not have anyone consistently trustworthy at the back of their bullpen. Alvarado’s recent success seems to be wearing off, while the team for some reason designated one of their best performing relievers Joel Kuhnel for assignment earlier this month.
Following this crushing defeat, the Athletics will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon. Left-hander Jeffrey Springs will take the mound seeking to stop his team’s bleeding and earn his first win since April. He will be opposed by right-hander Landen Roupp, who is 5-7 with a 4.15 ERA through his first 15 starts of the season.
