Hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of American League West Rival Seattle Mariners, the A’s took the field today at Sutter Health Park for game three of the three game set. Taking the mound today for the A’s was Jeffrey Springs, who faced off against Logan Gilbert for the Mariners.
Springs had a questionable start, giving up a hit, and error and a bomb in the first. Before the A’s came to bat, they were behind 3-0.
Springs seemed to settle down until the top of the fourth when he gave up a two out
single and then a walk. Then Colt Emerson tripled, driving in Cole Young and Jhonny Pereda. That brought the score to 5-0.
Zack Gelof’s one out double in the bottom of the fifth inning was the first extra-base hit of the game for the A’s. Carlos Cortes walked with two outs. But a Nick Kurtz fly out ended the inning with Gelof and Cortes stranded.
Joel Kuhnel replaced Jeffrey Springs in the top of the sixth. Springs final line was five innings and two earned runs on six hits and just one walk. He struck out seven. Cole Young greeted Kuhnel with a one out base hit. Johnny Pereda walked moving Young to second. Colt Emerson grounded into what looked to be a double play, but a throwing error by Darrel Hernaiz allowed Young to score. That increased the Mariners lead to 6-0.
Tyler Soderstrom doubled with one out off Logan Gilbert who remained in the game to pitch the sixth. But Henry Bolte grounded out to end the inning. Luis Medina replaced Joel Kuhnel in the seventh and gave up a single but that was all. Medina continued to pitch the seventh but gave up a walk to Cole Young and a base hit to Pereda. Julio Rodríguez worked a full count with two outs and then homered to left center field. Cole Young and Colt Emerson scored increasing the M’s lead to 9-0 headed into the bottom of the eighth. The A’s went down quietly in the eighth.
José Suarez replaced Luis Medina in the top of the ninth. Naylor greeted him with a base hit to right field. With one out Victor Robles singled. But Suarez stiffened and shut them down without scoring.
The A’s momentarily came to life in the bottom of the ninth again today. Jonah Heim walked and Henry Bolt singled. Jeff McNeil grounded into a double play, scoring Heim. Zack Gelof singled, but Darrel Hernaiz grounded into a force to end the game.
The loss drops the A’s out of first place for the first time since April. They’ll need to right the ship or the season could sail away.
