And that’s a wrap on the season, everyone. The A’s end their year on a losing note by dropping the final game of the year to the Houston Astros. That punched Houston’s ticket to October baseball as they’ll finish the season 81-81, which is good enough for the AL West but also the first time there’s a .500 team going to the postseason in baseball history. They shouldn’t be exactly proud of themselves for that. That’s it for the Athletics baseball until February 19th next year, the first game of Spring
Training. Start the clock!
The A’s went with a bullpen game this afternoon, beginning with midseason trade acquisition Seth Johnson. His first few appearances in an A’s uniform haven’t been all that encouraging but he ended his season on a high note with 1 2/3 shutout innings, holding the Astros to just one hit and a couple walks while punching out a pair. Those walks came back-to-back and ended his day but overall a solid outing. Johnson was acquired for Colby Thomas with the expectation he could be a piece of next year’s bullpen and that’s still the case. Hopefully he can put in work this offseason and be ready to claim a spot in next year’s ‘pen right out of the gate.
After Johnson it was lefty Brady Basso’s turn as the bulk pitcher. While Johnson ended his season on a good note, Basso got touched up for four runs and ends his year on a low note. Basso finished the second but then he allowed a single, double, triple, hit a batter, and threw in an intentional walk for good measure. That was the recipe (not in that order) for four runs in the third inning, putting Houston on course for the playoffs. That pushed his ERA to 6.07, not a fun number to look at all offseason.
On the other side of things the Athletics’ lineup was facing emergent right-hander Peter Lambert. The Astros’ come-out-of-nowhere workhorse this year came out shaky against the A’s this afternoon. The A’s put together a couple hits in the first inning but wasted that opportunity, which ended up being their only real scoring chance this afternoon. Lambert would surprisingly only pitch two innings in this one as the Astros then turned things over to righty Ethan Pecko for three innings. It wasn’t much better for the A’s bats against him as they only collected one one single against him.
Houston tacked on a couple more in each of the sixth and seventh off of Scott Blewitt and Chris Roycroft, respectively. Then another in the eighth off Geoff Hartlieb, unnecessary insurance. The A’s offense looked like it was ready to hit the golf course as they ended the day with just five hits and three walks. A lifeless way to end a lifeless season.
And now the offseason begins. The Athletics finish the year at 64-98. The team will break up and head their separate ways, not to reunite until next spring. There’ll be lots of new faces and others that depart this winter. And with where the team finished in the standings that’s probably for the best. The A’s have now completed two of their three seasons in Sacramento, with just one more to go until they move into their new long-term home in Las Vegas. Enjoy the offseason everyone, and stay tuned to Athletics Nation for all the news and updates regarding our A’s!
