The Athletics faced the Boston Red Sox in the third game of a four-game series at Sutter Health Park. The Red Sox won 4-2 in ten innings, giving them a chance to claim the series with a victory in the finale. The back-and-forth game featured missed opportunities from both teams, as the A’s were unable to get a clutch hit in several key situations.
Early Scoring Chances Wasted
A’s starter Jacob Lopez worked around two walks in a 27-pitch scoreless first inning. In the bottom of the first, Red Sox pitcher Patrick Sandoval hit A’s first baseman
Nick Kurtz on the wrist, causing discomfort for the hosts’ star slugger.
The A’s left Kurtz at second base, as Sandoval struck out Tyler Soderstrom to end the inning. Because of his forearm contusion, Kurtz did not take the field in the second inning. Jeff McNeil replaced him at first base. Second baseman Alika Williams made a diving catch to end the top of the second.
Heim Time
Catcher Jonah Heim led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo home run, the 500th hit of his career and his 11th homer of the season, giving the A’s a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning, three singles set up a bases-loaded, one out situation for the Red Sox. Lopez escaped unscathed by getting Red Sox’ catcher Connor Wong to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
The Red Sox tied the game in the fifth inning. Left fielder Jahmai Jones led off the frame with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot to left field off Lopez. The A’s starter responded by striking out the next three batters, keeping the game tied at 1.
Zone 4 Resurgence
The A’s immediately re-took the lead in the bottom of that inning. Facing Sandoval, right fielder Lawrence Butler led off the inning with a solo home run to center, his sixth of the season, putting the hosts up 2-1. With one out, shortstop Jacob Wilson singled. He then moved to second on McNeil’s single. Sandoval limited the damage by striking out the next two hitters, ending the inning with the A’s unable to add to their lead.
Red Sox Strike Back
Lopez exited with a runner on second and one out in the sixth inning. He turned in another strong start, allowing two runs, one earned on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked two batters, while striking out eight.
Right-hander Hayden Juenger entered out of the A’s bullpen and could not strand his inherited runner. With two outs, second baseman Nick Sogard singled to center, bringing home the tying run. A’s third baseman Tommy White’s dropped foul popup hurt his team that inning. Boston’s runner would not have advanced to second base if the ball had been caught.
High-Stress Innings
Juenger stayed in the game to pitch the seventh inning with the score tied at 2. He got two outs, although gave up a double and a walk. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado replaced Juenger and induced Red Sox designated hitter Romy Gonzalez to ground out with the bases loaded. For the second time tonight, the A’s prevented Boston from scoring with the bases juiced.
Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten pitched the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Wilson reached on a fielding error, and McNeil followed with his second single of the night. White struck out for the third time, stranding two runners in scoring position.
The visitors got a runner on second with no outs in the eighth inning against Alvarado. The hard-throwing reliever struck out the next two batters before giving way to left-hander Brady Basso, who recorded the final out. Basso remained in the game and pitched a scoreless ninth, escaping trouble after allowing back-to-back singles with two outs.
A’s Blow It
Butler led off the bottom of the ninth with a double against Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman. Donovan Walton followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing Butler to third. The hosts squandered that golden game-winning chance, as Chapman struck out Wilson and McNeil to send the game to extra innings.
The Red Sox took advantage in the tenth inning. Shortstop Andruw Monasterio hit a two-run home run against A’s left-hander Jose Suarez to give the visitors a 4-2 lead. That was the final score, as the A’s went down one-two-three in the bottom of the tenth against Boston reliever Greg Weissert, who recorded his first save of the season.
Analysis and Look-Ahead
The Athletics finished the game 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving ten on base in another frustrating offensive display. Wilson needs to stop swinging at everything, as that approach is not sustainable for long-term success and it cost his team tonight. Additionally, another takeaway was the disparity between the two bullpens. Boston’s relief corps threw five shutout innings, while the A’s beleaguered bullpen surrendered the lead and faced several high-pressure situations through the final few innings.
The A’s will look to salvage a series split tomorrow evening. The pitching matchup will feature former A’s player Sonny Gray against Mason Barnett.
