The Athletics took on the MLB-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in game 2 of a three-game series at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. For a second straight night, the A’s were no match for the Dodgers, who coasted to a 9-3 victory, securing the series with a game to spare and sending the hosts to their fourth straight defeat.
Early Offense
A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs got off to a rough start. The Dodgers scored two runs in the top of the first, as shortstop Mookie Betts hit an RBI single and then left fielder
Teoscar Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly.
The Athletics immediately got a run back against Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski. With one out, catcher Shea Langeliers hit an infield single. He then scored from first on designated hitter Jonah Heim’s two-out RBI single off the right field wall. The A’s could have scored more, but Los Angeles’ third baseman Tommy Edman made a nice diving play to end the inning.
It looked like the Dodgers would add to their lead after the first two batters of the second inning reached on an A’s fielding error and a walk. However, Springs buckled down, retiring the next three hitters to escape the jam and keep his team’s deficit at one run.
What to do about Springs
Springs’ home run issues resurfaced in the third inning. With two outs and two runners on, Edman crushed the first pitch he saw over the center-field fence for his first home run of the season, giving the visitors a 5-1 lead.
A’s Waste First RISP Chance
In the top of the fifth, A’s second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer made his second nice catch of the night on a popup in the shallow outfield. In the bottom of that frame, the Athletics stranded third baseman Max Muncy at second after his one-out double down the left field line.
24 For Springs
The A’s left Springs in to pitch the sixth inning, a decision that backfired when Dodgers’ second baseman Miguel Rojas led off the inning with a solo home run to left, his third of the season.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay removed Springs after he walked Shohei Ohtani. The left-hander struggled once again, allowing six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked four, only struck out two and served up two more long balls. Right-hander Elvis Alvarado replaced Springs, recording the final two outs of that inning.
Dodgers Dominating Again
The Dodgers scored three more runs in the seventh against A’s reliever Geoff Hartlieb. The rally began when A’s left fielder Joey Meneses failed to catch a fly ball off Betts’ bat. A few batters later, Meneses misplayed Edman’s RBI single that brought home the Dodgers’ seventh run.
The next batter, Rojas, hit a sacrifice fly to bring home his team’s eighth run of the evening. Dodgers’ catcher Dalton Rushing then followed with a two-out single, marking the second straight night the Dodgers scored nine runs.
Colby Jack
In the bottom of the seventh, the A’s scored for the first time since the first inning. Right fielder Colby Thomas homered for the second straight night, his fourth of the season, making it a 9-3 game.
Wrobleski continued his impressive start to the season, limiting the A’s to three runs on seven hits over seven innings while striking out a career-high 11 batters on a career-high 110 pitches.
The A’s comeback attempt stopped there, as they went down quietly against Dodgers’ relievers Brock Stewart and Wyatt Mills.
Through two games, the Dodgers outscored the Athletics 18-7, racking up 31 hits and five home runs against the Green and Gold’s subpar pitching staff. The win marked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ 1,000th career victory, a milestone reached faster than any other manager in MLB history.
The further the Athletics fall below .500, the harder it will be to dig out of the hole. With the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners all playing well, the A’s need to figure things out sooner than later.
Tomorrow, the “Green and Gold” look to salvage the final game of this series. Right-hander J.T. Ginn will start, aiming to help his team end its four game losing streak. Ohtani was supposed to pitch the series finale, but the Dodgers are moving his next start to Friday, choosing to roll with a bullpen game rather than waste an Ohtani start at this minor-league stadium.
