The Athletics took on the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game midweek series on a beautiful summer night in San Francisco. The Giants scored a pair of early runs that held up in the hosts’ 3-1 victory, snapping their losing streak and stretching the A’s skid to three games. Robbie Ray, a looming free agent, boosted his trade value by quieting the A’s offense over eight sparkling innings.
Giants Take Early Lead
Starting pitchers Aaron Civale and Robbie Ray each got off to a strong start, tossing scoreless
first innings. The Giants took the lead in the second inning. Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee hit his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right-center field against Civale. Shortstop Willy Adames doubled and then third baseman Matt Chapman crushed a ball off the left field wall, bringing home the Giants second run of the inning.
A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom made a nice throw to catch Matt Chapman trying to stretch his hit into a double, but A’s second baseman Zack Gelof got his right hand stepped on while applying the tag and had to be replaced by Jeff McNeil. Gelof’s early injury-related exit ended his hitting streak at an impressive 24 games. He suffered a right hand laceration and contusion on that play. Thankfully, he avoided a more significant injury.
A’s Respond
Athletics’ right fielder Colby Thomas reached to start the third inning when Lee dropped the fly ball off his bat in right field. The A’s quickly capitalized off the Giants’ mistake. Third baseman Max Muncy singled to left, scoring Thomas to cut the Giants lead in half. Muncy proceeded to make a base running mistake, as Ray picked him off first base for the first out of the inning.
Civale Escapes Trouble
In the bottom of the fourth, the Giants hit two straight singles against Civale, putting two runners on the bases with one out. Civale struck out San Francisco’s catcher Daniel Susac to strand the bases loaded and end the threat.
Game Rolls Along
Having thrown 84 pitches through four laborious innings, Civale did not return for the fifth inning. He allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five and walking none. Left-hander Matt Krook replaced him out of the A’s bullpen, making his second MLB appearance of the season. The southpaw pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Krook returned for the sixth, recording one out before giving way to right-hander Mason Barnett, who struck out Susac to escape a two on, two out jam and keep the score the same. Twice, Susac came up to the plate with runners in scoring position and two outs, and both times he failed to come through for the hosts.
Giants Extend Their Lead
In the last of the seventh, Barnett struck out the first batter before Giants’ designated hitter Bryce Eldridge walked and then second baseman Casey Schmitt recorded his second single of the game.
The A’s turned to left-hander Jose Suarez with two left-handed hitters coming up. First baseman Rafael Devers made the visitors regret the pitching change by grounding an RBI single up the middle with Eldridge just beating A’s center fielder Henry Bolte’s throw home to score the Giants’ third run of the game. Suarez retired the next two hitters he faced, stranding runners on second and third.
The A’s offense struggled against Ray. The “Green and Gold” swung at a lot of first pitches, allowing the Giants’ starter to need just 1o2 pitches to complete eight innings of one-run ball. Despite walking four, Ray only allowed two hits, inducing eight groundouts and four fly outs. He would have finished with a scoreless performance if not for Lee’s fielding error, which led to the Athletics’ lone run.
Ninth-inning Drama
Giants’ reliever Caleb Kilian came on in the top of the ninth to try to secure the save. Soderstrom hit a one-out single. After shortstop Jacob Wilson grounded into a force out, Killian walked pinch-hitter Lawrence Butler to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Alas, Bolte struck out to end the game, as the A’s last chance fizzled out.
The Athletics will look to bounce back and even up this interleague series tomorrow night. Left-hander Gage Jump has pitched exceptionally well through his first few MLB starts and now gets to face the Giants for the first time in his young career. He will be opposed by Giants’ right-hander Tyler Mahle, who is returning from a monthlong absence due to a left hamstring injury.
