Athletics’ Bats Asleep For a Week
Jun 10, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) reacts to striking out during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
After suffering only their third shutout this season, in a 7-0 loss to the Yankees in front of a packed house, A’s bats lately look like they’ve taken a week-long snooze. In Friday’s loss the A’s managed only two hits suffering the largest margin of defeat so far in 2014.
After busting out for 10 hits in the series finally where they beat the (formerly LA, formerly California, formerly Anaheim) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—of California of the West Coast of the United States in the Northern Hemisphere –with a 7-1 smack down win on the last game of their nine game road trip Wednesday, the A’s encompassed only two hits on Friday, and in the process gave speculation to a sell-out fireworks crowd of 36,067 to wonder for five innings if they were going to witness a Yankee no-hitter.
The A’s are just 2-4 in the last week, scoring no more than 3 runs in the losses, and in 4 of their last 8 games they’ve scored a measly 2 runs or less. Bats are virtually silent, balls that once fell for hits are now being caught, line drives have been reduced ground balls, and A’s Hitting Coach Chili Davis – along the rest of A’s fans – must be left in bewilderment to what happened.
Going back to last Saturday vs. the Orioles, the once heralded “Run DMC” 3-4-5 line-up combination of Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss, and Yoenis Cespedes are a combined 11-for-75 (.147) with Cespedes carrying the trio with 9 of the 11 total hits. In that period, Donaldson is hampered with a giant O-fer at 0-for-25 and Moss at just 2-for-23. In addition, John Jaso is now hitless in his last 17 at-bats, Alberto Calaspo is 1-for-13, and Jed Lowry is 2-for-16.
Overall in the last week, the team is batting a sub-Mendoza .188. You don’t win games, let alone division titles with the BA.
With A’s hitters to face the Yankees Hiroki Kuroda on Saturday, June 14 and Vidal Nuno on Sunday, June 15, the A’s can hope for similar results- wins- from the last match-ups. The A’s clobbered Nuno for 6 hits and 2 runs in just 5 1/3 innings during his last appearance against them.
Donaldson is likely to remain in the line-up with back-up infielder Callaspo away on maternity leave this weekend. Cespedes remains hot and getting serious looks for the All-Star game roster. (Cespedes had his season-high nine game hitting streak snapped on Friday. He was 15-for-41 at .366 over the stretch.)