The Boys Are Back

Sep 22, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics first baseman Nate Freiman (35) high fives center fielder Sam Fuld (23) after he scored against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Monday night showed promise as the Athletics claimed back-to-back wins for only the second time in September. The win also marks the A’s taking three of their last four since the pathetic sweep by the last place Texas Rangers the previous series.

Keep it up guys, this is the impetus needed for the last week of the season.

The A’s are still in the comfortable position of controlling their own destiny – not needing help from anyone but themselves – as they pursue the post-season.

Starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija was outstanding allowing one unearned run over seven innings in his 15th start of the season.

Some take-aways from the game the team needs to hold on to that were successful earlier this season.

Take pitches/make the opposing pitcher work.
In the first inning there were four walks by Angels starter C.J. Wilson, two of them with the bases loaded. This led to the A’s getting the early lead. Overall, the A’s received nine free passes with six of them scoring.

Take advantage of RISP
It seemed earlier on this month a runner on third or even the bases loaded with less than two outs was a curse. Time after time runners would be stranded only to be bitten the following inning by an opposition run scoring situation.

Last night, In addition to two runs scoring on bases loaded walks, the A’s even had two hits with the bases loaded.

Go with best hitters/not RH line-up vs. LHP platoon
With the win, the A’s are still only 6-11 against left-handed starters since Aug. 1 with a .225 BA against southpaws – the third worst in MLB. Their slugging percentage of .315 vs lefties is second worst. There’s a reason the Angels are throwing three successive lefties against the A’s this series, and don’t be surprised if in the ALDS the same occurs.

Only two of the A’s seven hits were from the right side of the plate, Coco Crisp, a switch hitter, and Geovany Soto, both in the first inning and would have likely been in the lineup anyway. The RH hitting platoon of Jonny Gomes, Nate Freiman, and Nick Punto was held hitless.

The RH platoon wasn’t too stellar in the field either as both A’s errors were committed by Gomes and Punto with the one by Gomes leading to a first inning unearned run.

Shore up the bullpen
Reliever Evan Scribner made things interesting with a 3-run bomb to Albert Pujols with two outs in the eighth inning after surrendering two singles as A’s fans again feared another lost starting pitching performance courtesy of a bullpen implosion.

With six games left, Manager Bob Melvin should have some idea what the post season roster will look like. Short of any mop-ups between now and then, guys who spent the majority of the season as a River Cat shouldn’t be getting the work in relief.

Keep the focus
Even going back to last week where the A’s took two of three on the road from the Seattle Mariners the team shows some semblance of regaining its pre-All Star break mode with starting pitching, being patient at the plate, taking advantage of scoring opportunities, and an unyielding bullpen.

The time is right to regain the momentum lost.