Athletics’ Bullpen Could Not Keep Yankees’ Bats Quiet In One-Run Lose

The Oakland Athletics’ starter Scott Kazmir only pitched three innings in tonight’s game against the New York Yankees before being pulled out with tricep tightness. Over the next six innings, the A’s bullpen could not keep the Bronx Bombers at bay and allowed seven hits and four runs. The Yankees where able to hold onto their lead throughout the game and ended up winning by one-run in the ninth after a valiant but unsuccessful comeback effort made by Oakland.

Highlights

The night started out ok for the Oakland Athletics. Kazmir was dealing his usual stuff and the A’s got on the board early in the second inning. With Brett Lawrie and Jake Smolinski on first and second, Josh Phegley hit a single softly into center field that allowed Lawrie to score. Then, Mark Canha came to the plate and drove a single to left field on which Smolinski scored.

The Yankees retaliated with a run of their own in the bottom of the second cutting the Athletics’ lead in half. Kazmir’s cutter was no match for Didi Gregorius’ bat and he doubled to right field, which scored Chris Young who had reached first base on a fielding error by Lawrie. Gregorius tried for third but was thrown out Phegley. The A’s now led the game 2-1.

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Once Kazmir left after the third inning, it all went downhill for the Athletics. Evan Scribner gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Mark Teixeira. Then, the Yankees scored again in the fourth on a wild pitch. In the sixth inning, Teixeira hit another long ball off of Scribner and New York now led by two runs. Finally, in the eighth inning, the Yankees scored their last run when Stephen Drew homered, this time off of Fernando Abad. The Yankees led 5-2 going into the ninth.

The A’s had a good rally in the final inning. With lefty closer Andrew Miller now on the mound, it was doubtful that the A’s would get any runs. But, Canha singled to get on base and then Marcus Semien ripped his eighth home run of the season to left field. Now only one run behind, Stephen Vogt reached first on a throwing error and Sam Fuld came in to pitch run for him. However, with two outs already on the board, Ben Zobrist grounded into the final out of the game. Oakland lost 4-5.

The Good

It was all about the A’s rookies tonight – especially their offense. If the unearned run in the second inning had not scored, the game would probably be tied at the end of the ninth and there would be a need to go into extra innings. Phegley and Canha, who went 2-for-3 tonight, each earned an RBI in the second while Semien provided some much needed offensive support in the ninth with that homer to left field.

The Bad

It was obviously bad that Kazmir had to come out of the game so early. It was equally bad that his replacement, Scribner, gave up two long balls and a total of three runs throughout 2.1 innings pitched. Then, in the eighth, the other inconsistent reliever in the A’s bullpen, Fernando Abad, gave up a home run that sealed the win for the Yankees.

The Notable

• The A’s are now 7-22 in one-runs games after tonight’s lose.
• Yankees’ closer Andrew Miller had only allowed three runs this whole season going into tonight’s game. However, on his first night back from the disabled list in about a month, he gave up two runs Oakland in the ninth – almost doubling the amount of earned runs he has allowed in just one night.
• Closer Sean Doolittle is reportedly feeling great after playing some catch for the first time since late May.

Up Next

For the final game of the series, Oakland will have righty Jesse Chavez (4-8, 3.20) on the mound while the pinstripes will have Masahiro Tanaka (4-3, 3.94). Chavez was dominant against the Yankees back in May, so lets hope that the Athletics can provide some run support in order to pull out a win. Tomorrow’s game will start bright and early for the west coast with first pitch at 10:05 AM PT.

Next: Jake Smolinski Can Make An Impact With Oakland Athletics