JD Davis has multi-hit day but Oakland Athletics can't overcome Diamondbacks

For the second day in a row, the Oakland Athletics battled to a 3-3 tie, this time against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Newly acquired third baseman JD Davis notched two singles on the day, as did infielder Hoy Park.

In total, the Athletics banged 12 hits, 4 of them coming against D-Backs starter Merrill Kelly. Despite that, they were only able to convert that into 3 runs, all coming in the 8th inning off reliever Logan Allen.

Allen entered the game with a 3-0 lead and the A's jumped all over him. Jacob Wilson started the inning with an opposite field double and two batters later, Esteury Ruiz brought him home on a seeing-eye grounder into right field.

After Ruiz stole second, first baseman Drew Lugbauer ripped a double down the right field line that brought Ruiz around to score. Logan Davidson then brought in Lugbauer on a sharp single back into center field.

The Athletics managed to get men on first and second with one out in the 8th but Allen was able to get Carlos Perez and Myles Naylor out on a lazy fly ball and softly hit grounder to end the threat.

A's righty Ross Stripling managed to throw 5 innings, giving up 7 hits and 3 runs with a walk and 3 strikeouts. That lowered his spring ERA to 9.39.

Mitch Spence worked two scoreless innings in relief, grabbing an impressive 5 strikeouts along the way. With Kyle Muller and Joe Boyle seemingly battling for the last rotation spot, Spence looks like he'll start the year in the A's bullpen.

Spence has a respectable 4.15 ERA in 13 innings over 4 appearances. He was always a long shot to make the rotation but he's pitched well enough to get a crack in the major league bullpen, rather than being sent back to the Yankees due to his Rule 5 status.

Michael Kelly and Zach Jackson also threw a scoreless inning each. Both allowed a single hit, and Jackson notched two strikeouts, lowering his spring ERA to 8.53. Jackson has some work to do if he wants to make the opening day roster, but Kelly is on the right track.

The Athletics are back at it again tomorrow afternoon with an away matchup against the Texas Rangers. Lefty JP Sears is set to face off against Rangers righty Yerry Rodriguez. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 pm PST.