Irvin pitches the A’s to a 7-0 win over the Tigers, Oakland’s seventh consecutive win.
A’s trounce Tigers for 7th consecutive win, adding 3 more homers
The Oakland A’s benefitted from offensive contributions from plenty of players in their 7-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, scoring each of their first four runs on homers for their seventh consecutive victory.
They also received a superb six-strikeout start from southpaw Cole Irvin at the Coliseum en route to their eighth win in their past nine games, moving beyond an 0-6 start to the season. Saturday marked the A’s second consecutive shutout.
Matt Olson’s blasted a 438-foot solo homer in the first inning to get the offense started off Tigers starter and 2018 first overall pick Casey Mize. A’s backup catcher Aramis Garcia blasted a two-run home run in the second, and a pitch later left fielder Mark Canha launched a solo shot of his own.
“When we’re at our best, we’re getting contributions everywhere,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve been kind of a little top-heavy with guys at the top of the lineup but when we play well it’s everybody.”
With an 8-7 record, the A’s are above .500 for the first time this season, a snappy turnaround after they opened the season with six straight losses for the first time since 1916.
The A’s improved to 8-0 on the young season in games when they out-homer their opponent.
“Having (Olson) in the lineup has an effect on us and has an effect on other teams,” Melvin said. “He’s a big-time player, and those are the guys when they’re
in your lineup they certainly get the attention of the other team.”
Olson is starting to find his form at the plate, after a leg ailment sidelined him early in the season and a thumb contusion forced him to miss Tuesday’s game in Arizona.
“I don’t do sitting on the bench and watching too well,” Olson said. “I was ready to get back out there. As soon as I’m ready to play I’m going to play.”
Oakland’s offense has found its footing after hitting .170 with 19 runs scored and three home runs over the first eight contests. Over their past seven games, the A’s are hovering around the .270 mark with 47 runs scored and 15 home runs.
Irvin was masterful in his six shutout innings. He avoided giving up a walk, marking the first time in his three-year MLB career that he pitched at least six innings without surrendering a free pass.
“When the offense gets you that lead it’s a lot easier to pitch,” Irvin said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s spring training or if the games matter, it’s easier to pitch and you don’t have to mix and match as much.”
Irvin was acquired by the A’s from the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason and made the opening day roster after Mike Fiers suffered a hip injury that prevented him from being ready for the start of the season.
“He’s actually pitched better than his numbers would suggest,” Melvin said. “He was on it. Six solid innings and riding the wave of the last couple of starts that have been going on with us right now.
“We didn’t know much about him and in spring training he pitched great, won a job,” Melvin said.
Garcia said that the A’s recent success on the mound can be attributed to a change in philosophy. Instead of pitching to the weaknesses of their opponents, the staff is honing in on its own strengths.
“That’s going right after guys and being aggressive,” Garcia said.
The bullpen has marched in lockstep with their starting pitchers. Over their past nine games, the bullpen owns a 3.07 ERA in 35 2/3 innings. In the first five games of the season, their ERA was 7.43. On Saturday, righties JB Wendelken, Doelis Guerra and Jordan Weems combined for three shutout innings with four strikeouts and only one baserunner.
• Melvin said Saturday that Chad Pinder has resumed baseball activities. On Friday, he took swings off a pitching machine for the first time and all signs point to his body responding well to the activity. The A’s are now waiting to see how he takes to running again, something that will “tell the tale with him,” according to Melvin.
Pinder sprained his left knee when he crashed into the padded right-field wall on April 4 in the A’s opening series finale at home against the Houston Astros. He was subsequently shut down in order to aid his recovery.
• Left-hander A.J. Puk (biceps) is still throwing from 90 feet, though there is still no timetable for his return.
“He’s continuing his throwing progression and hasn’t gotten off a mound yet,” Melvin said. “Once he gets off a mound and throws a bullpen, we’ll have a little better timetable.”
• Righty reliever Burch Smith suffered a right groin strain and was placed on the injured list on April 6. As of Saturday, Smith is throwing from 100 feet and making progress toward beginning a running program that will further accelerate his recovery.
• Outfielder Stephen Piscotty missed the game after he was placed on the paternity list Friday for the birth of his first child.
• Second baseman Jed Lowrie, who is off to a great start, received a routine day off on Saturday, his 37th birthday.