5 homers not enough for A’s

ANAHEIM (TNS) – A’s manager Bob Melvin had been waiting for the A’s offense to perform up to its potential. That potential was exceeded, but it still wasn’t enough.

The A’s came up short in a 13-9 loss to the Angels Friday night in a game that felt more like a home run derby with a total of seven homers throughout the evening.

Defensive wizard Matt Chapman had already made a couple of spectacular plays on the night to protect what was an A’s lead for most of the night, but it was an error he made in the seventh inning that led to a brutal late blow.

With the Angels having already tied the game with two runs in the inning, Chapman made a shorthop throw to first base that Matt Olson was unable to dig out. Chapman was charged with the error to keep the inning alive, and after an intentional walk to Mike Trout, Blake Treinen surrendered a three-run homer to Justin Upton to give the Angels their first lead of the night at 12-9.

Upton’s bomb capped off what was an overall meltdown for A’s pitchers, beginning with starter Daniel Gossett.

Gossett ran into the phenomenon that has become “Ohtani Mania,” in the second inning. Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani did it again, blasting a solo shot off Gossett to make it three straight games in which Ohtani has homered.

Later in the fourth inning, Gossett crumbled, allowing hits to the first four batters of the inning and three runs to score to cut the lead to 6-4. Gossett would not make it out of the inning as he was pulled for Yusmeiro Petit, and another run crossed the plate as Gossett was responsible for a four-run inning that shrunk Oakland’s lead to 6-5.

It was the first real bad night for the A’s new and improved bullpen this season. Petit, Liam Hendriks, Emilio Pagan, Ryan Buchter, Blake Treinen, and Santiago Casilla combined to allow eight runs in 42/3 innings of relief. Though only three of those runs were earned.

It otherwise was the kind of day when first-round leader Jordan Spieth could shoot 74 and declare, “It’s not so bad.” But that was before Reed tacked on a string of three more birdies on the back nine and pushed his lead over the 2015 Masters champ to five strokes.

Reed had never previously demonstrated a home-course advantage, even though he played just up the street in college. The times the Jags were allowed on Augusta National were invariably cold and wet, Reed said, and the place played even more imposingly long than usual. When he returned as a pro, he played it like he was a stranger.

Now, Reed said, he is finally getting this place. With the help of his wife, who strongly suggested he put away the driver and hit 3-wood off No. 1. He listened, and put up his first birdie of the day.

There are two facts that say it all for how Reed has managed this lead, beyond whatever intangible understanding he has forged. He is tied for fewest putts through two rounds (51), with 22 oneputts. And he is eight-for-eight on birdies on the par 5s. “The par 5s are huge here to pick up ground,” he said. “You can’t shoot low without them.”

Not everyone was quite so flush. Those who retreated Friday included some of your household names.

Spieth’s day began with a double bogey from the trees on No. 1, the highest score he’s ever put up on that hole. And then a three-putt bogey on the par-5 second. It was the kind of opening chapter that only Stephen King could love.

Phil Mickelson was within one of the very early lead three holes into Friday. He proceeded to play the next 15 holes in 8 over par. The lowlight was a very Mickelsonian argument with the trees and azaleas on No. 9 – which he lost on the way to a triple-bogey 7 there.

In his previous 95 rounds at the Masters, Mickelson carded worse than a double-bogey on the hole only one other time.

“I just hit the tree,” Mickelson said. “There was plenty of gap. I just pushed it trying to run a 2-iron down to the green and get up and down and salvage par . ... I found it, but it was in the bushes, and the drop would have been worse.”

By the end of the day, Mickelson shot a 7-over 79, tying his worst round ever at the Masters.

Matt Kuchar, in second at 4 under after Thursday, fell out of favor Friday with a 75.

Scoring happiness was hardly a given Friday. They were only seven rounds in the 60s, and those fortunate few moved into the breach.

Notably the world’s top two ranked players – Dustin Johnson (68) and Justin Thomas (67), both at 3 under, six back of Reed.

The top seven on the leaderboard includes five major championship winners. The aforementioned Johnson, Thomas, Spieth and Mcilroy along with Henrik Stenson (5 under, in sole third place).

Not yet flying with those eagles is the leader Reed. He’d like very much to alter that perception of him, the sooner the better.