Reliever is shutting door on left-handers

The A’s have lost eight of 12 and face the largest division deficit of any team in the American League. But they can take solace in a reliever who has been stopping lefthanders cold while keeping opponents from scoring runs in key situations.

Lefty Daniel Coulombe has held left-handed batters to a .171 average (6-for-35), and opponents are 1-for-24 against him with runners in scoring position — the best mark in the majors for any pitcher who has faced at least 20 hitters.

“He was kind of thrust into a role that he has not pitched in before,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Now to come in and be that left-handed specialist, he’s done a really good job for us.”

Coulombe relishes being able to end a possible scoring chance.

“I feel like the biggest pride of relievers is being able to strand other people’s runners,” he said. “I take pride in that, absolutely.”

Lefty specialist is a role change for Coulombe. He’d been used primarily as a long reliever in the past, especially when his team was trailing. But with injuries having thinned the A’s bullpen, the 27-year-old has embraced his new role. How? “The thing that really helps him is his three-pitch mix,” catcher Stephen Vogt said. “He’s really able to make any pitch in any count.”

Vogt said Coulombe throws one of the better “12-6” curveballs a batter will face, and he also praised the reliever’s improved fastball and slider. It’s that repertoire, per Vogt, that differentiates Coulombe from other lefty relievers.

“A lot of left-handed relievers, they’ve got the fastball and maybe the power slider or the fastball and the curveball,” Vogt said, “But he’s got all three. So really that’s what sets him apart.”

Coulombe had his pitches working for him in the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jays. After replacing starter Jesse Hahn, Coulombe walked Darwin Barney to lead off the inning. But he settled down and struck out left-handed batter Ryan Goins and righty Luke Maile — the former swinging and the latter looking.

“A lot of lefties can’t get righties out because they don’t have that third pitch,” Vogt said. Coulombe “can because he’s got all three pitches.”

For now, Coulombe is the lone lefty in the A’s bullpen. That will change when Sean Doolittle returns from the disabled list this weekend at Tampa Bay.

Might that mean a return to long-relief duty for Coulombe?

“It just depends on what Sean’s role is on a particular day and whether he’s available or not,” Melvin said.

Coulombe, who is in his third year with the A’s after coming up with the Dodgers in 2014, will continue to do what he has been doing this season: attacking lefties.

“You’ve got to be prepared every single day,” he said, “And you look at the lineup and see where the left-handers are and you say, ‘I’ve got to get ready for those guys.’ ”

One left-handed batter Coulombe doesn’t have to worry about this year: David Ortiz.

“I faced him last year, bases loaded, no outs,” Coulombe said, “David Ortiz comes up and I’m like, ‘Wow, this guy! He’s one of the best ones ever.’ ” The result? “He hit a sac fly off me,” Coulombe said, “I got lucky.”