Triggs’ injury tempers victory
He exits in third after experiencing tingling in his pitching hand
TORONTO » Andrew Triggs’ early departure fromthe game marred what was a hit parade for the A’s.
The right-hander had just gone 2-0 to Justin Smoak with a runner on and one out in the third inning when Jonathan Lucroy quickly ran out for a mound visit. Manager Bob Melvin and trainer Nick Paparesta went out to the mound shortly after, and after a quick consultation, Triggs was pulled from the game after 42 pitches. His outing ended with him allowing one run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout over 2 1/3 innings in a 10-5 A’s victory.
Triggs was shaking his forearm as he walked back to the dugout and into the clubhouse. After the game, Triggs revealed he felt a tingling and shooting sensation from his right thumb to the middle finger. The feeling began after throwing a changeup to retire Yangervis Solarte on a groundout to end the first inning andwas on andoff in the secondinning. After the sensation returned more frequently in the third, Triggs said he called on Lucroy and the training staff to let them know something was wrong.
“It didn’t concern me all that much and then it was more frequent in the third when I walked (Josh) Donaldson and then got down 2- 0 to Smoak,” Triggs said. “That was enough forme to bring it to their attention. You don’t want to come out before you’ve given everything you’ve got, but that was enough forme to realize I needed to say something.”
Triggs entered the night 3-1 with a 5.31 ERA. He had tied a season-high six runs allowed in
his previous start against the Yankees on Saturday. Triggs underwent Tommy John surgery in his senior year of high school 11 years ago and had not had any serious arm injuries recently.
Though tingling sensations in the fingers are a common symptom of UCL injuries, which lead to Tommy John surgery, Triggs said his past experience with that type of injury gives him hope that what he was feeling is not UCL-related.
“I’ve had the worst- case scenario, and I’m optimistic it’s nothing related to that,” Triggs said. “But we’ll know more.”
Manager Bob Melvin said Triggs will head to Oakland for an MRI this week, and the club will wait to hear back before deciding on making a roster move. With starters Jharel Cotton and Paul Blackburn already on the disabled list, along with relievers Ryan Buchter and Liam Hendriks, the A’s pitching depth is starting to wane. A long-term injury for Triggs would be a tough blow.
Santiago Casilla came on in relief of Triggs and got Smoak and Solarte to fly out to end the third. Though the Blue Jays (2222) tacked on three runs against Casilla, his ability to go two innings and help Melvin stay away from certain members of the bullpen he wanted to give a night off left the manager pleased.
“Casilla was great. He’s not used to doing that,” Melvin said. “He’s probably never been called on at that time in his whole career. He gave up a couple of runs, but two-plus is just not stuff he’s ever done for us, and he continues to pitch well for us. He’s really turned himself into quite a weapon.”
Casilla, along with Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Dull, and Lou Trivino combined for 6 2/3 innings. While four runs were surrendered by the pitchers, they got some help from an explosion of runs by the A’s lineup.
When Khris Davis, Matt Olson and Matt Chapman are all clicking, it can be a downright frightening scenario for opposing pitchers. Thatwas the case on Thursday.
The A’s recorded 14 hits as Davis, Olson and Chapman all homered. The trio combined to go 8 for 12 with seven RBIs and two walks.
“When we’re swinging pretty good and just getting some contributions from everybody, it can turn into 10 runs like it did tonight,” Melvin said.
Davis raised his average from .214 to .233 in one day by going 4 for 4 as he also singled three times. He was hit by a pitch in the sixth, reaching base five times in a game for the second time in his career.
“Usually if he touches the ball three times in a game there’s a couple of homers,” Melvin said. “Power hitters usually aren’t mixing some singles. His batting practice was really good and shooting some balls in the hole. He knows how to work on himself when maybe he’s swinging and missing too much.”
It was Chapman’s third multihit game in the past four days, tying a careerhigh three hits on the night.