Bullpen in ‘ rut’ as Cook takes loss
Los Angeles breaks tie with three in 7th
OAKLAND — The woes of the A’s bullpen continued Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels.
Ryan Cook allowed three runs in the seventh inning as the Angels handed Oakland a 6- 3 loss. The up- anddown A’s ( 9- 13) haven’t won back- to- back games since April 13- 14.
Cook entered right after Oakland scored two runs in the sixth to tie the game, but he allowed three of the four batters he faced to reach. Particularly frustrating was his walk to lead off the inning.
“You never want to do that and put yourself in a bad position from the jump,” Cook said.
C. J. Cron singled on a hit- and- run, bouncing a pitch through the vacated hole on the right side of the infield. Cook struck out Chris Iannetta and battled Johnny Giavotella for seven pitches before getting beat on a slider for a go- ahead single up the middle.
“I overthrew the slider multiple times, which is what I’m most frustrated about,” Cook said. “I tried to back off on the last one and still overthrew it.”
Fernando Abad relieved Cook and walked the only batter he faced, which Stephen Vogt, left, of the A’s, is out at second base as Angels shortstop Erick Aybar throws to first to complete a double play on Billy Butler’s grounder in the fourth inning. loaded the bases for reigning MVP Mike Trout. Evan Scribner entered to face him and surrendered a tworun double that settled the final score.
The A’s bullpen is now 1- 7 on the season with an American League- worst 4.50 earned run average.
“We’re definitely in a little rut and we’ve got to turn it around,” Cook said.
The A’s flirted with a rally in the bottom of the seventh, putting two men on with one out, but they couldn’t cash in and were retired in order in the eight and ninth innings.
The Angels had an early 3- 0 lead. They scored two runs in the first inning for the second straight night, with Erick Aybar lofting a single to center with two outs to drive in a pair. Trout
THURSDAY’S GAME
L. A. Angels ( Garrett Richards 1- 1) at A’s ( Jesse Chavez 0- 1), 12: 35 p. m. CSNCA crushed a long home run in the third inning on a fastball that Jesse Hahn left out over the middle.
Hahn went five innings in his first start back since missing a turn due to a blister issue that he said didn’t bother him at all in this start. He gave up four hits and the three runs and had six strikeouts with one walk.
The A’s got a run in the third inning with Marcus Semien hit his second double of the night and Stephen Vogt singled him home. Semien’s had five multi- hit performances in the past seven games.
Semien started the gametying rally in the sixth inning with a single and scored on a two- out Ike Davis double. Josh Reddick singled home Davis to tie the game.
But the Angels responded right away, deflating the A’s dugout a bit.
“It was ( deflating) but there’s not much you can do about it,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ve struggled late in games here recently. We have to go about putting that behind you.”
The Angels’ Albert Pujols n left the game in the sixth inning with a left hamstring injury. He limped into first base after singling to center field.
Ben Zobrist was walking n around and riding an exercise bike a day after having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday. He expressed optimism about beating his original 4- 6 week projection.
“I’m looking at less time than that, but it depends on how it goes once I start ramping up the activity,” Zobrist said.
Outfielder Coco Crisp n ( right elbow surgery) will take batting practice with Class A Stockton on Friday and Saturday. He’ll be evaluated afterwards to determine when he’ll begin his rehab assignment, head trainer Nick Paparesta said.
nJarrod Parker ( Tommy John surgery) pitched five innings and threw 71 pitches in his second rehab start Tuesday for Stockton and earned the win.
He allowed four hits, three runs, two earned runs and struck out seven with zero walks. He expects to join Triple- A Nashville for his next start.
A. J. Griffin ( Tommy n John surgery) threw a 38- pitch bullpen session Wednesday and will return to Arizona to pitch another simulated game Saturday in extended spring training..
Closer Sean Doolittle n ( left rotator cuff) threw on back- to- back days for the first time Wednesday and will return to the mound for a bullpen session Thursday.