Cotton, A’s shut down White Sox; Giants routed by Mets
Early homer, strong start pave way to rare road win for Oakland
CHICAGO — The A’s opened another road series on Friday still trying to crack the mystery of why they can’t seem to win away from the Coliseum.
They may have found the beginnings of the answer as designated hitter Khris Davis went 2-for-3 with a first-inning two-run home run while left fielder Matt Joyce added a solo shot in the fifth in a 3-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
“We needed to get on the board first the way things have been going on the road for us,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin. “(Starter) Jharel (Cotton) kind of took that and ran with it and when he had to come out we had some rested guys in the bullpen today and they did a good job.”
The A’s are a healthy 22-17 at home and finally hit double-digit road wins — now 10-25 — as they snapped a four-game losing streak.
“It seems like there’s a lot of fight in us at home,” said Melvin. “We’re all trying to figure out why it looks like two completely different teams.
Friday’s game at Guaranteed Rate Field kicked off a six-game swing that includes two more games in Chicago, a Monday off-day and three at AL West-leading Houston, the team they just dropped four straight to at home.
Davis clubbed a two-out, first-pitch home run to center off losing pitcher Mike Pelfrey, scoring Jed Lowrie for a 2-0 lead. Davis’ 19th homer of the season — and 18th off a right-handed pitcher — tied him for fifth among American League leaders.
“It was important just to jump out and score first and keep an aggressive mindset early on,” said Davis.
Joyce made it 3-0 with a leadoff home run to right center in the fifth. He faced a full count before launching a 412-foot shot for his ninth homer of the season.
The two home runs gave the A’s 101 for the year. They’re on a pace to top the team record of 109 hit before the All-Star break set in 2002.
Pelfrey (3-6) took the loss and departed after throwing 106 pitches through 42⁄3 innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, struck out four and walked five.
The right-handed Cotton (5-7) worked five innings for his second consecutive victory and first shutout outing since April 10 at Kansas City.
He departed before starting the sixth, suffering from a small blister on his right thumb.
“My past few games when they gave me the lead I would give it right back up. So today was a great opportunity to redeem myself,” he said. “I was cruising until the fifth, the sixth and the when this happened. It was kind of a bummer that I couldn’t at least finish the sixth.
Cotton gave up three hits, striking out three and walking one while throwing 65 pitches.
“We’ve seen him good and we’ve seen him struggle with command,” Melvin said. “Today for the most part command wasn’t an issue and when he’s throwing the ball where he wants to and he’s using all his pitches he usually has success.”
Liam Hendriks entered in relief in his 32nd appearance of the season and was the first of four relievers who worked the rest of the way to help preserve the shutout.
Right-hander Santiago Casilla, the final A’s reliever of the night, survived a shaky but scoreless ninth. Chicago had a runner at third before Matt Davidson flew out to end the game and Casilla earned his 12th save.
The White Sox can sympathize with the A’s. Chicago is 17-27 so far away from home after snapping a three-game losing streak with Thursday’s 9-0 victory at Minnesota, a game interrupted by a 4 hour, 50minute rain delay.
Chicago maintains a lopsided 14-6 advantage over the A’s in recent meetings, including three straight series victories.
The teams will meet again in an Independence Day holiday series from July 3-5 at the Coliseum.
A’s shortstop Chad Pinder left Friday’s game after five innings with a left hamstring strain and was replaced by Adam Rosales, who entered as a sixth inning pinch hitter.
Pinder was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Rookie third baseman Matt Chapman remained hospitalized on Friday, receiving intravenous antibiotic treatment for a left knee infection.
“Chapman’s better today,” Melvin said. “He’ll stay in (the hospital) tonight for sure and hopefully out tomorrow. My reports are that he’s making significant progress.”
Chapman, batting .214 since joining the A’s on June 15, was originally scheduled to come off the 10-day disabled list on Thursday.
Right fielder Matt Olson, fresh up from Triple-A Nashville, cooled off on Friday with an 0-for-5 game following an noteworthy Thursday debut with two hits, two walks and two RBIs against the Astros.
“That was impressive,” Melvin said. “I asked him, ‘How ya’ feeling?’ and he goes, ‘Does it matter? Because I’m in the lineup and that’s where I want to be.’ Basically on no sleep yesterday, he was on base four times.”
A’s right-hander Daniel Gossett (0-2, 7.20 ERA) makes the Saturday start, his third since a June 14 call up from Triple-A Nashville. He worked 62⁄3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits and striking out six in a start last Monday against Houston — a 4-1 A’s loss.
White Sox right-hander James Shields (1-0, 2.42 ERA) makes his second start since a nearly twomonth stay on the disabled list (strained right lat). Shields makes his 16th career start against the A’s and is 6-5 all-time with a 4.15 ERA and 11 quality starts.