A’s lose 5-3 to Rangers in Texas.
Power-hitting prospect Renato Nunez blasts first homer in majors in Oakland’s loss to Texas
The A’s have been raving about Renato Nunez’s power since spring training. He hasn’t had much of an opportunity to show it off in the big leagues, but with the season coming to a close, the rookie finally gave a glimpse of that impressive skill.
After a battle with Rangers starter Martin Perez in the seventh inning that saw him just get a piece of a couple of tough pitches to stay alive, Nunez launched a 1-2 fastball over the wall in right-center for a threerun homer to bring the A’s within two runs in an eventual 5-3 loss Friday night.
It was Nunez’s first big league home run. Fellow Venezuela countryman Franklin Barreto stood on the top step of the dugout with his right hand lifted in the air, and Nunez was greeted with an endless amount of hugs and high-fives as he made his way back to the dugout.
“It was amazing. It’s a mo-
ment I’ve imagined in my dreams all my life,” Nunez said. “It’s exciting for it to have happened today and I’m pretty happy about it.”
Making the three-run blast even more impressive was the fact that Nunez was able to go opposite field, something he’s been working to get better at doing this season at Triple-A Nashville.
“All my career I’ve been hitting most of my homers to left field. I’ve been a pull hitter,” Nunez said. “It took a lot of work to start to hit the ball to right field. I just keep working to keep get better.”
Nunez found himself in the starting lineup as the designated hitter.
Although Nunez had only had 10 at-bats heading into Friday’s game, A’s manager Bob Melvin figured Nunez, who led TripleA with 32 home runs this season, would find a way to fit in with the club’s future plans.
Melvin came away even
more impressed with Nunez’s ability to show his power in a clutch situation.
“We know he’s got it,” Melvin said. “We’ve been trying to give him some looks, and that three-run homer put us back in the game. We know he can hit.”
Raul Alcantara said he had a feeling Nunez would hit one out when he walked back to the dugout after his final pitch of the night.
“I was really happy to see that,” Alcantara said. “When I came back to the dugout I was yelling at him to hit his first home run, and he did it.”
Alcantara finally gave up a run as a starter after turning in scoreless outings in his previous two starts.
After allowing two runs in the first inning, Alcantara ran into more trouble in the fifth, surrendering a two-run bomb to Shin-Soo Choo. He was pulled shortly after the homer, allowing four runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Alcantara’s recent call-up in September was thought to be more of a move to provide the A’s with depth in the bullpen. His final start of the year was not as sharp as the previous two, but after a couple of strong showings as an emergency starter, his role could expand into something bigger next season.
“I think it was a good experience for me to show the team that they can count on me in any circumstance,” Alcantara said.
Doubles machine Jed Lowrie made some more history in the loss. After being stuck on 47 for more than a week, his 48th double of the season off Perez in the fourth broke Jason Giambi’s Oakland record
for most doubles in a season of 47, which was set in 2001.
“It seemed like a long time coming. I had a few home games to do it but couldn’t really find a gap,” Lowrie said. “To be on top of any offensive category is pretty cool.”
Lowrie, 33, is enjoying one of his best offensive seasons.
Hindered by injuries throughout his career, Lowrie has been able to play in 151 games this season, marking just the second time he’s played more than 150 in his 10 seasons in the majors.
While Melvin had high praise for Lowrie’s impressive feat, he’s been even more pleased with the type of leadership the second baseman has been able to bring to his young group of players.
“He really solidified us lineup-wise and has been such a great resource for these younger guys on how to be a professional hitter,” Melvin said. “How to prepare for at-bats. How to prepare for games. He’s been good all the way around for us.”