He hits go-ahead homer in 7th; A’s waive Casilla, ending era in Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO >> As the A’s and Giants battle it out in the Bay Bridge series this weekend, a reliever who left an imprint in both team’s bullpens parted ways with Bay Area baseball.
During a flurry of roster moves Saturday, the A’s placed Santiago Casilla on waivers, allowing them to call up right-handed pitcher J.B. Wendelken from Triple-A Nashville. The club also recalled top-hitting prospect Franklin Barreto from Triple-A Nashville while optioning right-handed reliever Ryan Dull and starter Daniel Mengden, who was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list.
Mengden’s activation from the DL could put pressure on Brett Anderson, who’s clinging to a spot in the A’s rotation after struggling through another start Saturday. Anderson surrendered three earned runs off eight hits in 31/3 innings of work in a game the A’s came back to win 4-3. In six starts this season, Anderson is 1-2 with a 7.32 ERA.
Mark Canha got Anderson off the hook in the seventh, putting the A’s ahead 4-3 by blasting a two-run homer off Tony Watson into the middle of the stands in left field. As the ball sailed through the heavy San Fran-
cisco air, Canha flipped his bat to the ground.
As a kid who grew up rooting for the Giants in San Jose, the home run carries extra meaning.
“It might be my favorite (home run) to date,” Canha said. “I came to this park as a kid a lot. It’s just going to be fun to go brag to my Giants friends.”
But before the A’s took the field, manager Bob Melvin expressed sadness about Casilla’s departure from the club. He’s hopeful that the move will allow the 37-year old to find work with another club.
“We think the world of him. He’s a great guy. Guys over there (in the Giants dugout) probably feel it today, too,” Melvin said prior to the second game of the Bay Bridge series at AT&T Park.
“This guy’s a true Bay Area hero, three-time world champion, a big personality in our clubhouse, too.”
Casilla leaves the team after posting a 3.16 ERA in 26 appearances out of the bullpen this season. The A’s signed Casilla in January 2017 after the Giants declined to offer him a contract in free agency. Before joining the A’s for a second time last year, Casilla spent seven seasons with the Giants, winning three World Series titles and picking up 65 saves while pitching
primarily in the set-up man and closer’s role.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he’ll “never forget” the impact that Casilla had on the Giants championship teams.
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for the A’s to let him go,” Bochy said. “I have nothing but great memories from the time that I spent with him. I appreciate what he did here. He was such a class guy.”
All in all, Casilla played 14 big league seasons in the Bay Area. He made his debut with the A’s in 2004 before moving onto the Giants
in 2010.
Melvin said the A’s placed Casilla on waivers because they couldn’t get him enough work in the bullpen with so many talented, young arms in the organization. Casilla also struggled with his command this season, walking 20 batters in 31 1/3 innings, making him expendable.
“It’s the walks that stand out,” Melvin said. “He’s the type of guy that needs to pitch a lot. He wasn’t able to do that, wasn’t getting that type of work with us, so he wasn’t able to perform how he
normally does.”
Assuming Casilla clears waivers, the A’s will release him, giving the righthander an opportunity to join another team.
Casilla’s departure created an opportunity for Wendelken, who tossed 12 2/3 innings with the A’s two years ago before missing the entire 2017 season to recover from Tommy John surgery. Wendelken is 1-1 with three saves and a 3.49 ERA in 17 appearances with Triple-A Nashville this season.
The right-hander said his recall Saturday was even more satisfying than when he got called up to make his major-league debut in 2016.
“The trials and tribulations I went through were enough to knock a man down to his knees,” Wendelken said. “This time, I had more to fight for. I felt like I had something to prove and I wanted to prove it.”
Melvin is planning to use Wendelken in a long reliever role in the short term. The A’s also recalled left-hander Jeremy Bleich into the bullpen Friday.
The A’s also sent Dull to the minors in the wake of a rough outing Friday night in which he surrendered three earned runs in the seventh inning without recording an out. Dull posted a 6.00 ERA in 18 innings this season. Barreto joins the A’s for the fourth time this season. He’s batted .212 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 18 games with the
big club this season.
• After an outfield collision that left even Jed Lowrie concerned, the A’s second baseman woke up Saturday feeling better — and relieved.
Lowrie remains on track for the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Washington D.C. In fact, he could start the first-half finale Sunday against the Giants.
“I feel good, all things considered,” Lowrie said. “When I woke up this morning, I was worried that there was going to be more swelling. And that didn’t happen. I think that’s a good sign.”
Lowrie and right fielder Stephen Piscotty crashed into each other Friday night while chasing a popup hit by Alen Hanson. The second baseman remained on the ground for a few minutes and eventually left the game.
The A’s called it a “lowerleg” injury and Lowrie laughingly said he had no argument.” Calf. Knee,” he said. “When they say ‘lower leg,’ that’s pretty accurate because it was the whole lower leg.”
Lowrie also suffered mild whiplash on the play. Melvin said he went through concussion protocol and didn’t show signs of symptoms.
The second baseman was able to pinch hit in the ninth, increasing the likelihood that he’ll be in the starting lineup Sunday.
“The plan still is to play him tomorrow,” Melvin said.