A’s All-Star closer Blake Treinen says he enjoyed a warm welcome back to Nationals Park.
WASHINGTON >> Amid the best stretch of his career, Blake Treinen’s first All-Star appearance means a return to the scene of his worst.
And yet, despite last year’s high-profile failure as the hometown team’s bullpen ace, the A’s closer found an exceptionally warm welcome to Nationals Park on Monday.
“It’s kind of crazy seeing staff members and security guards and just people who kind of make this machine tick. And seeing that they’re equally excited to see me. It’s nice to know that maybe there’s been a little lasting aspect on both sides,” Treinen said.
Treinen had offered to yield his All-Star spot to A’s second baseman Jed Lowrie after Lowrie finished out of the player voting despite a career year. Fortunately Lowrie is also here, replacing the injured Gleyber Torres of the Yankees.
Had Treinen known what being an All-Star felt like, he might have reconsidered.
“I’m not going to lie — I feel like a little kid,” Treinen said. “It’s crazy to think about. But I feel like I belong here.”
Treinen has converted 24 of 27 save opportunities and pitched to an 0.94 ERA this season.
• Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford will bat eighth in the lineup set by National League manager Dave Roberts, two sports behind hometown hero Bryce Harper and one ahead of Cubs’ catcher Wilson Contreras.
Crawford was eighth 14 times on Bruce Bochy’s lineup card early this season before climbing up the order.
“(It’s) a lot different than
hitting eighth in the regularseason Giants lineup,” said Crawford. “I have Contreras hitting behind me instead of a pitcher. That’s a big difference.”
Crawford, a starter for the first time, is determined to savor his second trip to the Summer Classic.
Or at least try.
“I went into it thinking that,” Crawford said Monday. “And then I got here at 3 a.m. last night, so it’s kind of been a whirlwind today.
“That’s kind of how the first World Series was in 2012. Everything went by pretty quick and then in 2014 I tried to kind of appreciate it a little bit more. … I’m going to try and do that here. ”
• Lowrie, the A’s second baseman, managed to secure 14 tickets so family and friends can witness the first All Star Game of his career, a moment that on a couple
occasions appeared unlikely.
Despite batting .285 and already tying a career high with 16 home runs, Lowrie was among the most controversial omissions to the original AL roster after finishing behind the Yankees’ Torres in the player voting. He finally secured a spot in place of the injured Torres.
After his initial snub, Lowrie received plenty of public support for his case beyond the Bay Area, most notably from AL manager A.J. Hinch of the A’s division rival Houston Astros. Lowrie played for Hinch in Houston in 2015.
That’s all welcome, Lowrie said. But he already knew he belonged.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the numbers, too, right?” said Lowrie, who with 62 RBIs is on pace to obliterate his previous career high of 75. “And if you look at my numbers, I belong here. But having that support
... it’s a good feeling.” MOUNT DAVIS TARPS COMING OFF SATURDAY >> For the first time in 13 years, the A’s will remove the tarps from Mount Davis at the Coliseum when the Battle of the Bay resumes this weekend.
Mount Davis will open for one night only, Saturday’s game against the Giants. That would push the seating capacity up to 56,782. In a news release, team president Dave Kaval said the A’s want to break the Coliseum attendance record of 55,989, which was set in 2004, also against the Giants.
Tickets for Mount Davis will be sold for $10 and will provide access to $2 hot dogs, nachos, peanuts, bottled water and soda. The A’s acknowledge that most of the seating has an obstructed view of the outfield.
Tickets can be purchased at athletics.com/battle.