BOTTLED UP
Quiet A’s lose back-to-back games for first time in more than a month
DENVER >> You could almost mistake this game for a replay of the previous night if you weren’t paying close enough attention.
For the second consecutive night, the A’s were held to just one run at the usually hitter-friendly Coors Field in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to the Rockies in Denver. It’s the first time Oakland has lost back-to-back games since losing four in a row June 12-15.
Similar to the night before, situational hitting was a problem for the A’s. After leaving 13 runners on base in Friday’s 3-1 loss, the A’s (61-45) registered six hits and five walks Saturday only to go 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners on base.
“That was the story of the game again,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Middle of our order usually does damage, and we just didn’t these two
games. I don’t know how we can expect to do it every time like we have for a while now.”
Having dropped the first two games in Colorado, the A’s suffered their first series loss since they were swept by the Astros in June, snapping a 11-0-1 record in their past 12 series.
Brett Anderson wasn’t great, but he also wasn’t terrible. Though he allowed base runners in nearly every inning, he managed to complete six innings, something A’s starters have struggled to do as of late. He surrendered four runs on eight hits and a walk, two of the runs coming on solo shots by Nolan Arenado and Pat Valaika.
The left-hander has shown an ability to provide innings the last couple
times out, but teams have hit him around early on in games. He’s now 2-3 with a 5.55 ERA in eight starts this season.
“The balls that he’s getting up they’re doing some damage with. He’s gotta get the ball down a little bit more,” Melvin said. “He’s given us some innings, but early on they’ve been scoring some runs on him.”
The home run allowed to Valaika in the fourth to push Colorado’s lead to 4-1 was the one which mostly frustrated Anderson. Valaika entered the night batting just .137 this season, hitless since July 7.
“It was kind of a weird start in that the pitches I made were either really good or really terrible. There was no in between,” Anderson said. “The homer to Valaika was the backbreaker. I can’t let that happen. With this yard, a bloop and a blast gets you right back in it. Three-run lead with the way they’ve been playing here is tough to overcome.”
Rockies (56-47) starter Antonio Senzatela entered the night with a 5.55 ERA. The A’s had their chances, but aside from giving up a run in the first, he managed to get through 5 2/3 innings before handing it off to the bullpen.
“He’s got a good arm. Looks like his fastball is a little better than the breaking stuff, but at the end of the day he kept us off balance,” Melvin said. “He walked some guys, we just weren’t able to take advantage.”
Former A’s outfielder Carlos Gonzalez continued to excel
against his former team. Entering the night with a .355 average against the A’s, Gonzalez went 3 for 4 with a season-high three doubles.
Rumors have been swirling the past couple of days about the A’s potentially adding a left-handed hitting outfielder before the July 31 trade deadline, but that upgrade may already exist on the roster.
Nick Martini has taken off in his third big league stint of the season, entering the night batting .471 in 11 games since getting recalled July 7. The outfielder found himself in the starting lineup Saturday night and finished 2 for 4 with a double playing center field and batting lead off. It was his first
time playing out there this season, but Martini could see more playing time in general if he keeps this up.
“Martini led off the other day and was on base every time. The decision was either he or (Dustin) Fowler today, and with Khris Davis in left, we wanted to get Nick’s bat in the lineup,” Melvin said. “Not a ton of experience in center field, maybe a little bit more than years past since he played there in spring and Triple-A. He’s had a nice run swinging the bat.”
An increase in playing time for Martini would mean another outfielder may suffer because of it, and in this case it would probably be Fowler. The left-handed hitting rookie has struggled through July with a .180 batting average and was kept out of the lineup Saturday even with a right-hander on the mound for the Rockies.
“You know this guy is gonna be a big part of our future and a great chance he’s gonna be our everyday center fielder,” Melvin said of Fowler. “It’s tougher to stay with guys right now who maybe aren’t swinging the bat as well because of the position we’re in. That’s the balance of the different part of where we are this year as opposed to recent year.”