Lowrie breaks out of slump in a big way against Angels
All-Star returning to form heading into pivotal series
ANAHEIM >> After quietly picking up a hit in each of his previous three games, Jed Lowrie was showing signs he was poised to break out of one of the worst stretches of his career.
The A’s All-Star second baseman broke all the way out in Sunday’s 8-7 win over the Angels.
Lowrie entered the day without an extra-base hit in August, but doubled off Taylor Cole in the first inning and then in the fourth crushed a 1-2 fastball from Jim Johnson into the right field bleachers for a two-run home run. It was Lowrie’s 18th homer of the season, and his first since July 25. He finished 2 for 4 with a walk and two RBIs.
The timing of Lowrie’s return to form couldn’t be better for the A’s: tonight they open a crucial threegame homestand against the Seattle Mariners, the team the A’s currently hold a 1 ½ game lead over for the second American League wild-card spot.
Though he carried a .179 average for the month, Lowrie was top-five in the league in hard-hit rate. Basically, Lowrie was running into bad luck based on that statistic.
“When you see him driving balls left handed, that
means he’s using his back side really well, which means he’s using his legs,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He hit a home run with some pain as well, but when he’s using his lower half, that’s when he’s the hitter that he is.”
Lowrie said he feels his legs are starting to come back, along with bat speed, after feeling a lack of strength following a collision with Stephen Piscotty during a game at San Francisco just before the AllStar break.
The double, though, was special on a personal level for Lowrie. It was the 1,000th hit of his 11-year big league career.
“It’s a lot of hard work that has gone into that,” Lowrie said. “One of those big round numbers that’s exciting and memorable. Pretty special moment.”
Seven different A’s hitters registered at least an RBI Sunday, and they were all needed as the usually reliable bullpen was just a bit off.
Trevor Cahill’s struggles on the road continued early on. Already entering the day with a 6.44 ERA in
six road starts, Cahill immediately ran into trouble to start the game as he did not have control of his goto changeup and allowed three runs in the first two innings, quickly erasing an early three-run cushion that was built up for him in the first.
Cahill seemed to settle down the following two innings, but he ended up failing to complete five innings as he was pulled in the fifth after allowing another with two outs, finishing the day allowing four runs on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings of work.
Melvin doesn’t look much into the bizarre difference between Cahill on the road as opposed to him, where he carries a 0.99 ERA. He said Sunday’s poor start was more due to what was another hot day in Southern California.
“It was a grind early on. I’m trying to get him through five, but at that point, he gives up another hit that makes it closer than we wanted,” Melvin said. “But to start out as poorly as he did and to finish the way he did was key because we didn’t want to go to the bullpen that early.”
Although Cahill departed with the A’s (70-48) ahead 8-4 at the time, that lead eventually shrunk to
one run as the A’s were able to pick up runs against Yusmeiro Petit and Jeurys Familia.
Blake Treinen, however, was still dominant. Striking out the side in order in the ninth to record his 30th save of the year.
• With a big series against the Mariners looming, Melvin is hoping to see
a spike in attendance of A’s fans at the Coliseum, which has mostly only been filled this season by opposing team’s fans of big-name teams.
“Hopefully our fans come out and support us because they give us a big lift when our place is rocking,” Melvin said. “Hopefully that’s the case.”
• The A’s had five player hit by a pitch from Angels (59-60) pitchers on the day, and though there was no retaliation, it did not go unnoticed.
“That doesn’t feel good,” Melvin said. “Doesn’t sit well.”
• Chris Hatcher, who was designated for assignment to make room for Fernando Rodney on the active roster, cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Nashville.