Pitching coach Emerson praises Luzardo’s first start
OAKLAND >> Jesús Luzardo pitched five scoreless innings in his first big league start Tuesday. He dazzled, as expected, with a high-90s fastball, sinker and 90 mph changeup. A’s pitching coach Scott Emerson praised the composure he saw out of the 22-year-old.
“He’s cool, calm, collected,” Emerson said. “In the pregame meeting, he understood what he wanted to do. He takes the information that we give him and forms a great game plan. That’s the first time I’ve gotten to really sit down with him and talk about a game plan as a starter, not a reliever. You get a guy who really does his homework and who wants to listen to what you have to say.”
Despite a dominant and compelling effort, Luzardo still has room to improve, particularly with his breaking ball. Tuesday, Luzardo bounced a few when he wanted to throw a strike, and threw them for strikes when he probably wanted to bounce afew.
“Sometimes in the minor leagues it’s just grip and rip, and they swing at it,” Emerson said. “Once he masters that breaking ball a little better — and don’t get me wrong, it’s still an above average major league pitch for me — once he masters the command of it and where to go with it, it’s another unbelievable weapon.”
That breaking ball was one of Luzardo’s biggest strengths in his 12 innings out of the bullpen in 2019 — it accounted for 52 percent of his put-away pitches and 63 percent of the whiffs generated. Emerson said tightening the screws on Luzardo’s breaking ball could all just come down to a little maintenance work.
“His weapons are really good. His mindset is off the charts for a young pitcher — for any pitcher,” Emerson said.
Luzardo is scheduled to start against the Astros on Sunday.
PUK TO GO TO BULLPEN >> When A.J. Puk, who is on the 10-day IL with a left shoulder strain, returns, it will be out of the bullpen. There is no timetable for Puk’s return. He has been throwing but not off a mound.
PISCOTTY HITS A’S 2ND GRANDSLAM
Stephen Piscotty
WINNER >>
hit Oakland’s second walkoff grand slam of the year, and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 late Tuesday night for their fourth straight win.
The Rangers’ Edinson Volquez (0-1) got into trouble quickly in the ninth when he walked two batters and gave up a hit to load the bases with no outs.
Volquez retired Robbie
Grossman on a popup before Piscotty hit a first-pitch drive over the wall in center to match the opening night 10th-inning slam by Matt Olson.
Lynn had allowed just five hits in 18 scoreless innings to begin the season before finally faltering in the seventh. Matt Chapman led off the inning with a drive to rightcenter to tie game at 1-1.