A’S CAN’T FIND CLUTCH HIT IN GAME 1 LOSS
OAeLAND » The A’s for the second straight game failed to come up with any run-scoring hits in the early-to-middle innings against the Seattle Mariners.
This time, though, it came back to bite them.
The A’s, after leaving five runners on base in the first seven innings, gave up four runs in the eighth inning to the Mariners in what became a 5-1 loss at the Coliseum, the first game of a doubleheader. Closer Liam Hendricks allowed two hits and was charged with three runs, two earned, in 1 1/3 innings of work.
His next outing will likely come next week when the A’s start the playoffs.
Mike Minor, making one last case to be a part of the postseason roster, struck out seven and allowed one run over fiveplus innings. Minor was charged with a run in the sixth inning as a single to left by J.P. Crawford was bobbled by Mark Canha, as Braden Bishop scored from sec
ond base.
The A’s first run came in the fourth inning as Khris Davis’ sacrifice fly scored Canha from third base.
Friday, the A’s left a total of nine runners on base before the 10th inning when Canha gave Oakland a 3-1 win with a walkoff, two-run homer.
Saturday, the A’s stranded a runner on third with no outs in the sixth, as Tommy La Stella led off the inning with a triple to right. La Stella was shaken up on the play, as the relay throw bounced off his head as he slid into third.
La Stella was replaced by Tony Kemp, who remained at third as
Ramón Laureano and Robbie Grossman both struck out and Matt Olson popped out.
Coming into Saturday, the A’s knew they would finish the season no worse than second in the AL if they beat the Mariners in both ends of their doubleheader. The A’s could also take second place if they win one game Saturday and the Minnesota Twins lose to the Cincinnati Reds.
The A’s entered Saturday with the American League’s second best record at 35-22. The Tampa Bay Rays (38-20) can clinch the No. 1 seed with either a win over Philadelphia on Saturday or one more A’s loss.
American League teams have to set their 28-player roster for the first round of the playoffs by Tuesday morning. Whether Minor
earns a start in the postseason is unclear.
It would appear the A’s would be set for the best-ofthree first round, with Sean Manaea, Mike Fiers, Jesus Luzardo and Chris Bassitt all available. But Minor could be someone manager Bob Melvin uses in the second round
in a best-of-five series, if the A’s advance that far.
With no days off between playoff rounds, the A’s may need to use a fifth starter if they hope to keep their other starters on regular rest. If it’s not Minor, it would likely be Frankie Montas, who has had his own struggles of late.
Perhaps another option for Melvin is to use Minor out of the bullpen, maybe in long relief if that becomes necessary. In 2017, two years after he had labrum surgery, Minor was used as a reliever by the Kansas City Royals. He appeared in 65 games for the Royals as a reliever and
went 6-6 with a 2.55 ERA.
Minor has started one postseason game in his career, but it was a dandy.
Pitching for Atlanta in 2013, Minor started Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and allowed just one earned run
in 6 1/3 innings. He also allowed eight hits and struck out five, outdueling Zack Greinke in what became a 4-3 Braves win.
Coming into Saturday, Minor was 1-6 with a 5.92 ERA in 11 appearances. In his first four games with the A’s, Minor was 1-1 with a 6.61 ERA.