Chapman, Canha homer in A’s victory
Oakland gets victory over Detroit to start four-game series at home
The Oakland A’s took advantage of the slumping Detroit Tigers en route to a comfortable 9-3 win on Tuesday at Comerica Park.
Matt Chapman and Mark Canha both hit home runs. Chapman had his second multi-home run game of the year with a tworun home run in the third inning off Detroit starter Tarik Skubal and a ninth inning home run. They were his eighth and ninth home runs over his last 14 games. His first home run gave the A’s a lead after Starling Marte and Matt Olson combined for a pair of doubles to tie the game 1-1.
The A’s have won three straight since snapping a six-game losing streak. Detroit has lost four in a row.
Canha’s two-run opposite field home run was his 500th career hit and his first home run since Aug. 15 in Texas.
The A’s outfielder has been in a slump, batting .191 with a .329 OBP lifted by 20 walks over 37 games since he returned from a hip injury in mid-July.
Cole Irvin’s start was in jeopardy last week after he left his three-inning start against the Seattle Mariners with hip discomfort. He got back on track against the Tigers, though he gave up three solo home runs to former A’s outfielder Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill and former A’s catcher Dustin Garneau.
Irvin departed two outs into the fifth inning with those three runs allowed.
The A’s added on in the eighth inning with Josh Harrison’s two-run single scoring Chad Pinder and Elvis Andrus, who both collected hits off reliever Derek Holland.
Earlier Tuesday, the A’s placed DH Mitch Moreland on the 10-day IL with left wrist tendinitis and recalled outfielder Skye Bolt from Triple-A Las Vegas.
As a member of a fiveplayer taxi squad, Bolt was already on the A’s road trip to Detroit for a four-game series against the Tigers. Others on the taxi squad for the Oakland A’s trip to Detroit and Toronto include catcher Austin Allen and pitchers Grant Holmes, Sam Moll and Adam Kolarek.
One name is missing from the taxi squad. With active rosters set to expand from 26 to 28 players starting today, designated hitter Khris Davis is not with the team in Detroit.
Down a designated hitter in Moreland, the A’s may ultimately bring Davis along as a potential September callup. Davis was removed from the Aviators’ game early, but the A’s did not make any announcements before the deadline for this edition.
Even in a hitter-friendly league, Davis’ Las Vegas numbers are stunning. He was named the Triple-A West Player of the Week last week when he hit .391 last week and homered in five straight games. Though he could still earn a call-up — there is an open spot on the 40-man roster, and should be another when Piscotty is transferred to the 60-day IL — the A’s front office takes Triple-A numbers with a grain of salt. Power there doesn’t directly translate to power in Oakland.
Bolt is a logical addition now with the A’s down to two full-time outfielders — Mark Canha and Starling Marte — with Chad Pinder, Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp available to fill into a corner if the matchup allows. Bolt is a strong defensive outfielder whose speed matches his name — he could be used primarily as a pinch runner. Bolt is batting .387 with a 1.143 OPS in the hitter-friendly Triple-A West.
The A’s called up pitcher Daulton Jefferies when outfielder Seth Brown tested positive for COVID. If and when Brown is reinstated at least 10 days from Aug. 27, Jefferies is likely to stay on the active roster as a long reliever or option to start.
If the A’s don’t see a need to add another designated hitter in Moreland’s place, Moll or Kolarek could be called up until Brown returns.
Kolarek, acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, hasn’t pitched in a big league game since May 19 and gave up eight runs in 12 appearances before being sent back to the minors. Moll, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks in July, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in three appearances with the A’s and was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas when Oakland traded for lefty Andrew Chafin.
Holmes, one of the A’s top pitching prospects, is a starter unlikely to earn a call-up as Jefferies should earn any spot starts or slide into the rotation in case of injury.
With two starting catchers in Sean Murphy and Yan Gomes, Allen might be redundant if called up. Allen is batting .321 with a .948 OPS with the Aviators this year.