San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
A’s Beat: Treinen is “beyond frustrated” after rocky outing.
A’s reliever Blake Treinen’s season of rampant frustration lurched along Saturday.
Treinen allowed two runs in one inning of work, in his third appearance since a stint on the injured list with a strained right shoulder. His discouragement was obvious in a brief interview with The Chronicle, after most of his teammates had departed the clubhouse.
“I don’t really have words for anything right now,” Treinen said. “I’m beyond frustrated and just trying to compete, because these guys are all doing their job at a high level.
“It’s not fun being a punching bag. I’m just trying to get back to where I can compete and throw zeroes for the guys who are out there grinding.”
Treinen was virtually unhittable last season — 92 with 38 saves and a 0.78 ERA. This year, he’s 23 with a 4.54 ERA and has relinquished the closer’s job to Liam Hendriks.
“I felt fine,” Treinen said. “Crappy results. It’s exhausting at this point, so I’m just trying to find ways to be better.”
Treinen replaced starter Chris Bassitt to begin the seventh inning, with the A’s ahead 120, and walked the first batter he faced, Chicago’s Yolmer Sanchez. One out later, Treinen allowed consecutive singles to No. 9 hitter Zack Collins and leadoff man Leury Garcia.
Sanchez and Collins both came around to score, in part because Treinen also unleashed a wild pitch.
“He’s used to a lot of intensity,” manager Bob Melvin said. “We just wanted to get him in a game where he could work on what he’s doing, get some rhythm and throw the ball the way he’s used to.
“It’s not the ideal spot, because you’re forced to throw the ball down the middle for the most part. It’s just a different scenario for him. We’ll get him some more outings. We’ll get him comfortable.”
Briefly: Reliever Lou Trivino, also trying to regain his 2018 form, threw a scoreless eighth inning . ... Robbie Grossman is hitting .500 this month (10for20), with seven walks in seven games . ... The top four hitters in Oakland’s lineup — Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson and Khris Davis — collectively went 8for16 on Saturday, with nine runs scored.