San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Struggling hitters power through extras
ARLINGTON, Texas — Before their teams played Saturday, A’s first baseman Matt Olson and Rangers right fielder Joey Gallo put on a preview of what awaits in Monday’s Home Run Derby.
The two AllStars, who will compete in the derby, each hit a couple of practice rounds at Globe Life Field with the batting cage removed and teammates gathered around to watch, simulating the setup for Monday’s event at Coors Field.
The theme carried into the actual game. The A’s and Rangers took turns launching home runs in the early innings. A larger total won’t matter until Monday. That the A’s hit four in an 84 win in 11 innings, though, was a positive sign from a struggling lineup.
Jed Lowrie’s goahead single in the 11th was his third hit of the game and just the A’s second in 14 atbats with a man in scoring position to that point. After Matt Olson scored on a wild pitch, Stephen Piscotty hit a Spencer Patton fastball to the second deck in left field.
“We got some big hits that we’ve been missing here recently,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
Piscotty’s home run was his first since May 14. Lowrie, Sean Murphy and Seth Brown each hit a solo homer. The A’s had totaled just two home runs in their previous six games.
“Unless you have 1through9 hitting home runs all year, it’s not going to be a consistent thing,” Lowrie said. “So you have to find ways to
score runs other ways as well.”
Rookie center fielder Adolis Garcia and Gallo, two of Texas’ three AllStar selections, hit backtoback home runs off James Kaprielian in the first inning. Kaprielian averted further damage. Texas put runners on base in the second through fifth innings and did not score.
Melvin lifted Kaprielian after 87 pitches and said the righthander has been sick the past couple days.
“I thought he did a great job getting through five,” Melvin said.
The A’s hit backtoback homers of their own. Murphy sent a 438foot liner to the second deck in left against Mike Foltynewicz in the second inning and Brown hit a fastball an estimated 472 feet to rightcenter.
Brown’s was the longest homer yet at Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020, and the majors’ seventh longest this season, per Statcast. It was welcome for the struggling outfielder. Brown entered Saturday with a .183 batting average and had not homered since June 11.
“We talked about the bottom portion of the lineup being kind of a tough spot for us right now,” Melvin said. “And today at least, in the middlebottom portion we got some key contributions.”
Lowrie skied a twoout homer just over the rightfield wall off Foltynewicz in the fourth. He and Brown both led off innings with doubles and were stranded. Missed chances hurt in the eighth.
Lefty Jake Diekman walked two lefthanded hitters, Nate Lowe and Gallo. He threw five sliders in a row to Gallo, who swung at none. Jonah Heim, the former A’s catcher, hit a oneout single to tie the game.
Melvin summoned Lou Trivino with runners still on first and third and one out. Trivino defused the jam, striking out Andy Ibáñez and retiring Isiah KinerFalefa on a groundout.
“The strikeout firstandthird obviously is enormous at that particular time,” Melvin said. “Lou’s been great all year, and we feel great about when he’s in the game.”
Trivino also worked the ninth, stranding a leadoff walk. His ERA in 41 games is 1.88. Both teams scored in the 10th, but a fourrun cushion allowed A’s reliever JB Wendelken to finish the game with his second inning of work.
“It’s good to have that adrenaline,” Trivino said. “It’s fun when the crowd’s into it and then you silence them. At home when you come out of a big situation, the crowd cheers — it’s maybe not as exciting, but I thoroughly enjoy a loud crowd going quiet.”