Pitching switch turns on Oakland
Usually, clubs aren’t wild about their opponent changing starting pitchers right before the game.
For the A’s on Sunday, however, the sudden appearance of Lucas Harrell on the mound was no cause for consternation. Oakland likes hitting against the Houston right-hander — and did so again, a lot, in a 7-2 victory over the Astros.
The victory was the A’s third in a row, and Oakland has won eight of its past 10 games to move a season-high 23 games over .500 at 83-60. The A’s remain 1½ games ahead of Texas in the AL West.
The main thing as far as the A’s were concerned was that, when Paul Clemens was scratched with a blister, Houston manager Bo Porter opted to go with Harrell over Erik Bedard, a lefty. Bedard would have necessitated an Oakland lineup overhaul, given the team’s platoon system.
“No one really knew Clemens that well and when we heard Harrell, we’ve faced him before,” Oakland catcher Stephen Vogt said. “At the end of the day, righty versus lefty is the only thing that matters when it comes to a starter around here, and it was another righty so, all right, nothing changes.”
If it had been Bedard on the mound, Seth Smith wouldn’t have been in the game. And it was Smith who capped the A’s seven-run third inning with a three-run homer off Harrell. Smith is 5-for-7 with six RBIs lifetime against Harrell.
“It felt good to put a game out of reach early,” said Smith, who’d grounded out with two on and two outs in the second inning. “My first at-bat, I had a chance to put us on the board and didn’t come through.”
All seven of Oakland’s runs in the third came on two-out hits, including Brandon Moss’ tworun double and RBI singles by Yoenis Céspedes and Daric Barton
The A’s have put up 22 hits, nine walks, four homers and 21 runs in 13 1⁄3 innings against Harrell this season. He has given up 28 hits, 19 walks and 23 runs in 2 12⁄3 innings against Oakland in his career.
Clemens was scratched about an hour before the game. He’d allowed only three hits, two walks and one run in 7 2⁄3 career innings against the A’s.
Oakland starter Bartolo Colon became the first American League pitcher to have 15-win seasons with four teams: the A’s, Indians, White Sox and Angels. Colon was not aware of his accomplishment until asked about it, but he said, with Ariel Prieto interpreting, “I’m really proud right now.”
The Astros struck quickly against him, with a leadoff single by Jonathan Villar and an RBI double by Jose Altuve to start the game. Colon settled into a groove after that, going six innings and allowing five hits, one walk and one run. He struck out seven in earning his first victory since July 26.
“I thought he was really good,” manager Bob Melvin said. “After the first two hitters — looked like that got his attention in a hurry — he ramped it up and had really good movement, really good location today.”
Colon said he felt back to where he was before his two bad starts in August and subsequent stint on the disabled list. He said he had more power Sunday than he had in his previous start.
“Vintage Bartolo,” Vogt said. “Moving the ball around, sinking it, good velocity, good life on the ball.”
Brett Anderson had his third three-inning save of the season. “I’m the Goose Gossage of 2013,” the A’s Opening Night starter joked of the multi-inning Hall of Famecloser.
Anderson said he believes he has built up enough stamina and arm strength to start if needed.
Josh Donaldson was held out with right quadriceps discomfort incurred Saturday. The measure was precautionary, and Donaldson and Melvin both believe the third baseman will be back in Oakland’s lineup Tuesday.