L.A. responds to Friday’s drubbing with 24 hits and rout of its own
Itwas amoment the Bochy family can savor, the first time amanager eve rhad his son pitch ina major-league game, a miles to new rapped in pride and emotion that should have been celebrated with laughter and backslaps andmaybe a cigar or two.
Maybe another night, when the Giants are not licking their wounds from a his toric defeat that ruined their shot of catching the Dodgers in the National League West thisweekend.
Inone of those hard-to-explain phenomena that make baseball sucha curious enterprise, the Dodgers jolted themselves bac kto life after the Giants’ 9-0 victory inthe series opener and clobbered San Francisco 17-0 Saturday night to regain a two-game
SEATTLE — Billy Burns fell for the old fake-ball bit in spectacular fashion Friday night.
The A’s rookie outfielder recorded his first big-league hit with a solid pinch-hit single to center in the sixth inning, and when he arrived in the clubhouse after the game, there was a baseball in his locker, brightly colored with pens. l
“I walked in and saw it, and they’d spelled my name ‘Billey’ and ‘Burnes.’ And I said to Eric Sogard, ‘Look! They spelled my name wrong and my name is right on my locker!’ ” Burns said. “I was so flustered, I didn’t notice all the other things written on the sides of it, so I went and took a shower and I was telling guys, ‘Yeah, they messed with my ball! My mom’s going to be upset about that.’
“I went back and read the other stuff and it said, ‘Shortstop trips and he was able to beat out a single,’ so I realized OK, that’s not real.
“They got me. I definitely believed it.”
After recording his first hit, Burns then stole second with James Paxton on the mound.
“A big steal off a left-handed pitcher who’s tough to steal off and quick to the plate, too,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Very exciting night for him. You always feel great about a guy who gets his first hit, especially a guy as well-liked around here as Billy.”
Burns, 25, is one of only two rookies on the team, and a favorite in the clubhouse for his naivety.
“I’m the best person to prank; I’ve fallen for about five in the past three days,” he said.
When Burns lost a fantasyfootball bet to friends last week, he had to film himself being pied, and when he got back to his locker later that day, he found an invoice for $36 for a three-pack of whipped cream and $10 for gas money.
“It was all typed up officially, and I was freaking out, like, ‘Man! All I asked for was a can of whipped cream and it was $46!’ ” Burns said. “They’ve been getting me good.” Briefly: Catcher Geovany Soto said he felt better after coming out of Friday’s game with back spasms. He’s unlikely to be available until Tuesday at the earliest. … Melvin said he wouldn’t hesitate to use rookie Bryan Anderson if there is a need, but Anderson will not start any games. ... Craig Gentry (concussion) rode the stationary bike and did not experience dizziness, unlike the day before. He won’t play until the homestand.