1 local team ending preseason on high note
Usually, the A’s thump the Giants when there’s nothing at stake, dominating spring meetings between the teams.
Oakland would trade that, naturally, for the type of regular-season success the Giants have enjoyed the past seven years, so the reversal of fortunes during the Bay Bridge Series isn’t something that will keep the A’s up at night. The Giants have survived many poor Bay Bridge outings against Oakland and then gone on to do great things.
“I think for us this is about getting in the stadiums,” A’s second baseman Jed Lowrie said after the Giants’ 6-3 win at the Coliseum on Saturday. “It’s just getting used to the atmosphere of a big-league ballpark again. It’s getting comfortable in the box in this setting again.”
Entering the Bay Bridge Series, the A’s had won 19 of the previous 25 preseason games between the teams. But the Giants, who open their season Sunday at Arizona, swept the three games and outscored Oakland 11-4 in the process.
Even during the spring, that rankles a manager, especially when the opponent is a regional rival.
“I didn’t particularly care for the last three games,” Bob Melvin said. “That’s not the way you want to end spring. We scored one run in two nights over there, which is a concern. ... After just the frustration of this, then you move on, you have an off day, and really the only games that count are during the season.”
“We all know how much Bob wants to win these games. He doesn’t care if he’s playing the Giants on the back field,” Lowrie said. “But I think he’ll take them during the regular season versus now.”
Tyler Beede, the Giants’ top prospect, worked four innings and allowed five hits and two runs. He struck out five and walked none.
“We played very well this series,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who praised Beede. “The kids played today, and we wanted to start Beede to give him a taste of what it’s like here, and he handled it very well.”
Beede, who’ll report to Triple-A Sacramento, said his spring “exceeded my expectations. I feel really comfortable and confident.”
The A’s finished the spring by losing six games in a row, going 16-18 overall. The Giants were 20-16, including a win over Puerto Rico.
Andrew Triggs, Oakland’s No. 4 starter, gave up a grand slam to Nick Hundley in the third, and he has allowed 12 runs in his past two outings. “He’s got to throw the ball a little more precisely at times,” Melvin said.
“The results obviously need to be better than what they were,” said Triggs, who threw a “lazy” cutter to Hundley. “But in terms of getting ready for Thursday, I was pretty pleased.”
Raul Alcantara, the A’s No. 5 starter, worked 22⁄3 innings and gave up a two-run homer to Justin Ruggiano.