Punchless trip to Colorado forgotten in rout of Toronto
The A’s prefer playing ball closer to sea level.
Returning to Oakland after a forgettable three-game hiatus a mile high, the A’s regained their pre-Denver rhythm and routed the Blue Jays 10-1 on Monday night at the Coliseum.
When Stephen Piscotty homered in the eighth inning, making the score 5-0, the A’s had more runs than they scored while getting swept in the three-game series at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Their time in Colorado was a far cry from the A’s prior 34-game stretch, during which they won 27.
Back in the comforts of the Coliseum, where a mere 11,149 showed up, the A’s benefited from Edwin Jackson’s 52⁄3 scoreless innings, home runs by Mark Canha and Piscotty and a whole lot of well-placed situational hitting.
The win was the 100th in Jackson’s career. Signed to a minor-league deal June 6, the well-traveled right-hander joined his 13th team with 98 wins to his name. He beat Cleveland on June 30 for No. 99, and the 34-year-old in his 16th
season celebrated his 100th on a night the A’s got back on track.
“To look back where I came from and envision I’d have 100 major-league wins, it’s special, man,” Jackson said from his locker while accompanied by his 6-year-old son, Exavier, who was holding the game ball with “100” written on it.
“I’ve been blessed with a crazy but successful career. To do be able to do it with these guys in the fashion they did it in, it makes it even more special.”
Jackson’s family has followed him for weeks while anticipating No. 100. After the game, his teammates gave him a Champagne toast, compliments of Jackson’s wife, Erika, who provided the 6-liter bottle.
“It’s pretty cool,” manager Bob Melvin said. “A guy comes into a team, his 13th organization, and Day 1 fits in like he’s been here for a few years. Everybody’s pretty excited for him. I know he’s exciting.”
Jackson walked his first two batters, not an indication he would reach 101 pitches and limit the Blue Jays to three hits and three walks. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy visited the mound when Jackson threw a first-pitch ball to his third batter, and Jackson was in control the rest of the way.
The A’s led 4-0 before putting it away with a six-run eighth. Piscotty’s homer opened the rally, and Khris Davis’ RBI single capped it. In between, Lucroy and Jed Lowrie hit two-run doubles.
Nick Martini’s two-out double in the fourth gave him another multiple-hit game, his fifth in 14 games since he arrived from Triple-A Nashville on July 7 as the replacement for Matt Joyce, who was shelved with a back injury.
In his latest A’s stint, Martini has batted .400 (12-for-30) with five doubles, and he looks splendid in the leadoff spot, showing patience, a good eye and a potent bat.
“Talk about the right guy at the right time, he’s putting together tough at-bats and moving himself all the way to the leadoff spot, where he’s doing a good job,” Melvin said.
Ryan Dull, on the day he was promoted from Nashvile, replaced Jackson and finished the sixth inning, and Melvin used two of his top three relievers in the seventh (Lou Trivino) and eighth (Jeurys Familia).
After Oakland went ahead 10-0 in the eighth, Melvin summoned Ryan Buchter for the ninth, and Aledmys Diaz greeted him with a home run.