‘Attack mode’ carries rookie
Kaprielian fires six scoreless for Oakland
Getting out of trouble has become a calling card for A’s righthander James Kaprielian in his rookie season.
On Tuesday afternoon at the Coliseum, the Angels went 0for6 with runners in scoring position during Kaprielian’s six shutout innings. The A’s prevailed 60 to sweep the twogame series.
“I just believe in my stuff,” Kaprielian said. “I believe that I have four pitches I can throw at any time.”
Kaprielian had only one 123 inning, the fifth, but the Angels’ lack of production in RISP atbats was nothing new for him. Opponents are 6for44 (.136) in those key atbats against him in 2021.
His Houdini acts began almost immediately in his first
majorleague start. On May 12 at Fenway Park, the Red Sox loaded the bases with no one out in the first inning.
Boston’s only run from that golden opportunity came on a twoout walk. Kaprielian wound up with his first bigleague win in the A’s 41 victory.
“It seems like every time there’s some traffic out there, he ends up making big pitches,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s been as good as anybody we’ve had in the rotation in those key moments.”
Kaprielian (53) struck out seven Tuesday, and all but one of the third strikes was of the swinging variety. The lone called third strike came on Kaprielian’s 100th and final pitch of the day, much to the chagrin of Adam Eaton.
“Staying in attack mode” is a
key for Kaprielian.
“I had seven strikeouts today. That’s nothing crazy, but they were all on fastballs,” he said. “That’s just me going after guys.”
Kaprielian gave up five hits and two walks in lowering his ERA from 2.90 to 2.65. He has worked at least five innings in all but one of his 12 starts.
Lefthander José Suárez (43) set down the first 11 Oakland hitters. Matt Olson, the lone lefthanded batter in the A’s lineup, was the 12th.
Olson lofted a 32 pitch over
the rightfield wall to put the A’s ahead to stay. The A’s first baseman has 25 home runs this season, 13 off lefties.
The A’s got three more runs off Suárez in the sixth. Ramón Laureano provided the key hit in the inning, an RBI double off reliever Mike Mayers.
Consecutive twoout singles in the seventh by Tony Kemp, Mark Canha, Elvis Andrus (RBI) and Olson (RBI) off Junior Guerra upped the A’s edge to 60.
Kaprielian seems to possess a competitive edge that serves him well when he’s trying to extricate himself from sticky situations. The 27yearold is proud of what he has accomplished in 2021, but expects to perform even better.
“I’m learning a lot,” Kaprielian said. “I’m trying to take notes from every start. Eyes are the best tool, and I’m watching the game when I’m not starting, but I still believe there’s another level that I can tap into.
“I haven’t quite dominated the way I want to.”