Another loss ahead of Bay Bridge series
While a trip across the bay looms for the Oakland Athletics and their fans this week, the A’s still had some traffic to face in Sunday afternoon’s matchup against the Houston Astros.
Behind former San Francisco Giant Mauricio Dubón, the Astros beat the A’s 3-2 to conclude Oakland’s 10-game homestand. After dropping three of four to the 2022 World Series champions, the A’s now travel across the Bay Bridge to take on the Giants in a two-game interleague series at Oracle Park starting Tuesday.
With the game tied in the ninth, Dubón seemed to have missed a hit-and-run sign as Jeremy Peña was hung out to dry on a late steal attempt, being tagged out for the inning’s second out. Dubón didn’t strand the rest of his teammates, however, driving a Chad Smith hanging slider into the left-center bleachers for the eventual game-winning run.
“This game was more frustrating than than most because we had every opportunity to win this game today,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “We did give away too many free bases as we talk about, but we had every chance to take control of that game.”
The defeat is the A’s 21st onerun loss of the year, the most in the majors.
Oakland starter Luis Medina’s afternoon started a bit bumpy, as an 11-pitch walk of Corey Julks and bloop single by Kyle Tucker in the first inning rattled the 24year-old enough to elicit a mound visit by pitching coach Scott Emerson. But the A’s defense eased the mind of their young starter, as right fielder Cody Thomas made a diving catch of Jose Abreu’s sinking lineout to end the inning.
“There was a little bit of body language from Luis that I didn’t care for, so I sent (Emerson) out early,” Kotsay said. “I think he locked back in at that point. He worked through it, and I thought he did well. I thought he gave us a chance to win a game.”
The A’s offense did more to appease Medina in the bottom of the inning. With a full count and two outs, JJ Bleday smashed a no doubter into the right- field bleachers off Houston starter Hunter Brown.
It was Bleday’s third HR in six games after he hit just five in the first half of the season. By way of some mechanical changes in his swing, the 2019 fourth overall pick has boosted his power numbers in sacrifice of finding holes in the defense. Bleday’s three homers account for half of his six hits since the All-Star break and he’s struck out eight times in that span.
The mound visit, Thomas’ catch and Bleday’s solo shot seemed to do the trick in calming down Medina, who in the next three frames allowed two base runners and struck out four. He was particularly adept with his slider, sending three Astros down with the put-away pitch through the four innings.
“It was a good start,” Medina said through an interpreter. “I just tried to do my best and keep the team in the ball game. Throwing strikes is the main thing, so just have been working on that and making better pitches.”
Oakland found itself with a chance to add to the early lead in the third inning as Zack Gelof, who’s had a hot bat, hit with the bases loaded and no outs. But there were no fireworks for the A’s No. 3 prospect, who hit his first big-league home run Saturday night. Gelof grounded a Brown slider to third baseman Alex Bregman, who promptly started a 5-2-3 double play. Bleday then couldn’t further his own damage, flying out to left to end the inning.
“We had bases loaded, nobody out,” Kotsay said. “Didn’t score. So offensively, we didn’t perform today, which is a little disheartening. We’ll get back after it. We’ve got a day off, and we’ll regroup.”
In the fifth, Houston’s Yainer Diaz drilled a Medina slider into the left-field bleachers to knot the game at 1-1.
Medina sat down the next three batters but was pulled before the sixth inning. He finished with six strikeouts and three walks, having allowed just two hits.
The two sides traded runs in the sixth and seventh innings, as the A’s Tyler Soderstrom recorded his first RBI with a single before a bases-loaded walk of Julks made it 2-2. Being dropped into a high-leverage situation, Sam Moll prevented any further damage as he got Houston All-Star Tucker to ground out to end the threat.
“It felt good to finally break through and help us get the lead there,” Soderstrom said about his first RBI. “I’ll try to keep it going and keep putting good at bats together.”
Oakland put runners on second and third with one out in the eighth, but couldn’t get either home. Dubón’s homer came a half inning later, and Bryan Abreu shut out the A’s in the ninth for his third save.
While the A’s finished the homestand 3-7 and dropped to an MLB-worst 28-74, they could have a chance to pick up some wins against a scuffling San Francisco team at Oracle Park. Soderstrom, a Turlock native and son of Gants 1993 first-round draft pick Steve Soderstrom, said he’s particularly excited to face his childhood team.
“I grew up going to games at (Oracle Park), so it’s going to be fun to take the field and play against them,” Soderstrom said. “It’ll be pretty cool to be out there and take it all in.”