Chapman slugs game-winning HR.
After studying Brewers closer Hader, Chapman delivers series-clinching blow
OAKLAND » Josh Hader is one of the toughest relievers in baseball.
But the A’s Matt Chapman did his homework and had a plan against the Brewers’ closer. In Tuesday’s game against Milwaukee, he saw seven Hader pitches before striking out swinging at a fastball. Chapman had all the intel he needed. In the eighth inning of Thursday’s matinee, with the A’s down a run and Robbie Grossman aboard, Chapman lifted a well-placed corner fastball over the center-field fence at the Coliseum to help the A’s to a 5-3, series- clinching win over the Brewers.
“He started me off with a fastball last time I faced him and got ahead. I was trying to jump on something early and get on base,” Chapman said.
The blast put the A’s ahead 4-3, and they added another run in the eighth on a Jurickson Profar sacrifice fly.
Chapman recalled facing Hader a handful of times in the minor leagues, collecting mostly strikeouts against him with the Nashville Sounds and Stockton Ports.
“I believe that was the first time I ever put a ball in play against him,” Chapman said.
The go-ahead, two-run home run woke up an offense that was ice cold and unable to plate runners in scoring position dating back to the A’s Wednesday night loss. Chapman’s 11th late- inning home run (24th of the year) pushed the A’s (62- 48) back into a tie with the Tampa Bay Rays for the second wild- card spot.
“Especially against that closer, that says something about our club,” third base coach Matt Williams said. “These guys don’t quit.”
Hader is particularly susceptible to the home run ball, though. Of the 26 hits he’s allowed all season, 11 of them are home runs. It was the third straight day he was used.
CANHA IRREPLACEABLE »
Stephen Piscotty (sprained knee) is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas and is expected to return to the lineup in this weekend’s series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
With Ramon Laureano out for a good chunk of the month, the rotating outfield looks to be in good hands with Mark Canha anchoring the middle of the lineup.
Canha reached base four times in a game for the fourth time this season, which speaks to his notably high OBP (.375). Wednesday he went 3 for 3 with a double and a walk.
Canha sometimes doesn’t run the best route in center field. But his versatility in every corner, along with his consistently patient approach and power at the plate, could have him penciled into the middle of the lineup for the stretch run.
Oh, and he stole two bases Thursday, adding to his 12 career steals. Even without the injuries, it would be hard to justify that he’d revert to a bench role. BAILEY FINDS RHYTHM » Starting pitcher Homer Bailey didn’t fare well against the best team in baseball last week, allowing nine earned runs to the Houston Astros in a loss. Other than that blip, Bailey strung together three quality starts. He’d delivered two six-plus inning starts heading into Thursday’s game, allowing just five earned runs over each start.
The A’s were especially intrigued by Bailey’s splitter, which he threw 16 times and utilized well against the Brewers’ left-handers. Bailey dealt six innings with five strikeouts in his fourth start as an Athletic.
Bailey wasn’t involved in the decision. Blake Treinen (6-3) picked up the win with a scoreless eighth inning, and Liam Hendriks ( 10 saves) closed out the game in the ninth.