Hahn pitches out of jam; Butler shows some speed
Oakland players celebrate their 4-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. Jesse Hahn (6-6) earned the victory.
OAKLAND — The A’s reached the halfway mark with a bit of a festive flair, beating Colorado 4-1 Wednesday in their 81st game of a 162-game season.
Designated hitter Billy Butler, who is so slow that earlier this year he said, “they give me the green light so I won’t run,’’ provided some comic relief with his first triple since 2012. He opened the second with a shot that hit the leftfield wall just as Rockies outfielder Rafael Ynoa was hitting the wall with his shoulder, allowing Butler to get to third while the ball was being chased down.
When Eric Sogard hit a medium-deep fly to left with one out, third base coach Mike Gallego gambled and let Butler run. He came thundering home as Ynoa’s throw was off-line.
“That was funny. It was awesome,’’ winning pitcher Jesse Hahn (6-6) said. “I’m not going to lie, I was a little worried when he tagged up. But he put his head down and he gave it all he had.’’
The A’s made it 2-0 in the third when Billy Burns hit a leadoff triple — his fifth three-bagger of the season — then had to wait there until Josh Reddick’s two-out single drove Burns home.
Two runs frequently is all the A’s need for Hahn, who is developing into an integral part of the club’s rotation. In six starts since June 4, Hahn is 4-1 with a 2.68 ERA, and he’s allowed just one run in all four wins. His pitching has helped the A’s (36-45) win seven of Jesse Hahn has a 4-1 record in his last six starts.
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their last 11 series and go 116 in their last 17 games.
Hahn also is showing some maturity that wasn’t there at the beginning of the season. When shortstop Marcus Semien made a two-base throwing error — his 25th and the club’s 77th — to start the third inning with the A’s leading 10, Hahn struck out the next two batters before getting an inning-ending grounder from Nolan Arenado with the runner never getting past second.
“My favorite inning was the third,’’ catcher Stephen Vogt said. “He pitched his way out of it and didn’t allow them to create anything. That was probably the game right there. He’s given up so many unearned runs this year (10), so to see him pitch out of that almost without hesitation, it was almost like he wanted that.’’
Hahn’s development has
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Thursday: A’s Scott Kazmir (4-5, 2.79) vs. Seattle’s Roenis Elias (4-5, 4.25), 7:05 p.m. CSNCA Friday: Jesse Chavez (4-7, 3.02) vs. J.A. Happ (3-5, 3.89), 6:05 p.m. CSNCA Saturday: Kendall Graveman (5-4, 3.47) vs. Felix Hernandez (10-4, 3.05), 1:05 p.m. CSNCA Sunday: TBD vs. Mike Montgomery (3-2, 1.62), 1:05 p.m. CSNCA included knowing when not to throw a pitch. He hasn’t been happy with his slider, so he threw all fastballs, sinkers and changeups Wednesday. He wasn’t going to get beat with a pitch he wasn’t in command of.
“He was up more in the zone than we’ve seen in the past, but he started to figure it out,’’ manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s gotten better as he’s gone along. He’s got more weapons for lefties now. He has a better mix of pitches.’’
As much as anything, Hahn has given the A’s someone who can take the ball with the expectation that the club won’t have to score a ton of runs to win.
Given the up-and-down nature of the Oakland offense, that’s major.
Sonny Gray left the n hospital Wednesday afternoon after landing there with a case of bacterial gastroenteritis. Melvin said there is no plan for when Gray will rejoin the rotation, but the next open spot is Sunday. But the A’s are open to altering the rotation to get their ace back on the mound as quickly as possible. Chris Bassitt, who was called up from TripleA Nashville to start Tuesday when Gray was in the hospital, will remain with the team in case Gray can’t pitch against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Reddick has 49 RBIs, n just five short of his total for all of last year. He’s hitting .287 with a .348 on-base percentage. “It’s All-Star stats for me,’’ Melvin said. “Couple that with his defense and what he means to this team, he’s a middle of the order guy. He knocks in big runs for us. He’s meant as much to this team as in any year since he’s been here.’’
The triples by Butler n and Burns give the A’s 22 for the season, putting them on pace for 44 threebaggers. The A’s season record is 40.
Two more hits for Ben n Zobrist boosted his average to .386 in his last 17 games. He also has 13 walks and 13 RBIs in that stretch.
In six daytime starts, n Hahn is 4-1 with a 1.52 ERA while holding opponents to a .169 batting average. At night, his numbers are 2-5, 4.72 and .284.
Plate umpire Tom n Hallion’s day ended in the top of the first when he took a foul ball off his mask at his forehead. After he was checked out, he walked off the field, but his day was done. Alfonso Marquez took over behind the plate, and the game was played with three umpires. that requires his presence. If he isn’t placed on the 7-day personal leave list, then it’s likely he will go on the 15-day disabled list to give his aching right shoulder and hip a chance to freshen up.
As anticipated, Hudson will cede his place in the rotation to Jake Peavy. The Giants plan to activate Peavy before handing him the ball for a start Friday in Washington.
The Giants still intend to place Tim Lincecum on the 15-day disabled list with a forearm contusion when they activate Matt Cain to make his season debut Thursday.
nDespite optimism that Pence is swinging off a tee without pain, the training staff told Bochy that the right fielder almost certainly won’t play before the All-Star break.
Marco Scutaro visited n with former teammates. He’s doing well after spinal fusion surgery, which ended his career but will allow him to live without chronic pain.