Bullpen can’t protect five-run lead, win streak snapped
ARLINGTON, TEXAS >> Brett Anderson looked to have the A’s on track to finish off a tough stretch of games on a high note but a meltdown by the bullpen spoiled that good feeling.
The A’s blew a five-run lead in Sunday’s 8-7 loss to the Texas Rangers, snapping a four-game win streak.
“That’s a game we normally don’t lose,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We just had one guy get whacked around a little bit in the eighth inning.”
The Rangers (7-7) slowly climbed back into the game with a run in the fifth and seventh. The A’s went to set up man Joakim Soria with a three-run lead in the eighth and the right-hander only recorded one out as he was tagged for four runs in the inning.
Anderson continued his strong start to the season as he allowed three runs, two earned, over six innings and lowered his ERA to 2.63. He was replaced by J.B. Wendelken to begin the seventh with Oakland holding a fourrun lead.
“It’s a shame after the game Brett Anderson threw today. It’s a tough situation for me,” Soria said. “Nobody wants to blow that. It’s part of the game. I need to make some adjustments against
left-handed hitters but it is part of the ups and downs of the season.”
The A’s (10-9) homered two more times with solo shots by Stephen Piscotty and Matt Chapman to set a club record with seven straight multihome run games. Over those seven games, the A’s have hit 21 home runs.
Here are some takeaways:
THE A’S SURVIVED THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE SCHEDULE >> It was a daunting task that at times appeared to be headed for a disastrous result, but ultimately the outcome was a success.
Sunday afternoon’s loss capped off a tough stretch of 17 games in 18 days for the A’s. They ended the stretch 10-7. Saturday’s scheduled game in Texas was rained out.
The stretch got off to a strong start with a 6-2 homestand against the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox, but the A’s were reeling a bit after getting their first road trip began with a three-game sweep at the hands of the Houston Astros and a loss in the first of four games with Baltimore.
Poor back-to-back starts by Marco Estrada and Mike Fiers in the
back-half of four-straight losses left the A’s bullpen running mostly on fumes. But things changed in that second game at Baltimore.
The A’s bats woke up and ignited an offensive rampage that continued throughout the end of the stretch. The A’s went 4-1 in the final five games, scoring at least seven runs in each for a total of 46 over that time.
“If we win today’s game it feels a lot better. But we’re swinging the bats well,” Melvin said. “We just have to put this one behind us. Get an off day and put some distance behind it.”
The A’s are off today before the start of a two-game set with the Houston Astros
back at the Coliseum on Tuesday.
“I’m glad we get an actual off day,” Anderson said. “Saturday was technically a game off but we still did everything leading up to it. It’ll be nice to refresh and regroup.” WHAT IS WRONG WITH JOAKIM SORIA? >> The A’s signed Soria to a two-year deal this offseason with plans of him slotting into Jeurys Familia’s 2018 role of set-up man to Blake Treinen. So far, getting the game turned over to the All-Star closer has been an issue for Soria.
Soria’s ERA ballooned to 11.05, a number inflated by two outings in which he’s allowed four earned runs, over nine appearances this season after his four runs allowed Sunday.
The poor eighth inning began with the righthander allowing two of the first three batters faced to reach, setting the table for a game-tying two-run triple by Danny Santana. Yusmeiro Petit came on in relief of Soria after the triple and recorded the second out before a surprise bunt single by Delino DeShields allowed Santana to score the go-ahead run.
Soria and Lou Trivino are the two pitchers in the back-end of the A’s bullpen entrusted with the late innings, but after Trivino had pitched in 11 of the club’s first 18 games, Melvin wanted to give him a day off Sunday.
“This is what we brought Soria in to do,” Melvin said. “He’s one of our main guys. He just had a rough day.
“He wasn’t locating and they weren’t chasing. They made him throw some balls up and put some good swings on him.”
Soria said the root of his issues stems from troubles against left-handers. He senses no issues getting right-handed hitters out, but left-handed hitters, like the switch-hitting Santana, are too comfortable at the plate against him right now.
“I need to make adjustments. That’s the key right now,” Soria said of his troubles with lefties. “The lefties are hitting me well right now. I probably have to make different choices of pitches or move the ball around more in the zone.”