Colorado Rockies Ryan McMahon raises a fist in celebration with teammate Jake Cave (11) after hitting a two run home run in the top of the 12th inning for the gamer at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 22, 2024 (AP News photo)
Colorado (16-32). 200 000 000 002. 4 12 0
Athletics (20-31). 000 100 001 001. 3. 8 0. 12 innings
Time: 3:09
Attendance: 3,617
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
By Lewis Rubman
OAKLAND–The A’s came close to duplicating Tuesday night’s surprising come from behind win over the foundering Colorado Rockies but fell short, losing to the visitors from the Mile High City, 4-3 in 12 innings.
The Athletics entrusted mound duties to Mitch Spence , acquired from the Yankees in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. The rookie was 3-2, 3.90) at game time. He was a workhorse last year in the minors, leading MiLB in innings pitched with 163 and was third in pitches thrown, with 2,564. In his previous start, his first as a major leaguer, the 6’2″, 185 lb. righty lasted only 4-2/3 frames but still threw 77 pitches, taking the loss even though he allowed only one run and retired 11 of the last Royals he faced.
Wednesday evening, he threw 70 pitches, 46 for strikes, before being relieved by Brandon Bielak after three innings. He allowed five hits, one of them responsible for both of the runs scored against him. He struck out four, walked three, and wasn’t involved in the decision and ending the night at 3-2, 4.09
The Rockies’ starting pitcher, four year veteran left hander Austin Gomber, came to work with an impressive record of 1-2, 3.02, He was the Cardinals’ choice in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and reached the majors with the Cards in 2018. He was on their roster during the pandemic shortened 2020 season, during which he spent 10 days on the COVID Injured List. He came to Denver in 2021 as part of the trade that sent Nolen Arenado to St. Louis. His record last year of 9-9, 5.50 hides his improvement of his first half numbers of 7-7, 6.40, to 2-2, 3.86 in the second half and his franchise record of 29-2/3 innings pitched without issuing a walk.
Gomber was in fine fettle Wednesday night. He went eight full innings and probably had it in him to hurl a complete game win, but he had to settle for an 89 pitch, eight inning no decision that lowered his ERA to 2.76.
It didn’t take long for the Blake Street Bombers to put a crooked number on the board. Catcher Elías Díaz smacked a 401 foot homer over the 388 foot sign in right center field with two down Charlie Blackmon on board to give them a 2-0 lead.
Brendan Rogers bad hop single to right and a pair of walks (with a balk thrown into the mix), the Rox loaded the bases. Spence got out of that jam with his third strikeout of the inning. The Rox loaded the sacks again in the third, and, once more, Spence wiggled out of it,once more retiring Jordan Beck for the third out.
JJ Bleday’s one ouytwallop, which took a 90 mph four seamer 392 feet into the right center field seats, narrowed the gap to 2-2 in the homeless fifth. That gave the A’s center fielder six homers and 19 RBI for the year.
Bielak allowed one hit in each of the fourth and fifth frames and left after Hunter Goodman’s liner to left hit the fence on a bounce for a two out double with the top of the order due up. TJ McFarland took over and issued a full count walk to Charlie Blackmon Ezéquiel Tovar’s fly to center ended the threat. McFarland retired McMahon in the top of the seventh and then turned the ball over to Michael Kelly, who gave up a double and a walk, but the Rockies’ lead remained 2-1 when he strolled to the dugout.
The Athletics threatened with two down in the bottom of the seventh, JD Davis legged out a single to short on which ‘Tovar made a beautiful bachand grab. Zack Gelof to center, putting the potential tying run in scoring position and the potential winning tally on base. But Tyler Nevin lined out to right to end the incipient rally.
Lucas Erceg helped himself by starting an inning ending 1-4-3 twin killing that gave the A’s one last chance to stay alive. He caught the ball in his bare hand before throwing it to second.
They got it against Jalen Beeks, who replaced Gomber to start the inning. And they took advantage of it. Bleday singled with one out. Langeliers flew out, leaving the Rockies one out away from victory, but he walked Davis and then surrendered a game tying single to the resurgent Gelof that plated pinch running Esteury Ruíz.
Erceg stayed on to pitch the first extra inning and retired the side in order. Victor Vlodnik returned the compliment in the Athletics’ 10th.
Austin Adams continued the skein of perfect innings in the top of the 11th, and Nick Mears struck out the three A’s he faced in the bottom of the frame.
It was Kyle Muller on the bump for the Athletics in the visitors’ 12th. Hunter Goodman advanced ghost runner Beck to third on a grounder to second, bringing up Ryan McMahon, who parked an 85 mph 401 feet into the right centerfield seats, taking the hopes of an A’s comeback win with him. But he didn’t allow any more scoring in spite of a double by Jacob Stallings.
The A’s now had a second one last chance. Seth Brown led off against Mears with Langliers as the zombie runner on second. He conservatively stopped at third on Brown’s single to center, bringing Gelof up with a chance to complete his turnaround performance.
But he bounced into an around the horn double play. But hope springs eternal, and Nevin drew a full count base on balls, and Colorado replaced Mears with Matt Koch to face Brett Harris. Mark Kotsay’s counter move was to call on Kyle McCann as a pinch hitter, bringing up Max Schuermann, who flew out to right.
Mears, now 1-3, 6,75, was the winning pitcher. Koch got his first save. The loss was charged to Muller, whose record now stands at 0-1, 3.94.
The two weary squads will face each other again Thursday afternoon at 12:37 at the Oakland Coliseum. Joey Estes (1-1, 9.35) will start for the Rockies; Ryan Feltner (1-4, 5.69) for the Athletics
Sports Radio Service 