Photo credit: @Athletics
By Matt Harrington
Mike Fiers isn’t having a great start to his 2019 season, but that’s fine because Khris Davis certainly is. Fiers went only five innings in Arlington Friday night, surrendering 6 runs to the Texas Rangers but the A’s rallied back to win 8-6 capped by Davis’ MLB-leading 10th homer of the year. Oakland scored seven runs in the sixth inning or later after trailing 6-1 to that point.
Fiers put the A’s in a hole after allowing a solo homer to Asdrubal Cabrera and a three-run shot to Elvis Andrus after a coughing up two runs in the first inning on a run-scoring double from Logan Forsythe and a ground out that plated a run in the first. Thanks to a strong bullpen effort, Fiers escaped with a no decision though, a blessing considering his 7.06 ERA to start the year.
Fiers exited the game after five innings, but the A’s magic really began in the top of the sixth. Matt Chapman hit a bases loaded single to pull the A’s to 6-3, then Davis’ fielder’s choice added another. Stephen Piscotty doubled home a run to make it 6-5.
Ramon Laureano homered in the next inning to tie it after Yusmeiro Petit pitched a clean sixth inning. Davis homered in the eight to make it 7-6 A’s and make Lou Trivino the winner after he pitched a perfect seventh and retired a batter in the bottom of the eighth. Josh Phegley had tacked on an insurance run in the top of that frame and Ryan Butcher got the second out of the inning coming in for Trivino. Blake Treinen nailed down his fifth save of the year after picking up the final four outs including three punchouts.
Game two will be played on Saturday at 5:05 pm PT.
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