A’s split doubleheader with Detroit; Tigers win front game 6-0 and A’s win night cap 4-1

Oakland A’s pitcher Adam Kolarek deals in the top of the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit in the first game of a doubleheader on Tue May 10, 2022 as the A’s were the home team against the visiting Detroit Tigers in the front game (AP News photo)

A’s Split Double Header With Detroit

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday afternoon the Oakland A’s (12-19) took on the Detroit Tigers (9-21) in a double header. In game one the A’s were the home team. Frankie Montas was on the mound for Oakland. He went 6.1 innings and allowed 6 hits and 4 runs.

The Tigers Tarik Skubal had a solid game going seven innings. He gave up three hits and had five strikeouts.

Detroit was able to put points on the scoreboard in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings leading 6-0 after eight innings. In the fifth inning Schoop scored off a Derek Hill sacrifice. Willi Castro also scored in the fifth giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Detroit extended their lead in the sixth inning when Jonathan Schoop homered to left for a 3-0 score.

The Tigers were not done. The seventh inning was huge for the team. Jeimer Candelairio hit a double allowing Javier Baez, Robbie Grossman and Austin Meadows to score. The 6-0 lead for Detroit would be the final.

The Tigers had ten hits to the A’s three hits. The A’s bats continued to struggle.

There was a horrendous infield collision between Elvis Andrus and Chad Pinder in the fifth inning. They were both giving chase and colliding.

Pinder was on the ground for several minutes before getting up. Both players were checked out by trainers and stayed in the game. Out of an abundance of caution neither player would play in the second game. The fact that both of them appeared to be ok was good news for Oakland.

There would be a brief rest period after game one before going into the second game of the double header.

Game 2 recap: The A’s would send rookie pitcher Adrian Martinez to the mound in his MLB debut. He would be the eighth player on the A’s to make their major league debut this year. Alex Faedo would be on the mound for the Tigers in game two.

The A’s would take advantage of a throwing error by Tiger catcher Eric Haase in the fourth inning. Sheldon Neuse on first was able to reach third base on this error. Jed Lowrie hit a sacrifice fly and Neuse would score for a 1-0 lead.

The A’s got a rally going in the fourth inning. Sean Murphy was on third and a Kevin Smith single brought him home for a 2-0 lead. There were three hits in the fourth inning for Oakland. Oakland stranded Laureano and Smith in that inning.

In the night cap it was all A’s. Kevin Smith would score in the seventh inning when Pache singled. They would add another run in the ninth inning. Ramon Laureano would have his first score since coming back. Going into the bottom of the ninth Oakland had a 4-0 lead.

Lou Trivino would get out of a sticky situation when the Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth inning. The Tigers would avoid the shutout when Cabrera scored but that would be it for Detroit. Oakland won the second game 4-1.

While Oakland was hoping for a sweep in these two games they did split. The A’s had eight hits in this game. There were no homer runs for the A’s but getting those bats going again was a very good thing. It was a great start for Martinez going 5.1 innings allowing 4 hits.

Wednesday’s game in Detroit will start at 4:10 PM. Zach Logue (1-1 ERA 2.84) will start for the A’s and for the Tigers Joey Wentz (0-0 ERA 0.00) will take the mound. This will be Logue’s second start this season. First pitch is slated for 4:10 pm PDT at Comerica Park.

Oakland A’s podcast with Joey Friedman: A’s get swept up in a double dip by nemesis Texas

photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson reaches up but is unable to catch the throw to the bag as Texas Rangers’ Delino DeShields (3) sprints to first in the fourth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, June 8, 2019. DeShields reached on the throwing error by Athletics third baseman Chad Pinder. …

On the A’s podcast with Joey:

#1 The Oakland A’s got swept in a doubleheader on Saturday by the Texas Rangers after the A’s had won three of their last four games. A’s dropped the first game at the Ball Park in Arlington 10-5 the A’s starter Paul Blackburn struggled to get hitters out.

#2 The Rangers wasted no time scoring three runs in the first and two runs in the third inning to start a 5-0 lead.

#3 The A’s a team never to give in scored four runs in the top of the fourth but their pitching collapsed in the bottom of the fifth surrendering four runs and the Rangers with the eventual win in the front game.

#4 In the night cap the A’s got some good pitching out of starter Chris Bassitt who went 5.2 innings, five hits, three earned runs and five strike outs but it wasn’t enough as the A’s offense couldn’t get Bassitt any runs in the 3-1 loss.

#5 A’s and Rangers mix it up again Sunday in the conclusion of the four game series the A’s will be starting Frankie Montas (7-2 ERA 2.83) and for the Texas Rangers Drew Smyly (1-4 ERA 7.93)

Joey Friedman does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Let’s Play Two Day in Oakland: Game One Athletics crush the Astros 11-1

Khris Davis hits 100th Rbi of 2017 Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

by Charlie O. Mallonee and Jordan Chapin

“Let’s play two” is the baseball quote made famous by the late, great Ernie Banks. The problem is for most baseball fans is they really have no idea what Banks was referring to when he made that famous statement.

Sure, most baseball fans have heard about day-night doubleheaders where one game is played in the afternoon then the stadium is cleared and the second game is played several hours later as a night game. Of course separate tickets are required for each game.

On Saturday, the Astros and Athletics scheduled a “twin bill” the old fashion way. The first game started at 1:05 p.m. and the second is scheduled to start approximately 45-minutes after game one is over. And, only one ticket is required to see both games.

As Bill King would say, “Holy Toledo!”

Game One

Daniel Gossett won game 1 of the DH with #Astros but you'd never know it. The #Athletics pitcher talked about have he needed to improve #Pro pic.twitter.com/WvTrOkrtou

— Sports Radio Service (@SportsRadioSrvc) September 10, 2017

The Athletics needed a strong pitching performance from their starter Daniel Gossett because the pitching staff would be taxed playing a minimum of 18 innings on Saturday. Gossett was trying to bounce back from a less than stellar start last Sunday in Seattle that lasted just 3.2-innings and resulted in Gossett recording his eighth loss of the season.

The problem for Gossett has been the way opponents hit off him after they see him one time through the order. The batting average against Gossett the first time through the order is just .211. The batting average against Gossett jumps to .356 after that first time look at his pitches.

Gossett struck out four Astro hitters and gave up no runs on two hits in the first two innings. In the top of the third, Gossett issued back-to-back walks and the A’s dugout began holding their breath. Gossett then retired Bregman, Altuve and Correa to get out of the inning.

Gossett was able to come out to start the top of the seventh inning but he walked the first batter and Bob Melvin came to the mound to take him out the game. Melvin no doubt had some words of praise for his starter as well. Gossett (4-8,5.02) pitched 6.0-innings giving up just one run (earned) off five hits. He struck out seven and walked just three. The 99-pitch effort by Gossett was most definitely a “quality start”.

Daniel Gossett exits the game in the 7th inning Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

The Athletics also exploded for 11 runs against the Astros. Houston starter Charlie Morton (11-7, 3.86) was expected to be a real problem for the A’s hitters on Saturday. Morton gave up a double to the Athletics leadoff batter Marcus Semien in the first inning and then proceeded to record three consecutive strikeouts. It looked like it might be a long day for the A’s.

The Athletics (61-80) broke through for three runs off Morton in the second inning and never looked back in the game. The A’s put three more runs up on the board in the sixth inning and then broke the bank with a five-run eighth inning that forced the Astros to use J.D. Davis — an infielder — to close out the game on the mound.

The powerful Astros (86-55) were not able to generate anything on offense. The scored only one run off their five hits.

On the hill

Oakland

• The A’s relievers did their job in game one holding up their starter Gossett by putting up the coveted “Goose Eggs” in their three innings of work.
• Ryan Dull and Simon Castro not only allow zero (Goose Eggs) runs in three innings of relief but they allowed not no hits and just one base runner via a walk. That is the perfect scenario for a bullpen to preserve a win.

Houston

• The Astros pitchers were their own worst enemies in game one of the doubleheader. As a staff they issued 13 base-on-balls and struck out 12.
• Houston pitchers walked in five of the 11 runs they gave up to the Athletics in game. That will give managers and pitching coaches ulcers and nightmares.
• The Astros gave up 11 runs on just 11 hits to Oakland

#Athletics skipper Bob Melvin was happy with his starting pitcher & his hitters in their 11-1 win over #Astros in game 1 of Sat DH in OAK pic.twitter.com/ctkf7d9GSM

— Sports Radio Service (@SportsRadioSrvc) September 10, 2017

In the batter’s box

Athletics

• The “2 Matts” had another big game for the A’s. Matt Olson 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Matt Chapman was 1-for-4 with two runs, one Rbi, one walk and one triple.
• Boog Powell enjoyed his day with the bat going 2-for-4 posting two Rbi to go with three runs scored.
• Khris Davis posted his 100th Rbi to become the first Athletic to have back-to-back 100-plus Rbi seasons since Miguel Tejada accomplished that feat in 2002-03.
• A’s batters walked 13 times in the game and struck out 12 times — that is bat control.

Astros

• Frankly there are not many highlights for Houston. They were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Houston left six men on base.
• The big blow for the ‘Stros was Alex Bregman’s double in the fifth inning that drove home the only run for Houston.

Marisnick goes down on the back end of a 5-4-3 double play Photo: Jordan Chapin Sports Radio Service

Postgame note

Astros catcher Juan Centeno started the game but had to leave the contest in second inning when he took a bat off the back of the head from a hard swing by Matt Joyce. He is being evaluated for a possible concussion.