Headline Sports podcast with Stephen Ruderman: Jays Bassitt said Yanks Judge was stealing tips; Jays pitcher Bass in hot water over LGBTQ message; plus more

Toronto Blue Jays announcers Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez were questioning what the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was looking at during this at bat. The Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt said Judge was getting signals from the first base coach as to what was coming (New York Post photo still)

On the MLB podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 The Toronto Blue Jays broadcasters were drawing suspicions that the New York Yankees Aaron Judge was looking at the Yankees first base coach to get signs on what pitch was coming from Toronto pitchers. They had him on camera looking at something and then the pitch came and he went yard. Blue Jay pitcher Chris Bassitt said the Yankees were relaying pitches and Judge lied.

#2 The Toronto Blue Jays continue to make news as Jays pitcher Anthony Bass said that he believed in boycotting Budweiser and Target for their support over LGBTQ rights. Bass said this has become a political issue and said he didn’t understand what’s the big deal. Fans and critics say that the Jays have only one choice and it’s to get rid of Bass.

#3 The San Francisco Giants Patrick Bailey wasted no time on his 24th birthday Monday hitting a two run seventh inning home run that later led the Giants to a 14-4 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in the first of a three game series.

#4 Turning the NBA news the Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers is stepping down after 12 years at the helm. Myers 48 said “It’s just time” and is looking doesn’t know what his future holds but felt his time in the position was up and he wanted to move on.

#5 The Denver Nuggets host the Miami Heat on Thursday night at Ball Arena in Denver for game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Heat just knocked off the Boston Celtics after the Celtics came back from being down 3-0. The Nuggets have been off since Mon May 22 and will have ten days rest before taking on the Celtics.

Stephen Ruderman did Headline Sports and covers MLB at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Chapman comes back to haunt old teammates in finale; Astros-A’s open series Friday night at Coliseum

Toronto Blue Jays Matt Chapman gets greeted by teammates after hitting his 12th home run of the season off Oakland A’s starter James Kaprielian in the top of the seventh inning at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed Jul 6, 2022 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, how big was it for the Toronto Blue Jays Matt Chapman to come back and whack a tying home run against the Oakland A’s starter James Kaprielian at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday afternoon.

#2 The Blue Jays Bo Bichette said that it was a needed win after losing five straight games and two of three games to the A’s.

#3 Bichette provided his own punch with a solo home run in the top of the eighth inning for the tie breaker to put the Jays on top 2-1.

#4 The A’s Ramon Laureano hit his sixth homer of the season that got the A’s the lead earlier in the game but it didn’t stand up in the later innings.

#5 The Houston Astros pay a visit to the Oakland Coliseum for a three game series which starts Friday night at 6:40 pm PDT. The Astros and A’s have not announced starting pitchers as of Wednesday night.

Join Jerry for the Oakland A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Jays slug two home runs beat A’s 2-1; Jays Bichette hits eighth inning deciding home run

Oakland A’s starter James Kaprielian was dealing but was lifted in the top of the sixth inning after giving up a run and five hits against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Oakland Coliseum (@Athletics photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Toronto Blue Jays (45-38), losers of the first two games of the three-game series, beat the Oakland A’s (28-56) 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum. 

Both starters were on the top of their game. A’s starter, James Kaprielian, went six innings and allowed five hits and one run. His only mistake was a gopher ball to his good friend and former teammate, Matt Chapman. Kaprielian was able to use all of his pitches effectively.

His fastball topped out at 95 miles per hour. His changeup came in at 84 miles per hour. Toronto’s starter Jose Berrios was slightly better.

Berrios worked six innings and allowed four hits and one run. The one mistake was an 0-2 pitch that Ramon Laureno jumped on and sent into the left-field seats. The A’s offense did not get a hit after the sixth inning. The game summary follows below.

Kaprielian worked his way out of a jam at the top of the sixth. He walked Jays’ shortstop Bo Bichette to start the inning. Vladimir Guerroro, Jr. singled to send Bichette to second. Kaprielian got the rookie catcher Alejandro Kirk to ground into a double play.

Teoscar Hernandez walked to put men on at first and third with two out. Kaprielian retired Lourdes Guriel for the third out. The A’s put the first run of the game on the board in their half of the inning. Ramon Laureano, as the A’s DH, sent Jose Berrios’ 0-2 pitch into the left-field seats. It was Laureano’s sixth home run of the year. The A’s lead 1-0 after six.

The lead didn’t last long. Kaprielian’s good friend and former teammate, Matt Chapman, tied the game with his 13th homer run. Mark Kotsay brought in lefty Sam Moll to pitch. Moll Retired the next three hitters. The game is tied 1-1 midway through the seventh.

The Blue Jays Bo Bichette led off the top of the eighth with his 13th dinger. Domingo Acevedo was on the hill for the A’s. The Jays lead 2-1 with the A’s coming to the plate in the bottom of the eighth.

The A’s failed to score in the eighth and went down 1-2-3 in the ninth. The Blue Jays win 2-1.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s are now 28-55. Toronto’s record improved to 45-38. The Jays are in fourth place in the AL East and are in a tough race with the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox for second place.

The line score for Oakland was one run, four hits, and no errors. Toronto’s line was two runs, eight hits, and no errors. All the runs in the game were the result of a homer. Matt Chapman and Bo Bichette homered for Toronto. Ramon Laureano hit the big fly for the A’s. 

Toronto’s Adam Cimber was the winning pitcher. Jays’ closer Jordan Romano earned his 18th save. Domingo Acevedo took the loss for Oakland.

The A’s are off on Thursday. They host Houston for a three-game series starting Friday night at the Coliseum starters for Friday night have not been announced.

The time of the game was a crisp 2:39. 6,330 fans were on hand to see the A’s lose their 55th game.

A’s Piscotty swings for the fences; Oakland picks up second straight win over Toronto 5-3 at Coliseum

Stephen Piscotty (25) gets congratulated by Oakland A’s third base coach Darren Bush (51) after hitting a bottom of the fifth inning home run at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Jul 5, 2022 (AP News photo)

Toronto (44-38). 3. 10. 1

Oakland (28-55). 5. 4. 0

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND–One swallow does not a summer make, but two downed Blue Jays in a row can be cause for hope and after tonight’s 5-3 win by the outhit A’s (28-55) over the previously fairly high flying Blue Jays (44-38), there was hope and joy in Oakland

Kotsay & Co. chose right handed rookie Adrián Martínez, recalled five days ago from Las Vegas, to face the Jays this evening. The 25 year old native of Mexicali came to the mound with a 1-1,6.30 record for the year, having gotten the win against Detroit on May 10 with 5-1/3 innings of shutout ball and having lost lto Seattle after yielding seven runs, all earned, in only 4-2/3 frames.

Originally signed by the Padres, Martinez underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016. Martínez ended up going five plus innings, enough to qualify for the win which he got, with more than a little help from the bullpen. He allowed three runs, all of them earned, on eight hits, to have them quadrilaterals, and no walks. 30 of his 82 pitches were balls. He now has a won-loss balance of 2-1 and a lower ERA of 6.00.

The A’s first faced Yusei Kikuchi, who started this evening for the Jays, on March 21, 2019, Japan time, at the Tokyo Dome, where he gave up four runs, three earned, in six innings as the Seattle Mariners’ starter, in Ichiro Suzuki’s farewell performance.

That was his MLB debut. He came to Ontario as a free agent after three years with the Mariners, and brought 3-4, 4.74 record for the season and a lifetime US mark of 18-28, 4.94 with him. Kikuchi had held current A’s players to a BA of .208 during his tenure as a Mariner.

He was not effective against the Oakland lineup he faced Tuesday evening, lasting a mere 2-1/3 innings, in which he managed to allow four runs, all earned although one was posthumous, on two hits, five walks, and two hit batsmen. He threw 52 pitches. A full 30 of them were balls. He took the loss, making him 3-5, 5.12 for the year..

Oakland took an early lead. The first two batters in their lineup Nick Allen and Ramón Laureano walked, and Christian Bethancourt drove in Allen with the A’s first run, sending Laureano to third. He notched the green and gold’s second tally as the team’s offense fizzled; Cristian Bethancourt bounced into a 1-4-3 double play, and Stephen Piscotty ended the inning by grounding out to second.

Matt Chapman received the expected ovation when his appearance at the plate was announced with Cavan Biggio on base with one down in the top of the second. He took two pitches for balls and then erased the hosts’ brief lead with a 424 foot blast to center for his 12th home run and 38th and 39th runs batted in of the season. It came on a 93mph sinker.

Oakland loaded the bases with no one out in the third. Allen lined a single just over the glove of a diving Biggio at first. Then Kikuchi plunked both Laureano and Bethancourt. Murphy´s sac fly to right scored Allen and allowed Laureano to take third.

A four pitch walk to Piscotty reloaded the bases and sent Kikuchi to the showers, Trent Thornton taking over pitching duties for the Jays. He got Andrus out on a pop up to second but walked in the A’s second run of the inning by issuing a free pass to Pinder before getting a called third strike on Neuse to close out the frame.

That 4-2 Athletics’ lead was shortened in the Toronto fourth when Teoscar Hernández took advantage of the warm Oakland evening and a 93mph slider to send the ball 420 feet into straightaway center for his ninth round tripper of 2022.

It took a diving catch by Piscotty of Santiago Espinal’s dying quail to right with two out and two on to get Martínez out of the jam with Oakland clinging to a 4-3 lead. He pitched a scoreless fifth that ended with Murphy throwing out Bichette.

Piscotty gave the A’s a little breathing room going 431 feet deep into left with two down in the bottom of the fifth. He unloaded on a 94 mph four seamer for his second dinger of the year, a blow that drove Thornton from the mound, where David Phelps took over for him to retire the side.

Martínez clearly had very little effectiveness left in the sixth. He gave up back to back singles to Kirk and Biggio to open the frame before being rellieved by AJ Puk. Jays´ manager Charlie Montoyo countered that move by sending in Vladimir Guerrero to pinch hit for Biggio.

He flew out to left, but Chapman laced a single to the same field. Kirk, who had been on second, seemed almost certain to score, but an exciting relay play, Pinder to Allen to Murphy, who handled Allen’s offline throw excellently to tag Kirk, cut him down at the plate.

Puk then proceeded to fan Tapia to preserve Oakland´s 5-3 advantage. Domingo Acevedo took Puk’s place on the mound to start the seventh and set the Jays down in order.

Trevor Richards pitched a scoreless seventh for Toronto.

Zach Jackson mounted the A’s merry-go-round to pitch the top of the eighth. Pinder made a great attempt to catch Bichette’s foul that fell under the A’s bullpen bench before Jackson struck him out swinging.

Kirk provided another moment of uncertainty when he sent Skye Bolt to the wall just to the left of the 400 foot sign in center to track down his towering fly before Jackson fanned Hernández.

Tim Mayza pitched to Oakland in their half of the eighth, giving up only a single to Pinder, who was thrown out by Springer trying to stretch it to a double.

That brought in Lou Trivino to try for his sixth save in seven attempts. He fanned Guerrero. He went 3-2 on Chapman, who then sent a fly that Bolt corralled in deep center.

That brought up Tapia, who hit a grounder to Andrus’s right. He made a spectacular backhanded grab, jumped, pivoted, and threw while in air … too late to get Tapia and first. With the potential tying run at the plate in the person of Espinal, Trivino earned his save by getting him to hit a routine grounder to short that Andrus handled easily, ending the game.

Oakland now is assured of winning the series, which will end Wednesday, in a game that’s scheduled to start at 12:37. James Kaprielian (2-5,5.43) will pitch for the home team, and José Berríos (6-4, 4.74) will be on the mound for the visitors.

A’s Vogt provides offensive punch with homer and sac fly in A’s 5-1 win

Oakland A’s catcher Stephen Vogt forearm bashes with teammate Elvis Andrus at the Oakland Coliseum after Vogt’s home run on Mon Jul 4, 2022 against the Toronto Blue Jays (AP News photo)

Toronto (44-37).   1.  5.  1

Oakland (27-55).   5.  7. 0

Monday, July 4, 2022

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND-Baseball players and fans are used to losing. I don’t know if, as a rule, they get over it, but they do get used to it. A’s fans and players have had a lot to get used to recently.

Sunday’s second consecutive 2-1 loss at Seattle, combined with the loss to injury of Frankie Montás, whose imminent trade deadline departure is widely anticipated, raises the dosage of resignation that the uncertainty of the A’s future home and the misery of the A’s current performance to new highs. 

So far, Montás hasn’t been removed from the active roster, but his absence is as notable as the green and gold’s lack of success. They came into the game at 26-55 at the season’s halfway mark, 11-35 since May 14.

But Oakland and its fans didn’t have to deal with a loss this evening. 

Monday’s game recap: Behind the stellar hurling of their starter, Cole Irvin, they dominated Toronto, 5-1.

 Irvin took a 2-6, 3.58 record with him to the pitching rubber when he threw the opening pitch at 6:08 in a warm, sunny evening, perfect home run weather at the Coliseum. Since his return from the injured list, Irvin had gone 0-5, 3.97 in eight starts, most recently in a 5-3 loss to the Yankees in Bronx, where he gave up all five runs, and they were earned, on six hits, two of which left the ball park.

Today, the A’s staked a three run first inning, Irvin was in control for the eight full innings he pitched. He allowed but a single run, earned, on four hits and no walks. His work was very efficient; he threw only 95 pitches, of which only 28 were balls. He got the win, which made his won-lost record 3-5 and lowered his ERA to 3.35.

The Blue Jays sent right hander Alex Manoah and his 9-2, 2.09 record against the floundering residents (for now) of the east bay. His opposing batters average was, appropriately enough, also .209. The 24 year old, now in his second big league season, allowed two runs, both earned, on four hits while going six innings, to gain the win in Toronto’s 4-2 victory. 

He had an eight start winning streak from September 23, 2021 through April 28 of this year. He didn’t live up to his advance billings tonight. He left with the Jays trailing the A’s 5-1 after throwing 101 pitches, of which 67 were counted as strikes,  in only 5-2/3 frames.

Four of the five runs he allowed were earned, and they came on six hits, two of them for all the distance, two walks, a wild pitch, and a hit batter. He struck out five. He was the losing pitcher and ended the day with a record of 9-3, 2.33.

Oakland put a crooked number on the board in their first turn at the plate. Ramón Laureano walked with one out and advanced to second on Seth Brown’s single to right. Manoah plunked Sean Murphy with a 92 mph sinker to load the bases.

Sentimental favorite Stephen Vogt brought Laureano home with a sacrifice fly to center, and George Springer’s wildly off line throw allowed the two other runs to move up a base each. Elvis Andrus’s two bagger to left brought them home.

There was another sentimental favorite on the field tonight. Matt Chapman was playing third for the Blue Jays, and the former Athletic platinum glove winner got a warm ovation when he came to the plate in the visitors’ half of the third for his first AB. (He fouled out to the catcher).

Irvin kept the Blue Jays off the basepaths for the first 3-2/3 inning. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. ended that string of out with a resounding double just over Skye Bolt’s head in center on a 92 mph four seamer.

Alejandro Kirk drove Guerrero in with a single to right, but Vimael Machín’s magnificent diving grab of Lourdes Gourriel, Jr.’s drive down the left field line and fast, accurate throw to first saved Irvin’s bacon and kept Oakland ahead, 3-1.

They tacked on another tally with one down in the fifth when Laureano blasted Manoah’s first pitch, a change of pace, 417 feet deep into the left field seats for his fifth home run  and 14th RBI of the year.

The A’s further stretched their lead with Vogt’s fourth round tripper of the season and second run batted in of the evening. It came as he led off the home sixth and was a no doubter, hit 426 feet deep into straightaway centerfield.

The veteran still can get around on a 91 mph four seamer. Three batters later, Bolt singled to third on Manoah´s 101st delivery, and that was it was the Blue Jays starter.

Sergio Romo, the one time Giant, one time A, relieved him, retired Allen, and was replaced by Anthony Banda for the home seventh, and Jordan Romano for the eighth. The three of them kept the A’s off the board.

Irvin shotdown ten Jays in a row  between Kirk’s single that followed Guerrero’s double and Espinal’s one out single in  the bottom of the eighth, Toronto’s fourth hit. Espinal was left stranded at first.

Zach Jackson came in to pitch the top of the ninth for Oakland. Bo Bichette hit a resounding leadoff double to center and moved on to third on Guerrero’s fly out to deep right, Kirk’s fly to shallow right, just inside the foul line made it two down. Jackson got two quick strikes on Teoscar Hernández.

Then a ball. And a second ball. Hernández then hit a weak grounder to the ground. Jackson grabbed and ran to first for the final out. The Curse of the Leadoff Double strikes again!

The A’s will go for a two game winning streak tomorrow at 6:30 pm PDT. Toronto will send  southpaw Yusei Kikuchi (3-4, 4.74) against Oakland’s righty Adrián Martínez (1-1, 6,30)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: The best division in baseball plus

Copy of the New York Daily News announcing the New York Mets and New York Yankees in the Subway World Series in 2000 edition could the two cross city rivals meet again in this year’s fall classic? (photo by wikipedia)

The Best Division in Baseball, Plus

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–For the first time this 2022 season there will be a third wild card team on each league. No division in baseball is better than the American League East, with the New York Yankees walking-away with the best record in baseball and Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston poised for a tremendous race.

For the first time ever, a division could have three wild card teams going into the postseason and a total of four of the five teams in this division playing in October.

The American League East is the only division in baseball with four teams playing over .500. In the AL West, there is only one team to beat, Dusty Baker’s Houston Astros, they are the best team and will stay in first place.

The LA Angels are sputtering again, after a very nice start, they went into a funk lost 14 in a row, from May 25 to June 8,and Joe Maddon (one of the best managers in baseball) was sent packing.

Next managerial change could come from Seattle, where expectations were high for this team to win this year. Manager Scott Servais and General Manager Jerry DiPoto are in the hot seat. The Texas Rangers spend a fortune (close to half billion dollars) signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, they are both starting to play the way everybody expected, but I do not believe they have the pitching to overtake their State rivals Houston Astros.

The Oakland A’s are what they are. All the other teams have more established talent, they are trying to compete with rookie manager Mark Kotsay, a good baseball man, but the best jockey in the world cannot win the race if the horse is limping.

In the Central Division, considered the weakest in all the major leagues, supposed to be an easy one for the Chicago White Sox, but the great Tony LaRussa is not having much fun so far, star closer Liam Hendriks just placed into the IL.

The Minnesota Twins will be in the playoffs, as of today leading that division and the Cleveland Guardians are playing good baseball, leading the way at third-base, José Ramirez an early candidate for MVP. Watch out for the Indians, sorry, the Guardians, they have a good team and a terrific manager in Terry Francona.

There are some 100 games left for each team this season. While in New York they are talking about a Subway Series, Mets vs Yankees. Most recently, in 2000 the New York teams faced each other with the Yankees winning in five games, a memorable series, which I happened to worked for the Latino Baseball Network.

In other cities there is lots of disappointment. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, whose manager, Dave Roberts predicted a 2022 World Series win during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show, when he said “We will win the World Series in 2022. We will win the World Series this year.”

The Dodgers have pitching problems, ace Walker Buehler recently went into the IL, Julio Urias is not going to win 20 games again this season (he was the only to win 20 last season) plus mixed with an inconsistent offense, the Dodgers have stuff to “figure out”, they do have the talent.

The San Diego Padres, at this time, even with the delayed return of superstar Fernando Tatis Jr, looks like the team that could win this division. Bob Melvin is doing a great job, which is nothing new for the three-time Manager of the Year.

The San Francisco Giants, while they are not going to win 107 games again, they find a way to win series, starter Jacob Junis went into the IL, veterans like Evan Longoria and Brandon Belt, can’t seem to stay healthy.

Giants lost some pieces in the off-season, perhaps the biggest one, starter Kevin Gausman who had his best year ever in 2021 with a 14-6 record, and 2.81 ERA, he left for a very lucrative contract in Toronto. Nobody expected the Giants to have a similar season as 2021, which was a dream season, when every player at the same time, had great years.

Trades: The new deadline this year is set for August 2. There will be many trades, some earlier than others, but the greatest commodities are starting pitchers. they are in high demand. Many of the teams with hopes of postseason play will reinforce themselves. In today’s game the old saying “you never have enough pitching” is new again.

Happy Fathers Day weekend.

Join Amaury Pi Gonzalez for all the play by play of Oakland A’s baseball on the A’s Spanish radio network and on flagship station Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Kapler takes anthem protests one game at a time; Can A’s improve attendance as Astros and Red Sox pay a visit to Coliseum

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler takes a stroll to the Giants dugout after making a pitching change in the top of the eighth inning against the New York Mets on Mon May 23, 2022 at Oracle Park in San Francisco (AP News photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Gabe Kapler San Francisco Giants manager made headlines when he said he would not be on the field for the national anthem but made an exception for the Memorial Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

#2 The Oakland A’s continue to suffer at the gate their draws have been around 8,000 plus tops and bottoming out around 3,000 on a Thursday night against the Texas Rangers.

#3 What a week for the Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani on Sunday Ohtani homered twice, but the Angels lost by just a run in a slugfest against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Big A in Anaheim 11-10 in a back and forth game. No doubt Ohtani is doing it all this season for the Halos.

#4 There is no doubt Amaury that the Cincinnati Reds outfielder Tommy Pham who returned from his three day suspension on Monday and San Francisco Giants outfielder Joc Pederson as strange as that situation is Pham felt that Pederson cheated in Fantasy Football and Pham said there was a lot of money at stake and hence the bad blood between the two. How dangerous is a situation like this when there is money lost between players and they have to play together professionally.

#5 Amaury, talk about the warm pitched that bounced that was thrown by Los Angeles Angels pitcher Michael Lorenzen one of the warm up pitches went up and hit teammate catcher Kurt Suzuki in the neck. Suzuki was helped off the field but once in the dugout passed out on Saturday night. Suzuki went to the hospital and a few hours later returned to the ballpark and said he was available to play the next day in Sunday’s game.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Oakland A’s lead play by play announcer heard on Le Grande 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Road Relevant: A’s lose 4-3 in Toronto, fall short of winning road trip to begin season

By Morris Phillips

The A’s weren’t going to be satisfied with a .500 road trip to start the season. But after a grueling 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays, that’s what they got.

Finishing a senses-jarring, first ten games of the season with a 5-5 record isn’t earth shattering, but it’s an incredible, initial statement for the new-look A’s.

“I couldn’t be happier with the club’s energy, effort level and fight through these 10 days,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “The record may not reflect, right now, how well I feel we played on this road trip.”

Alex Manoah went six innings against Oakland, and picked up the win. The replacement guy for Toronto limited the A’s to four hits and two walks, and departed with a two-run lead. Manoah appearances have a winning effect on his club, the Blue Jays have won his last 10 starts.

“I want those guys to know that I’m giving it my all every time,” Manoah said. “I think they kind of play off that energy.”

The A’s trailed 3-0 and 4-2, but got a sacrifice fly from Seth Brown in the eighth to climb within 4-3, but they could get any closer in the ninth, making for a lengthier flight home ahead of Monday’s home opener against the Orioles at 6:40pm.

Lourdes Gurriel led the hosts with a double, single and sacrifice fly to boost a lineup that saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. go 0 for 4.

“It’s pretty big that he gets hot,” manager Charlie Montoyo said of Gurriel. “It’s been amazing what he’s doing right now.

“Right now, he’s doing the job to make sure Vladdy sees some pitches.”

Adam Oller was lifted in the second inning in his Major League debut last Tuesday. He responded on Sunday, allowing three runs and five hits before being lifted by Kotsay in the fourth.

The 27-year old cited lack of command with breaking pitches, but acknowledged his growth as well, this time he kept the A’s attached.

Stephen Vogt hit his first home run of the season and Sean Murphy’s sacrifice fly to center field scored Cristian Pache from third base for two A’s runs.

“They were down early. We fought back. We grinded out at-bats,” Kotsay continued. “The energy was still really good for the end of a 10-day road trip. You’d look for that day off tomorrow, but I think the energy will be there tomorrow with opening day and going home.”

A’s Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

The Oakland A’s Cristian Pache is thrilled after getting the game winning home run in the top of the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on Sat Apr 16, 2022 (The Canadian Press via AP News)

A’s, Pache Continues Hot Start with 7-5 Saturday Win at Toronto

By Tony the Tiger Hayes

The no-name A’s continued their quick start to the 2022 season on Saturday by beating old friend Matt Chapman and the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 on the road.

Spring time accusation Cristian Pache belted a go-ahead two-run long ball in the 9th to spear head the win to improve Oakland young season record to 5-4.

Catcher Sean Murphy also went deep for the A’s. The win went to righty reliever Danny Jimenez who pitched a perfect 8th. Lou Trivino notched his second save.

The win snapped Oakland’s six game losing streak to the Jays dating back to last season.

Hot prospect Pache was acquired during spring training in a trade from Atlanta that sent slugger Matt Olson Southbound.

With Oakland tied 5-5, Pache walloped a 1-0 Julian Merryweather fastball over the right field fence for his first Oakland round tripper to put Oakland up 7-5.

“I noticed that he was throwing a lot of breaking balls so I paid attention to that,” the exciting rookie said through an interpreter after the game. “I also saw that he was throwing a lot of curveballs so I made sure not to miss any of the fastballs and I went out there and I didn’t miss.”

Merryweather took the loss.

Earlier, Chapman whacked his second homer and Zack Collins sailed his first on consecutive pitches from A’s right-hander Domingo Acevedo in the 6th as the Blue Jays to over come a 5-2 deficit.

Oakland took a 3-1 lead in the 2nd when they strung four consecutive hits off Toronto starter Hyundai Jin Ryu to take a 3-1 lead.

Murphy, who doubled and scored in that frame, made it 5-1 with a two-run 451 poke to center field seats in the 4th.

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr., right, thanks the Almighty for his solo home run in the first inning against the Oakland A’s at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Fri Apr 15, 2022 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

Oakland Drops Series Opener to Blue Jays 4-1

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s (4-4) have been on a tear taking a series from the Tampa Bay Rays three games to one. The hits have been coming unlike the first few games where they failed to score in the early innings. Oakland has also been knocking the ball out of the park regularly with runners on base.

They opened the series with the Toronto Blue Jays (5-3) for three games at Rogers Centre Friday night with a 4-1 win. The A’s saw a familiar face in the Blue Jays lineup in this game. It was the first game that Oakland faced former A’s third baseman Matt Chapman.

Ross Stripling took the mound for Toronto and Daulton Jeffries Daulton got the nod for Oakland.

The Blue Jays got on the board with two runs in the early innings. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run for a 1-0 Toronto lead in the first inning. The Blue Jays would carry that momentum into the second inning with a Santiago Espinal double driving in Raimel Tapia for a 2-0 lead.

The A’s would make some noise in the sixth inning. With runners on first and second and one out Chad Pinder would single to center driving Tony Kemp home and getting the A’s on the scoreboard. Oakland would get one run on three hits to end the top of the sixth inning. They trailed the Blue Jays 2-1.

Jefferies would pitch through four innings before being relieved by Justin Grimm. Oakland’s Sam Moll would relieve Grimm in the middle of the sixth inning.

The Blue Jays would extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Zach Collins singled driving in Guerrero. Toronto took the lead 3-1 going into the seventh inning.

The Blue Jays really went to work in the seventh inning. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. doubled bringing George Springer home for a 4-1 lead. Adam Kolarek would relieve Zach Jackson with the bases loaded. He would strike out Bradley Zimmer and Santiago Espinal would ground out to Kolarek. The Oakland pitcher had minimized the damage with a single run.

Oakland had their last chance in the ninth inning. Christian Bethancourt and Stephen Vogt would both strike out and Seth Brown grounded out in a flat performance in this game. There would be no rally for Oakland this time.

Tomorrow the A’s will play the second game of this series at Rogers Centre in Toronto. Paul Blackburn will be taking the mound for the A’s and for the Blue Jays Hyun Ryu will get the nod. First pitch is schemed for 12:07.