The A's and Esteban Loaiza with a 2-3 record and a 6.03 ERA take on the Rockies and Jason Jennings with a 5-6 record and a 4.32 ERA.
The Athletics laid a big egg last night in one of the best offensive parks in all of baseball. There are many theories that the long extra innings games don't take their toll until the second game after. If so, that would've been the game last night.
So, the winning streak is dead and the A's turn to Loaiza to get it going again. Loaiza is starting to get his groove back since coming back from the DL. He's 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA since coming back. He also already has more strikeouts in his two appearances than in his four games started before the injury rehab.
The A's send out this lineup to face Jennings:
Kendall
Swisher
Kotsay
Chavez
Crosby
Johnson
Payton
Scutaro
Loaiza
Kotsay returns, which is a nice boost to the lineup since he's hitting .293 in June. I find it interesting that the A's sit Kielty, he of the 1.063 OPS in June in favor of Payton who has an .850 OPS in June. Also interesting that Rouse isn't in the lineup, but at the same time Scutaro has been performing well this month.
The Rockies send out this lineup against Loaiza:
Carroll
Sullivan
Helton
Holliday
Atkins
Hawpe
Closser
Quintanilla
Jennings
Former A's prospect Omar Quintanilla makes an appearance against the organization that traded him. Quintanilla hasn't done much at the MLB level yet, sporting a .530 career OPS in 144 ABs. It's always fun to watch a prospect that you thought would eventually be in green and gold perform.
LET'S GO A'S!!!
