McCarthy Sets Down Dodgers

Brandon McCarthy has been in and out of the A's lineup, but when he's been in he has been good. It sort of prompts some questions of do you re-sign him, even perhaps to a long(er) term deal despite the injuries? Because tonight was another great McCarthy performance. Going seven innings, allowing just two hits (a single to Tony Gwynn, Jr and a single to Andre Ethier) McCarthy set down five Dodgers on strikes while walking just one. He threw an incredibly efficient 81 pitches with 56 of them going for strikes. Perhaps what was most noteworthy is that McCarthy has struggled against left-handed hitters this year, but he sliced through this lineup like a hot knife through butter.

The A's offense on the other hand didn't exactly click on all five cylinders but gave their starter all he needed (and all he would get) in the first inning. Coco Crisp led off with a double, followed by a Jemile Weeks walk setting up Seth Smith who hit a single to center field that got past Gwynn resulting in Crisp and Weeks scoring. Jonny Gomes would tack on another run with a single later in the inning. That was sixty percent of the A's hits as the remaining seven innings would feature just two more from the A's hitters. One thing that was nice to see was the A's taking a lot of walks. They tagged Aaron Harang for eight walks in his mere three and two-thirds innings on the mound and all said and done managed ten in the ballgame. Hitting just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranding twelve baserunners is why this was a 3-0 game as opposed to worse.

A win is a win is a win. Great pitching performance. Enough offense. No complaints. Hopefully we don't see Brandon McCarthy needing any extra time off this time through because it looks like Bartolo Colon will be heading to the disabled list.