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You can be excused for panicking. Normally an 0-2 start isn't cause for alarm; it is a long season, and the A's aren't exactly known as fast starters. However, the A's have looked atrocious in these first couple of games, so feel free to lament, whine, cry, throw stuff, and kick your best friend.
While getting shut out by King Felix in a pitcher's duel could be rationalized away (even given his pedestrian 4.01 ERA vs. the A's in 2012), getting thoroughly dominated in all facets en route to a 7-1 loss is a little tougher to swallow. In two games the A's have now given 50,000+ rabid fans literally nothing to cheer about.
Jarrod Parker looked shaky out the gate, but the A's went up in the bottom of the second with a Cespedes laser solo shot to straightaway centerfield. This lead was short-lived. Parker walked two in the bottom of the third, but made his way to two outs. The Houdini act unfortunately couldn't continue. Mike Morse blasted an outside fastball to the opposite field to put the Mariners up 3-1, giving them a lead that they would not relinquish. Morse also added a home run in the ninth inning for good measure. Unbelievably, the A's look like they are losing the Jaso trade.
Meanwhile, Mariners' starter Hisashi Iwakuma kept the A's hitters off balance most of the night, and the control problems snowballed for Parker and the rest of the staff. Ryan Cook was the worst offender, loading the bases with two walks and an HBP, and then walking in a run. Overall his line was 29 pitches, three walks and a hit batsman in 2/3 of an inning. U-G-L-Y.
The A's offensive woes also continued, and the team has now gone 3/30 in two straight games, for that solid .100 batting average. Also this:
First time in Oakland #Athletics history A's are held to only 1 run thru first 2 games of a season.
— David Feldman (@dfeldy) April 3, 2013
The good news is that there's another game tomorrow, and a win will put all these worries to rest. Join us tomorrow as the A's have Tommy Milone coming to the hill against Joe Saunders.
Also, hey, at least Yu Darvish's perfect game was broken up after 8 2/3 innings. Hilarious!
