Game Thread #89: A's at Kansas City

By Nico Jul 7, 2013, 10:50am PDT

"It's a bird...It's a plane...It's an elf...It's an accountant...It's...Supersogard!!!!"

Coming off a rare 3 error, 6 BB oopsathon, the A's try to rebound and take the series against the Royals today. Now, the whole "today" thing is a bit of an ongoing problem -- you see, the A's are a robust 35-18 in night games so far this year but only 16-19 during the day.

Then again, the last time Griffin pitched he was hit hard at night and the time before he blanked the Reds on a 2-hit shutout despite the looming presence of a bright yellow fireball overhead. Griffin takes the mound today against RHP Luis Mendoza (2-4, 4.41 ERA).

It would be prudent for the A's to secure this game because after today they have just 2 series before the All-Star break, and they happen to be against the teams with the best records in each league: Pittsburgh and Boston.

The starting lineups:

1. Coco Crisp (S) DH

2. Jed Lowrie (S) SS

3. All-Star Donaldson (R) 3B

4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF

5. Brandon Moss (L) 1B

6. John Jaso (L) C

7. Josh Reddick (L) RF

8. Chris Young (R) CF

9. Eric Sogard (L) 2B

1. Alex Gordon (L) LF

2. Miguel Tejada (R) 2B