Game #107: Chavez Rocked Again, A's Lose 9-2

Ho hum. Another day, another lackluster performance by the A's stagnant offense and struggling starting pitcher, Jesse Chavez, who started the season strong, but has worn down in the dog days of summer. Chavez was hit hard from nearly the first batter and barely made it to the fourth inning. Meanwhile, the Orioles threw Tyler Wilson against the A's in a spot start; his second start of the year and only his sixth appearance, and of course, he dominated.

Tonight's bright side was brought to you by Stephen Vogt, who notched two doubles, just missing a home run in one of them, to break a very long post-All-Star-break slump. One of his doubles scored a run. Coco Crisp, batting second tonight and in left field, racked up two of the A's six hits and Ike Davis' bloop single scored the other run. That was the extent of the A's offense in its entirety.

The A's were down 3-0 before they even had a turn at bat. Chavez allowed two one-out hits to set the table, and Chris Davis unloaded on him to give the Orioles the early lead. A walk and a double in the third scored the Orioles fourth run, and a single and a homer put Chavez into a 6-0 hole. He was replaced by Felix Doubront, one of the new kids. His line was only marginally better than Chavez'; 4.1 innings, five hits and three runs. Scribner had a perfect ninth, with two strikeouts, so there's that.

Not much else to report from Oakland as the A's fall yet again. We do it all over tomorrow, as Chris Bassitt, the hard-luck starter for the A's, tries for his first win.