Game #146: A’s do A’s-y things, lose 6-2 to Red Sox

This game had so many A’s-y ways of not scoring/giving up runs it’s almost funny.

Things got off to a fairly slow start, with Gossett making another effort to show he belongs in the Bigs.

Other than a a Jed Lowrie walk in the top of the first, no A’s reached base.

In the bottom half, Gossett retired the Sox 1-2-3.

The top of the second inning saw the A’s also go down 1-2-3, but the bottom of the inning went the same way for the Sox.

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In the top of the third, Marcus Semien ended up on 2nd base thanks to a rare misplay by Andrew Benintendi. However, Chad Pinder promptly singled, then got himself caught in the first of two really unnecessary rundown situations today. Pinder’s face embodied my thoughts at this point.

Despite a single in the bottom of the inning, Gossett was able to induce a double play and come out unscathed.

Lowrie, Ryon Healy, and Matt Olson went down in order to constitute the top of the fourth inning.

Despite a Benintendi double in the bottom half, Gossett was able to keep the Sox off the board.

The A’s finally got to Drew Pomeranz in the top of the fifth. Matt Chapman walked, then Renato Nunez struck out, but Mark Canha followed with a double. Josh Phegley followed up with maybe the most annoying sac fly double play you’ll ever see.

Chapman scored on Phegley’s deep fly to left, but Canha got a little excited and tried to run to third, only to get caught in a run down. There was zero reason for him to try to run. The tweet’s a bit harsh, but check out the video if you’re in need of a good face-palm:

1-0 Oakland, nonetheless.

Christian Vazquez homered to lead off the fifth inning, but Gossett retired the following three batters. Tie game.

Semien singled again to start the sixth inning. Pinder promptly grounded into a double play. Lowrie walked again, and Healy followed with a single. Olson struck out.

Gossett retired Xander Bogaerts to start the bottom half. Dustin Pedroia and Benintendi followed with back-to-back doubles, which would cue the end of Gossett’s day. 2-1 Boston.

Ryan Dull took over, retiring Mookie Betts, then giving up a double to Mitch Moreland. He struck out Vazquez to end the inning.

Brandon Workman replaced Pomeranz in the seventh. Workman walked Chapman, immediately to be replaced by Robby Scott when Matt Joyce came out on-deck. Franklin Barreto ended up batting instead of Joyce, who was never announced.

Barreto struck out. Addison Reed came out to replace Workman. Canha doubled, and Bruce Maxwell came into the game to pinch-hit for Phegley, promptly striking out. Semien walked, but Pinder struck out.

Final line for Gossett: 5.1 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 3 strikeouts.

Boog Powell came into the game in center field in the bottom of the inning, moving Canha to left. Maxwell stayed in the game to catch, Sam Moll entered to pitch.

Rafael Devers led off with a double, and Brock Holt reached base on a rare Chapman goof. He took slightly too long staring Devers back to second, and hit Holt with his throw to first, sending the ball into foul territory. Devers advanced to third.

Santiago Casilla came into the game for his 57th appearance of the season. He hit Bogaerts with his first pitch, then was so out of control on with his first few pitches to Pedroia that, I swear, Pedroia was standing a body length back from the bag. Ray Fosse commented that he hadn’t seen someone stand that far back. Of course, Casilla still missed down and away.

With a full count, Pedroia managed a deep sac fly to center, scoring Devers and advancing Holt to third. Bogaerts followed up by stealing second base. Benindenti singled, scoring both Holt and Bogaerts. Betts struck out. 6-1 Boston.

Casilla has taken the mound FIFTY-SEVEN TIMES this year. Just let that sink in. Think about how much of your life has been spent watching him.

Joe Kelly took the mound for the Sox in the top of the eighth. Lowrie K’ed, but good old Healy hit his 25th(!) homer of the season. 6-2 Boston. Chapman grounded Olson into a force out at second. Powell grounded out.

Chris Smith replaced Casilla in the bottom half. He retired the side 1-2-3.

Craig Kimbrel came into close it out. Canha singled to left, taking a big turn around first, but surely remembered his earlier faux pas and quickly got back. He advance to second on “defensive indifference,” especially unimportant because Maxwell walked. Semien flied out, Pinder struck out, and Lowrie struck out looking.

FINAL: 6-2 Boston.