Game #139: A’s, lights-out bullpen take down Yankees 6-3

After an iffy first few innings, Trevor Cahill returned to his true Home form, delivering a solid start before handing things off to the bullpen.

Game Thread #1 | Game Thread #2

Newly-minted Yankee Andrew McCutchen led off the game with a single, then advanced to third on a botched attempt by Jonathan Lucroy to throw him out stealing second. McCutchen came home on an Aaron Hicks sac fly, getting the Yankees out to an early 1-0 lead, but that was the extent of the first-inning damage.

However, the A’s quickly responded with some early scoring of their own. Marcus Semien flied out to start the first, but then Matt Chapman, Jed Lowrie, Khris Davis, and Stephen Piscotty followed-up with consecutive singles. With the bases loaded, Matt Olson walked, scoring Lowrie, and the A’s led 2-1. Mark Canha then reached first on a throwing error by third baseman Miguel Andjur, scoring Davis, and the A’s led 3-1.

Cahill walked Gary Sanchez to start the 2nd inning, retired Gleyber Torres, and then gave up a 2-run home run to Luke Voit, tying the game up at 3. Despite a Brett Gardner double, Cahill exited the inning otherwise unscathed.

Semien worked a leadoff walk of his own to start the bottom half, and Chapman followed with a run-scoring double, putting the A’s up 4-3, and they’d hold the lead for the rest of the game.

Cahill threw 1-2-3 innings in the top of the 3rd and 4th.

Up to bat again in the bottom of the 4th, Semien doubled, knocking CC Sabathia out of the game. AJ Cole took over, retiring Chapman, then allowing a single off the bat of Lowrie, scoring Semien. Cole walked Khris Davis on 5 pitches, but Piscotty grounded out o end the inning.

Cahill allowed a leadoff single in the 5th to Adeiny Hechavarria, who quickly was forced out by a Brett Gardner single, and then Lucroy caught Gardner stealing (and continues to lead the majors in runners caught stealing).

Final line on Trevor “Home” Cahill: 5.0 innings, 4 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.

In the bottom half of the inning, Mark Canha put the insurance run cherry on top of the score, hitting a statement solo home run to left field.

There was no bat flip, but he apparently let out some choice words while rounding the bases, and the A’s led 6-3.

Lou Trivino took the mound in the top of the 6th, and struck out the side in order. It’s a bit rash to declare Trivino back to form after one good outing, those in-the-know seem to think it true.

The A’s went down in order in the bottom half.

Yusmiero Petit took over for Trivino in the top of the 7th inning, and nearly struck out Gary Sanchez, who reached first on the third-strike passed ball. He the walk Gleyber Torres, and striking out Luke Voit. Switch-hitter Neil Walker pinch-hit for Hechevarria, so the lefty Ryan Buchter replaced the righty Petit with two on and one out.

Tasked with getting the technically third and fourth outs of the inning, Buchter came up big, striking out Walker and getting a flyout from Gardner.

Davis, Piscotty, and Olson struck out in order in the bottom half.

Jeurys Familia got the nod in the eight inning, and gave the Yankees the tying run up to bat. After retiring McCutchen and Giancarlo Stanton, he walked Hicks and Andujar, bringing Sanchez up to bat. Eight long pitches later, he got Sanchez swinging.

Jonathan Lucroy doubled in the bottom half of the 8th, but was stranded.

Blake Treinen got the ninth, retiring Torres, Voit, and Walked in order, and that was the ballgame. He nabbed his 36th save, and his ERA now stands at a ridiculous 0.91.

FINAL: Oakland 6, New York 3.

In front of a 40,546-strong crowd on a Monday afternoon, the A’s gained a game on the first Wild Card spot, and now only trail the Yankees by 3.5.