Game #102: A’s Annihilated By Astros

The A’s and Astros did their part on Monday night to improve MLB’s pace of play—the game was over in less than three innings. After a nightmarish start from Homer Bailey, the A’s found themselves in an 11-0 hole and unlike Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises, were unable to climb out. Houston prevailed 11-1. But why dwell on the bad news?

***Click Here to Revisit Game Thread #1***

***Click Here to Revisit Game Thread #2***

Positives

• Some of the guys got some rest — Bob Melvin used the blowout opportunity to give some of the team a half day’s rest; Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, and Khris Davis all got yanked before the game was done.
• There was a Nick Martini sighting — The Dirty Martini had just been called up to replace Brett Anderson (paternity leave) and A’s fans everywhere were hoping to see him play as soon as possible.
• The A’s didn’t get no-hit — On a day where Gerrit Cole looked like he had no-hit stuff, the A’s managed just two hits, both of them in the same inning. Still, they didn’t get no hit. Chapman’s hit may have been a flare that was lucky to find the outfield grass, but Canha’s RBI double was a rope!
• Wei-Chung Wang is still lights out — Wang didn’t have his best performance against the Twins on Sunday, but he bounced back against the Astros with two scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 1.64 on the season.
• There was a Nick Martini sighting... ON THE MOUND! — Martini even came in to pitch in the eighth inning! He was a little shaky location wise, walking two in one inning of work, but he got a clutch strikeout of Tony Kemp to keep the Astros’ lead at 10.
• Tomorrow’s a new day, and the series is still up for grabs.

It’s Mike Fiers vs. Wade Miley tomorrow and with Justin Verlander looming for Wednesday’s matchup, tomorrow feels like a big one. Here’s to hoping Martini can get the guys fired up with some Red Bulls.