Athletics Nation - Game #33: A's vs. AngelsAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2017-05-09T22:40:51-07:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/153680912017-05-09T22:40:51-07:002017-05-09T22:40:51-07:00Game #33: Alonso Hits Two More Dingers in 7-3 Loss
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<img alt="MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W4jZDktIG-vcbJAtpjC6nKnZY0M=/0x108:2570x1821/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54707997/usa_today_10049952.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Future MVP Donger Alonso | Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Jharel Cotton had a bad night and the offense was mostly quiet. At least Alonso hit two more homers to take second place in the AL with 11.</p> <h3 id="MhSwz1">Cotton and the Longball</h3>
<p id="Vx7kGz">Jharel Cotton is still going through growing pains and we need to remember to be patient with him and the rest of the young staff this season. Cotton managed to show a great deal of potential while simultaneously getting godawful results, surrendering 7 runs in the first 4 innings and also striking out 7.</p>
<p id="xI5n6R">Cotton looked absolutely masterful for his first 6 pitches, striking out Escobar and Calhoun with ease and using all of his pitches flawlessly. I know it’s only 6 pitches, but it’s probably the best 6 consecutive pitches we’ve seen all year...which made it all the more surprising when Pujols absolutely blasted a changeup to left field and gave the Angels a first inning lead.</p>
<p id="atK6rq">We saw a terrific defensive play from both Alonso and Cotton in the 2nd. Alonso ranged well back and to his right to field a bouncer, then made a perfect throw to Cotton who beat the speedy Cameron Maybin to the bag by inches. It was an all-around perfectly executed play...which made it all the more surprising when Ben Revere hit a ball to deep right field and tied the game, 2-2. It was honestly not a terrible pitch by Cotton, but the same can’t be said when he immediately allowed back-to-back singles to Cliff Pennington and Maldonado, and then a 3-run home run to Yunel Escobar to make it 5-2 Angels. It was puzzling to watch - Cotton looked masterful, until he looked like absolute garbage. His pitches had tons of movement and he was consistently throwing them for strikes, but he just wasn’t fooling anyone and any pitch that missed its location even a bit was getting crushed. Those four hits in the 2nd, all with two outs, really hurt. It seemed like a combination of the Angels hitters being ready for the changeup (they were swinging behind fastballs), and Cotton throwing too many pitches in the zone where their aggression would pay off.</p>
<p id="ubq2pP">Cameron Maybin opened the 4th with a double to left center that looked like it was possibly catchable for either of the Davises. This was followed by a Ben Revere sharp single and a Cliff Pennington bloop to make it 6-2 with a couple runners on, still 0 outs. A bunt advanced the runners to second and third and a groundout scored Revere to make it 7-2. </p>
<p id="zCmW3r">Cotton ultimately pitched 5 innings before being pulled for Josh Smith, who was called up last week after the Doolittle injury. Smith had a very quick 1-2-3 inning in the 6th, and then again in the 7th. He threw a good 8th as well, aside from a walk. Ultimately, Smith got through all 3 innings on 33 pitches and showed good control, though the Angels hitters made some easy outs early in their at-bats. Coulombe hit a batter in the 9th but otherwise got the outs.</p>
<h3 id="lNukDC">Yonder Can Only Carry So Hard</h3>
<p id="WRipv8">In the bottom of the 1st, back when the game was completely in reach and Pujols had just homered, Rajai Davis took an uncharacteristic walk and promptly tripled his season stolen base count, snagging second and then third against catcher Martín Maldonado’s mighty arm. I guess the hamstring is doing better. With a leadoff runner at third, even the A’s couldn’t blow this, right? Jed Lowrie promptly struck out on a pitch a foot outside and Khris Davis lined out to the third baseman. We geared up for a classic teAse, but AL MVP Yonder Alonso came up to bat and decided he would join Rajai Davis in padding his stats. Alwx Meyer made a mistake and threw a fastball right down the middle and Alonso burned the 98mph pitch to hit his 10th home run of the year and put the A’s up 2-1. </p>
<p id="zDmxgP">The A’s managed to load the bases with 2 outs in the bottom of the 3rd thanks to a couple of walks, but Ryon Healy had an ugly at-bat and couldn’t get the big hit the team needed. They showed on screen that he’s now 1-10 in his career with the bases loaded, with 6 strikeouts. This failure with runners on base would prove to be the theme of the night for Oakland.</p>
<p id="7RGrUW">The only other A’s offense came with Yonder Alonso’s ELEVENTH home run of the year in the 6th, his second of the game. 7-3 Angels. </p>
<p id="sYs619">The A’s got a runner in scoring position in the 4th, 6th, 8th, and 9th, but failed to score any of them. Joyce and Maxwell singled to follow Alonso’s home run but were stranded. Healy and Plouffe were left waiting in the 8th, the inning where we saw Canha’s first at-bat back at the major league level (an oppo warning track fly ball). The A’s were actually moderately patient and walked 7 times, but just couldn’t do anything at all with their opportunities.</p>
<p id="qWCf4V">Rosales and Rajai Davis both walked to lead off the 9th inning, and things threatened to get interesting. Bud Norris came in and faced Jed Lowrie, who hit a line drive…right into Cliff Pennington’s glove, who then threw to second base to get Rosales before he could tag up. Double play. Khris Davis grounded out weakly and that was the ballgame.</p>
<p id="8ZEEcr">I officially regret my comment in the initial game thread about accepting a 7-2 game where the outcome was never in doubt. The final game of the series is tomorrow at 12:35.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2017/5/9/15604418/game-33-alonso-hits-two-more-dingers-in-7-3-lossJeremy S. Johnson2017-05-09T18:30:02-07:002017-05-09T18:30:02-07:00Game #33: A's vs. Angels
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<figcaption>Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Is it greedy to hope for #4?</p> <p>Is it insane to want a fourth walk-off? I think that's insane, right? First of all, I mean what are the odds? Google didn't really return any results so I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that 4 walk-offs in a row has never happened (though it probably has). I was at the game on Saturday and it was one of the best A's games I've ever seen in person, so maybe I'm just getting greedy and still riding that high. A walk-off would be nice, but I certainly wouldn't complain about a 7-2 game where the outcome is never in doubt. I'm not picky. I just want to beat the Angels.</p>
<p>Anyway, facilitating hopefully another victory is Jharel Cotton. Cotton is coming off a great start against the Twins where he struck out 9 batters and gave up only 2 earned runs through 6 innings. Walks have been a bit of an issue for Cotton so far this season, but 2017 is a year all about growth. And hopefully, a year all about beating the Angels from here on out.</p>
<p>Taking the mound for our Southern California rivals is Alex Meyer. Meyer is part of the clown car of starting pitchers the Angels have had to use to fill their injury-riddled lineup. Meyer has fared poorly in his first couple starts this season, to the tune of a 9.39 ERA, so expect him to carry a 1-hitter into the 8th inning. It'll make our walk-off all the more exciting.</p>
<p>Also, apparently this just happened?:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> recall Mark Canha from Triple-A Nashville; designate Jaff Decker for assignment</p>— Oakland A's ⚾️ (@Athletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics/status/862101230218207233">May 10, 2017</a> </blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>I thought our outfield was pretty slim already. Let's hope Canha has a better go this time around now that he has had a chance to get in some consistent at-bats at AAA. I'm sure he's happy to be back to the Bay Area food scene.</p>
<p>Oh, one last note: no Trout!</p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix"> <h3>Today's Lineups</h3> <div class="lineup"><table class="zebra" cellspacing="0"> <thead> <tr> <th align="left">LOS ANGELES ANGELS</th> <th align="left">OAKLAND A'S</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Yunel Escobar - 3B</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Rajai Davis - CF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Kole Calhoun - RF</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Jed Lowrie - 2B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Albert Pujols - DH</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Khris Davis - LF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Luis Valbuena - 1B</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Yonder Alonso - 1B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Andrelton Simmons - SS</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Ryon Healy - DH</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Cameron Maybin - CF</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Matt Joyce - RF</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Ben Revere - LF</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Trevor Plouffe - 3B</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Cliff Pennington - 2B</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Bruce Maxwell - C</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Martin Maldonado - C</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Adam Rosales - SS</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name"></td> <td class="td-first td-name"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="td-last td-name">Alex Meyer - RHP</td> <td class="td-first td-name">Jharel Cotton - RHP</td> </tr> </tbody> </table></div> </div>
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<p>Game time is 7:05 PT. Go A's!</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2017/5/9/15602810/game-33-as-vs-angelsJeremy S. Johnson