Athletics Nation - Game #86: A's vs. Chicago CubsAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2013-07-04T17:37:52-07:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/42583372013-07-04T17:37:52-07:002013-07-04T17:37:52-07:00Game #86: A’s chase Cubs away 1-0
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<figcaption>Dude, I can't wait to take these hats off | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Dan Straily came back from AAA to make this start in place of Jarrod Parker, and picked up right where he left off and them some. Yoenis Cespedes, despite striking out twice in 4 PAs, made a pivotal outfield assist to keep the game scoreless and the Cubs off the board in the 4th. Despite not being able to figure Travis Wood, the A’s made quick work of Matt Guerrier in the 7th, turning a one-out single and a caught steal at 2B into one run on a passed ball by Wellington Castillo. The bullpen was able to hold on despite a specious call with two outs in the 9th and Alfonso Soriano on deck. Here’s how it all played out.</p> <p>Coming into today, the A's announced that it would <span>Dan Straily</span> starting in place of <span>Jarrod Parker</span>, and returning early from AAA after the A's brief flirtation with a four-man rotation. With Parker's hamstring status in doubt, and <span>Sonny Gray</span> throwing lights out in Sacramento (and having been selected to start the AAA All-Star Game in Reno), Straily pitched like today meant something for him. Undeterred by the A's garish white ‘Murica hats, Straily shoved it. Overall, he went 7 innings, allowing only 1 hit, striking out 6 and walking 3 on only 87 pitches.</p>
<p>Straily set down the side in order in the first, and only allowed a walk in the 2nd to <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> before striking out <span>Dioner Navarro</span> and Brian Bogesevic. Straily had everything working today, as he elevated the fastball when necessary, threw the slider in the dirt, and kept the changeup there to keep the hitters honest. Straily would set down the side in order in the 3rd as well, but ran into trouble in the 4th. He walked <span>Starlin Castro</span> lead it off, who advanced to 2nd on Nate Schierholtz's fielder's choice. It really only happened like that with Castro running on the play, and <span>Nate Freiman</span> making the (smart) decision to just step on 1st. Soriano, however, momentarily took advantage of this, as he lined a soft single to LF that looked like a sure run for the <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>. Enter <span>Yoenis Cespedes</span>. Despite his struggles at the plate recently, Cespedes has generally been an excellent fielder this year, well above-average by UZR. Even last night, it seemed like Cespedes dealt more with bad hops and some strange spins than simply misplaying balls. Fast-forward to today, and Cespedes more than made up for it. With Castro not running very hard, Cespedes fired a one-hop strike to Derek Norris, who pushed Castro off the plate and tagged him to keep the score 0-0 going to the home half of the 4th.</p>
<p>Straily was untouched after that, allowing only a walk to <span>Luis Valbuena</span> until his exit after the 7th. It was a questionable hook in my opinion, as Straily looked strong and had another 20-25 pitches in him. Nevertheless, it would be a bullpen game from this point forward, as <span>Travis Wood</span> was also pulled after the A's could do nothing against him through 6 innings, managing only one runner to third until the 6th, when a two-out single by <span>Josh Donaldson</span> sent Jed Lowrie to third, only to be stranded there by Cespedes.</p>
<p>The only run of the game would score in the 7th. With one out, Chris Young would single himself aboard, and waited until the count got to 2-1 on Derek Norris to run. Cubs reliever <span>Matt Guerrier</span> threw an inside fastball to Norris, but it was a perfect pitch for Castillo to throw on, and he nailed Young by plenty. With two outs, Norris would walk, and <span>Seth Smith</span> would shoot a ball to right, sending Norris to 3rd. Briefly, it looked like Young had ran himself away from a run when it was clear they were at a premium in this game. Never fear, though, as the A's used some elf magic to score. With <span>Eric Sogard</span> at bat, Guerrier uncorked an offspeed pitch down and away that Sogard swung at, but also got away from Castillo. Norris chugged home on a feet-first slide, and made it 1-0 A's. The call was a passed ball -- a tough call on Castillo if you ask me -- but not the only bad call of the game.</p>
<p>After Straily's exit, the bullpen would be left to close it out. <span>Ryan Cook</span> came in for a perfect 8th, including a fast-reaction line-drive catch off the bat of Navarro. It literally knocked his hat off, but also prevented the leadoff man from reaching base. There was also an odd bottom of the inning courtesy of some quick-pitching from <span>Pedro Strop</span>.</p>
<p>Here it is in GIF form, in case you missed it:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2878375/StropQP.gif"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2878375/StropQP_medium.gif" class="photo" alt="Stropqp_medium"></a> <br id="1372984437683"></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2013/7/4/4494462/game-thread-86-as-vs-chicago-cubs-3/in/4258337#171537565">Athletix Man found the appropriate rule</a>, which is copied here:</p>
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<p>Rule 8.01(b) Comment: With no runners on base, the pitcher is not required to come to a complete stop when using the Set Position. If, however, in the umpire's judgment, a pitcher delivers the ball in a deliberate effort to catch the batter off guard, this delivery shall be deemed a quick pitch, for which the penalty is a ball. See Rule 8.05(e) Comment.</p>
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<p>So, the umpire actually made the correct call, but sucked at relaying that to the rest of us. This would actually happen again to Donaldson, the next batter, but the play was allowed to proceed. Go figure.</p>
<p>In the 9th, it became hairy again courtesy of umpires. After Balfour got two outs, Castro smoked a single to right-center and was the tying run for Schierholtz. Balfour got the groundball he wanted from him, but <span>Jed Lowrie's</span> relatively lazy throw sailed high. Brandon Moss, who had come in to pinch-hit for Nate Freiman in the 7th and stayed in for defense, picked the high throw, and replays showed he clearly came down with the tag on Schierholtz before his foot touched the bag. This would bring <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> to the plate, a dangerous hitter in this situation. Despite the fourth out, Balfour would get him to fly out harmlessly to Young in right to end the game.</p>
<p>It was another interleague win for the A's, who seem to play something like .800 ball during these stretches. It also puts them momentarily at 50 wins and a full game above Texas, who play the <a href="https://www.lookoutlanding.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Mariners</a> again tonight. Whatever you do tonight, whether it is watch baseball, watch fireworks, hang out with family, or all three, everyone at AN wishes you a safe and happy fourth. Don't do anything we wouldn't do.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2013/7/4/4494624/recap-as-use-4-ninth-inning-outs-to-chase-cubs-away-1-0Alan Torres2013-07-04T15:24:09-07:002013-07-04T15:24:09-07:00Game Thread #86: A's vs. Chicago Cubs (3)
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<p>Insurance thread. Matt Guerrier is bi-coastally blowing games now. A's up 1-0 going to the home half of the 8th.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2013/7/4/4494462/game-thread-86-as-vs-chicago-cubs-3Alan Torres2013-07-04T14:18:23-07:002013-07-04T14:18:23-07:00Game Thread #86: A's vs. Chicago Cubs (2)
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<p>Still tied due to some bad pitch selection but good defense on the A's part. Both pitchers rolling along though, relatively. 0-0 going to the 5th.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2013/7/4/4494310/game-thread-86-as-vs-chicago-cubs-2Alan Torres2013-07-04T12:30:02-07:002013-07-04T12:30:02-07:00Game Thread #86: A's vs. Chicago Cubs (1)
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<img alt="Dan. Straily." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Lj8n-MHDWCjV-VE9IgiNOlpUJY=/0x191:4000x2858/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15904421/171177528.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dan. Straily. | Otto Greule Jr</figcaption>
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<p>It's the rubber game of the series today, as the A's turned in a flat performance yesterday (not to mention Garza pitched like he wants to be traded to a contender post-haste). Here how it shakes out today.</p> <p>The A's will look to take another series from a National League team this Fourth of July. After last night's 3-1 loss and a polyp on Colon's record, it'll be up to Dan Straily to come up from his brief demotion to right the ship. If you haven't heard, he is starting in place of Jarrod Parker, who hasn't yet fully healed from the weekend's hamstring trouble that forced him out of his start against the Cardinals. Should Parker be headed to the disabled list, it would likely be Sonny Gray who earns the call.</p>
<p>The Cubs are throwing another lefty against the A's in Travis Wood. Two starts in three days for Nate Freiman! It's like Christmas in July for him. Here are the lineups:</p>
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<table class="tlineup"><tbody><tr style="border: 1px solid #a0a0a0;"> <td style="padding: 5px 0px;"> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">1. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=valbulu01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Luis Valbuena (L) 3B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">2. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=castrst01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Starlin Castro (R) SS</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">3. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=schiena01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Nate Schierholtz (L) RF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">4. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=soriaal01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Alfonso Soriano (R) LF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">5. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=rizzoan01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">6. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=navardi01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Dioner Navarro (S) DH</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">7. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=bogusbr01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Brian Bogusevic (L) CF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">8. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=barneda01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Darwin Barney (R) 2B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">9. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=castiwe01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Welington Castillo (R) C</a> </div> </td> <td style="padding: 5px 0px;"></td> <td style="padding: 5px 0px;"> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">1. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=crispco01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Coco Crisp (S) CF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">2. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=lowrije01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Jed Lowrie (S) 2B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">3. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=donaljo02&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Josh Donaldson (R) 3B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">4. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=cespeyo01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">5. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=freimna01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Nate Freiman (R) 1B</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">6. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=youngch04&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Chris Young (R) RF</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">7. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=norride01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Derek Norris (R) C</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">8. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=smithse01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Seth Smith (L) DH</a> </div> <div style="color: #606060; font-size: 0.85em;">9. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=rosalad01&year=Career&t=b" title="Click to view split stats on baseball-reference" target="bref" style="color: inherit;">Adam Rosales (R) SS</a> </div> </td> </tr></tbody></table>
<p>Wherever you are, grab a beer or your favorite non-alcoholic beverage, some cooked meat, watermelon, apple pie, and enjoy today with us here on AN. First pitch is at 1:05 PM.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2013/7/4/4493722/game-thread-86-as-vs-chicago-cubsAlan Torres