Athletics Nation - Game Thread #67: A's vs. YankeesAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2014-06-13T22:19:38-07:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/55729112014-06-13T22:19:38-07:002014-06-13T22:19:38-07:00Game #67: Well That Was A Dreadful Experience
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<img alt="Frankly, this game aged me quite a bit." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JhhCY90gyqsUS9DRrwxIT4B95nc=/0x155:2710x1962/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34330981/20140608_krj_ac4_0053.JPG.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Frankly, this game aged me quite a bit. | Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Oh you want specifics? OK: David Phelps impersonated Cy Young, Sonny Gray took 2 innings to remember how to pitch, and Jeff Francis pitched like, well, Jeff Francis, as the Yankees won 7-0 in a game that will take me 14 chocolate martinis -- that is, 3 more chocolate martinis -- to forget.</p> <p>What did I do to deserve this game? Sure, I pushed an elderly lady into traffic this morning but she was clearly in my way. I might have texted while driving this afternoon, but I can't possibly be held responsible for something I was doing when I was clearly drunk. And in any event, none of this warrants subjecting me to a game like this.</p>
<p><span>Sonny Gray</span> came out and got this Friday the 13th going in style by allowing singles to each of the first 3 batters in the game. He limited the damage to 2 runs, but then picked up where he left off allowing 3 more hits and another run to put the A's in an early 3-0 hole. Gray settled down big-time, though, retiring 12 in a row and finishing 6 IP with just the 3 runs on his ledger.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span>David Phelps</span> was making his first ever start against the A's having worked 5 IP in relief against them allowing 1 hit and 0 runs. He did that again, allowing 1 hit and 0 runs through the first 5 IP. He didn't give up a base runner until <span>John Jaso</span> walked with one out in the 4th. He didn't give up a hit until <span>Derek Norris</span> lobbed a broken bat single over 3B in the 5th. And for his 6⅔ IP he did not allow a run. No matter that Phelps had lost 4 games in a row, or had a season ERA of 4.88 coming in. He dazzled the A's with ... his "ok" stuff.</p>
<p>Trailing 3-0 going to the 8th Bob Melvin opted, for no discernible reason, to go to his long reliever who also happens to be an aging soft-tosser trying to get by on a combination of slow curves and prayer. Turns out <span>Jeff Francis</span> actually leads all active big league pitchers in something. That's right, Francis has given up 6 HRs on Friday the 13th in his career. He didn't give up a HR in the 8th, but he did manage to give up 5 hits and 4 ER in an inning typified by Francis failing to field a routine comebacker by <span>Ichiro Suzuki</span>, a ball that if Francis had just missed it entirely would have resulted in an easy force play at 2B.</p>
<p>Let's see, what else? In the bottom of the 8th, <span>Coco Crisp</span> desperately dived out of the way of a pitch headed for his foot and was called out for the bat crossing the plate as he hit the deck. In the top of the 9th <span>Jim Johnson</span> hit the first batter and walked 2 others, but thanks to a DP ball in between pitched a scoreless frame.</p>
<p>Oh, <span>Josh Donaldson</span> went 0-4 to put him at 0/25 since he sparred with Manny Machado. Fun!</p>
<p>I'm just glad there are no superstitions associated with Saturday the 14th. And to the elderly lady I ran over earlier today, I just want to say: Sorry, grandma.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/6/13/5809228/well-that-was-a-dreadful-experienceNico2014-06-13T20:56:17-07:002014-06-13T20:56:17-07:00Game Thread #67: A's vs. Yankees (3)
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<p>RALLY THREAD!!!! First the A's got a base runner ... Then the A's got a hit ... Now can the A's get ... RUNZ?????? 3-0 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> going to the bottom of the 6th.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/6/13/5808928/game-thread-67-as-vs-yankees-3Nico2014-06-13T20:07:31-07:002014-06-13T20:07:31-07:00Game Thread #67: A's vs. Yankees (2)
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<p>So far this game has just been irritating. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">Yankees</a> have all the hits and runs and it is making me extremely sad. 3-0 Not Us going to the 4th.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/6/13/5808922/game-thread-67-as-vs-yankees-2Nico2014-06-13T18:30:03-07:002014-06-13T18:30:03-07:00Game Thread #67: A's vs. Yankees
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<img alt=""I'm ba-a-a-ack!!!!"" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AfwUgZ734om0yBBRez0T0wZuc9Q=/0x0:3999x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/34321297/20130916_kkt_ax5_1265.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>"I'm ba-a-a-ack!!!!" | Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>And a happy Friday the 13th to you! With a day-and-a-half at home to rest, relax, and rejuvenate, the A's hope to shed some hitting slumps as they open a 3-game series, and 10-game homestand, against the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</span></span>.</p>
<p>Among the A's hitters hope to bust out of recent slumps, <span>Jed Lowrie</span> is 1 for his last 23, <span>Brandon Moss</span> has struck out in 14 of his last 24 at bats, and even <span>John Jaso</span> has recently tried to fit in by going 0 for his last 14. And I feel like I'm forgetting someone else... <i>(see "fun fact" below)</i></p>
<p>The A's enter play 3½ games up on the <span class="sbn-auto-link"><span class="sbn-auto-link">Angels</span></span>, thanks to their ability to salvage the final game of the series by beating up on <span>Jered Weaver</span> for the second time in just over a week. Meanwhile, the Yankees are coming off of their first 3-game series sweep of the season, a sweep of Seattle that has gotten the Yankees to ... 3 games over .500.</p>
<p>Tonight's matchup is <span>Sonny Gray</span> vs. David Phelps. In his career, Phelps (1-4, 4.88 ERA) has pitched 5 IP against Oakland and allowed just 1 hit and 0 ER, all in relief. Gray (6-2, 2.83 ERA) has never faced the Yankees.</p>
<p>Today's "fun fact": Entering play tonight, since the game on June 6th featuring the controversial tag <span>Josh Donaldson</span> and <span>Manny Machado</span> combined to go 1/41 at the plate. You can't <i>make</i> this stuff up.</p>
<p>Tonight's starting lineups aren't especially typical for the A's against a RHP. Partly this is because Oakland is still without <span>Josh Reddick</span> and partly it is because <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> is on paternity leave for this series. In any event, the 7-8-9 is comprised of players who often sit against RHP: <span>Derek Norris</span>, <span>Nick Punto</span>, and <span>Kyle Blanks</span>. The lineups:</p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
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<th align="left">NEW YORK YANKEES</th> <th align="left">OAKLAND A'S</th>
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</thead>
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<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Brett Gardner</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Coco Crisp</span> - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Derek Jeter</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">John Jaso - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Jacoby Ellsbury</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Josh Donaldson - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Mark Teixeira</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Brandon Moss - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Brian McCann</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">
<span>Yoenis Cespedes</span> - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Carlos Beltran</span> - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Jed Lowrie - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Ichiro Suzuki</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Derek Norris - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Brian Roberts</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nick Punto - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">
<span>Kelly Johnson</span> - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Kyle Blanks - 1B</td>
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</tbody>
</table>
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https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/6/13/5808328/game-thread-67-as-vs-yankeesNico