Athletics Nation - Spring Game #1: Oakland A's vs. San Francisco GiantsAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2015-03-03T16:06:31-08:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/79093422015-03-03T16:06:31-08:002015-03-03T16:06:31-08:00Spring Game #1: A's win 9-4 on Semien's two homers
<figure>
<img alt="Marcus Semien hit two home runs in the Cactus League opener." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mDAcGnuEI1lCekfqz6rjx8SQprA=/11x0:4579x3045/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45811262/464778022.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Marcus Semien hit two home runs in the Cactus League opener. | Christian Petersen/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In an opener graced by the presence of the legendary Bert Campeneris, the Oakland Athletics were winners during every phase of today's game against the San Francisco Giants, the final score 9-4.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Athletics</a> hit <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> for four runs in the 1⅔ innings he pitched to start the game, and the run producing continued, the A's winning 9-4. On offense, <span>Marcus Semien</span> impressed with two home runs, one off Bumgarner and one off Cody Hall. Ben Zobrist has yet to hit a single for Oakland, going 2-for-2 with a triple and a double before exiting.</p>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css">
<p><span>Brad Mills</span> was granted the win, starting just an inning of the game. Non-roster invitee <span>Rudy Owens</span> had the longest outing, pitching five outs before giving way to switch-pitcher Pat Venditte. He got right-hander <span>Justin Maxwell</span> to ground out to short pitching right-handed, and then struck out <span>Brandon Belt</span> pitching left-handed. Belt looked particularly uncomfortable with Venditte's side-arm action beginning from the first base of the pitcher's plate.</p>
<p>Rather than give you the rest of the blow-by-blow, here's my scorecard for today's action (click to enlarge):</p>
<p><a href="http://imgur.com/2vq3kuy"><img title="source: imgur.com" src="http://i.imgur.com/2vq3kuy.jpg"></a> <a href="http://imgur.com/8mIiFVp"><img title="source: imgur.com" src="http://i.imgur.com/8mIiFVp.jpg"></a></p>
<p>On a programming note, we probably won't do a recap after every game, especially the radio-only weekday ones, but the Cactus League opener was a refreshing return to real baseball, wouldn't you say?</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/3/3/8145217/spring-game-1-athletics-beat-giants-9-4Jeremy F. Koo2015-03-03T11:30:03-08:002015-03-03T11:30:03-08:00Spring Game Thread #1: A's vs. Giants
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VaHK0xafSDygO9MQcLL-Txguzqs=/0x0:4915x3277/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45805968/usa-today-8411247.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>THE CACTUS LEAGUE IS HERE!!</p> <p>I just stayed up really late writing about <span>Jim Johnson</span> for no good reason, probably because I'm really excited that the Cactus League is starting and baseball baseball baseball baseball. So, I don't have much to say to preview this game except the following:</p>
<p>1. Yes, we will be having another Game Thread competition this spring for any aspiring writers out there. More info in the coming days.</p>
<p>2. Buck Mills is starting, because he's on our team again. Dolla Dolla Mills Y'all!</p>
<p>3. There will be several A's players in this game who you have never heard of, unless you carefully scoured Jeremy's position player intro post yesterday. (see link below)</p>
<p>4. You guys, Ben Zobrist is on the A's now. Zorilla!</p>
<p>5. The game is radio only today. On terrestrial radio, the game is on KNBR 680 with the regular <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">San Francisco Giants</a> broadcasters. For the A's, game audio is online, for free, by <a href="http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=oak" style="background-color: #ffffff;">visiting athletics.com</a> and clicking on the listen link, or going to the audio link on Gameday. Mobile users will have to subscribe to MLB At Bat.</p>
<p>6. Jeremy has you covered with everything you need to know entering Oakland's 2015 Cactus League season:</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/3/3/8143111/radio-television-broadcast-athletics-spring-training-games-march-3-9">How to watch: TV and radio info for first week of A's spring games</a><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/3/2/8136377/meet-the-athletics-spring-training-roster-position-players">Meet the A's: Position players</a><br><a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/3/3/8141863/meet-the-oakland-as-spring-training-roster-pitchers">Meet the A's: Pitchers</a></p>
<p>Lineups:</p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Lineup</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS</th> <th align="left">OAKLAND ATHLETICS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">1. <span>Nori Aoki</span> - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">1. <span>Craig Gentry</span> - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">2. <span>Joe Panik</span> - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">2. <span>Marcus Semien</span> - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">3. <span>Casey McGehee</span>- 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">3. <span>Ben Zobrist</span> - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">4. <span>Justin Maxwell</span> - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">4. <span>Billy Butler</span> - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">5. <span>Brandon Belt</span> - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">5. <span>Brett Lawrie</span> - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">6. <span>Andrew Susac</span> - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">6. <span>Nate Freiman</span> - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">7. <span>Adam Duvall</span> - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">7. <span>Mark Canha</span> - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">8. <span>Juan Perez</span> - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">8. <span>Josh Phegley</span> - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">9. <span>Joaquin Arias</span> - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">9. <span>Sam Fuld</span> - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">P. <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> - LHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">P. <span>Brad Mills</span> - LHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p> </p>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p>Play ball!</p>
<p>UPDATE: You can watch the game, one camera only, with park audio <a href="http://m.giants.mlb.com/sf/video/v37424583/giants-at-athletics">at this link</a>.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/3/3/8139947/spring-game-thread-1-as-vs-giantsAlex Hall