In just this past week, the Athletics won their first series since June, parted ways with their long-time GM, and dropped below the Angels to become MLB’s worst team.
Results
FRI: BOS 13, ATH 1
When you’re struggling, sometimes it’s the pitching that lets you down, sometimes it’s the offense, and other times, both of them flop on the same night. The series opener vs. the Red Sox was the latter. Jack Perkins started the game and allowed five earned runs in just three innings of work. Hayden Juenger relieved him and also allowed five runs, but his damage was limited to just one inning.
Meanwhile, through four innings, Boston starter Peyton Tolle had a no-hitter going. Tyler Soderstrom ended that with a solo home run in the 5th inning. But, that would be the lone blemish for Tolle as he struck out 14 batters over six innings, allowing just two hits. Raymond Burgos threw three hitless innings in relief to secure the blowout win.
SAT: ATH 7, BOS 3
Andrew Monasterio hit a two-run RBI single in the 1st inning off of Gage Jump. The good news for the Athletics is that those were the only two runs the rookie lefty would allow. He struck out 11 in six innings, allowing six hits and walking two. Brian Serven got the A’s on the board with an RBI single in the 4th, Jonah Heim’s two-run RBI single an inning later put them ahead. Donovan Walton, pinch-hitting for Alika Williams, extended the lead to 5-2 with an RBI ground-rule double in the 6th. Tyler Soderstrom went deep for a second consecutive game with a solo shot in the 7th.
In relief of Jump, Luis Medina worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the 7th. In the 8th, Seth Johnson, with two outs, had runners on second and third. But, Hogan Harris entered and struck out Jarren Duran to end the threat. After Henry Bolte added an insurance run with a solo home run in the 9th, Harris worked around some traffic to only allow one run and secure the save. The win allowed the A’s to avoid a ten-game losing streak and prevent Boston from tallying a second ten-game winning streak this season.
SUN: ATH 4, BOS 3
Tyler Soderstrom’s RBI groundout in the 1st inning put the Athletics ahead as the Red Sox pitched a bullpen game. Eli White tied things up with an RBI single in the 2nd while Tommy White restored the lead in the 4th with an RBI groundout. In the 5th, Nick Sogard laid down a sacrifice bunt, but J. T. Ginn’s throw home was well wide and allowed the tying run to score and runners to advance. Two batters later, Wilyer Abreu’s sacrifice fly out Boston in the lead. That 3-2 scoreline held through the end of the 7th.
In the 8th, Jeff McNeil picked up his 1000th career hit with a leadoff single. With two outs and McNeil on second after a steal, Jonah Heim drove him home with an RBI double to tie things up. Aroldis Chapman entered to pitch the 9th and keep the game tied. He got back-to-back flyouts to start the inning before Alika Williams singled. Donovan Walton took over as the pinch runner and stole second. Max Muncy stepped up and doubled off the Green Monster to bring Walton home to put the A’s back in front. Hogan Harris gave up a leadoff single in the bottom of the 9th. After a strikeout, he walked Caleb Durbin to make it first and second with just one out and a narrow one-run lead. But, Sogard grounded into a fielder’s choice and Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to end the game. That secured a series win for the Athletics, their first since mid-June in Las Vegas.
MON: TBR 10, ATH 6
The American League leaders got off to a hot start in Sacramento as Yandy Diaz took Jacob Lopez deep in the 1st inning the series opener. Tyler Soderstrom evened the score in the bottom of the 1st with RBI double. Then, he stole home on a double steal as a throwing error allowed Carlos Cortes to reach second and advance to third. Zack Gelof’s solo home run in the 5th made it 3-1. Nick Fortes pulled a run back with an RBI groundout in the 7th, but the A’s responded with a three-run bottom of the 7th (Gelof RBI double, McNeil sacrifice fly, Wilson RBI double).
Seth Johnson relieved Lopez (7 IP, 2 ER, 5 K) to begin the 8th and things went sideways for the A’s. He gave up back-to-back singles, then Junior Caminero hit a three-run home run to make it a one-run game. After a walk, Johnson departed having not recorded an out and was replaced by Jose Suarez. He proceeded to allow three singles with a walk mixed in there to give the Rays an 8-6 lead. Scott Blewett became the third pitcher of the 8th and allowed a sacrifice fly and an RBI single before getting out of the frame. In total, Tampa Bay scored eight runs on seven hits to go ahead 10-6.
TUE: TBR 12, ATH 4
Junior Caminero went deep in the 1st inning with a two-run home run. Caminero scored on a sacrifice fly by Chandler Simpson in the 3rd. In his final inning of work, Mason Barnett gave up back-to-back home runs to Taylor Walls (two-run HR) and Yandy Diaz in the 4th. Lawrence Butler hit a home run of his own in the 4th to make it 6-2. Walls hit another home run in the 6th, this time off of Brady Basso.
The home run barrage continued as Victor Mesa Jr. (two-run HR in the 7th) and Carson Williams (three-run HR in the 8th) joined the party. Carlos Cortes did pick up an RBI double in the 9th to add a couple of more runs to Nick Martinez’s complete game line.
WED: TBR 8, ATH 4
Jack Perkins allowed three straight hits to begin the 2nd inning, the third being an RBI single to put Tampa ahead. Yandy Diaz plated another run in the frame with an RBI groundout. An RBI double by Cedric Mullins in the 3rd made it 3-0. Carlos Cortes got the A’s on the board with a two-run RBI double in the bottom of the 3rd. But, Perkins handed the runs right back as Junior Caminero singled home a run and Liam Hicks blasted a three-run home run in the 4th to push the Rays’ lead to 7-2. The line was not pretty for Perkins as he went five innings, allowing seven runs on 12 hits with just two strikeouts.
The Rays capped off their scoring with an RBI single off of Hayden Juenger in the 8th. While it was not enough to threaten the lead, Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler each hit solo home runs in the bottom of the 8th. But, the Athletics were swept again at home.
What Else?
- With a 7-0 win over the Rangers yesterday, the Los Angeles Angels moved to 48-74 on the season (.393 winning percentage). That means your Athletics now carry the worst winning percentage in baseball at .388 with their one fewer win (47-74). It’s tough to believe that the team actually led the AL West at a point this season. They have allowed an MLB-worst 704 runs and have pushed their run differential to -180.
- Whether it was mutual (as announced) or a firing (as reported), David Forst is no longer the GM of the Athletics. Going from a scout in 2000 to assistant GM in 2004 to GM in 2015, Forst has been a mainstay for the team. Various reporting has stated he and his family enjoyed living in California and that it wasn’t a forgone conclusion that he’d make the move to Las Vegas in 2028. Also, he was on an expiring contract this season, which doesn’t often indicate long-term vision or stability. Now, a new GM can be hired and get one year under their belt in Sacramento before the Vegas move after next season.
- Jacob Wilson didn’t make an error in Sunday’s victory. Why is that a big deal? It was his 111th consecutive such error-free game at shortstop, breaking an MLB record for the position. Mike Bordick set the previous record in 2002. Wilson’s fielding run value is in the 91st percentile with 96th percentile range.
- With the season getting rapidly closer to the end and Nick Kurtz still on the IL, the math doesn’t seem to line up with a return for the slugger in 2026, as Mark Kotsay hinted at to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. There really wouldn’t be much benefit to trying to rush Kurtz back from his thumb injury to appear in meaningless games in September. It was an injury-riddled season for him, but he’s as key to this team’s success as anyone moving forward and now he can focus on getting healthy and locked in for Spring Training (whenever that is).
System Spotlight
Corey Braun (Low-A): An 8th round pick in last year’s draft, Braun has found a nice groove on the mound lately. On Wednesday, he threw six hitless innings and struck out nine batters. In his three most recent appearances before this week for Stockton, the 23-year-old allowed just two combined runs in 15.1 innings, walking two, and striking out 18.
Euribiel Angeles (Double-A): The 24-year-old infielder is off to a solid start this month for Midland. In August, he has an .837 OPS (.356/.348/.489 slash line). He had a three-hit, three-RBI game on Wednesday.
Gustavo Rodriguez (Triple-A): If an injury hadn’t delayed his season debut until the summer, the Athletics may have already come calling for Rodriguez to make his MLB debut. In 44 innings last season, mostly in Triple-A, he registered a 1.64 ERA and went 9/10 in save opportunities. He signed a minor league deal to return to the organization in the offseason. Since returning from his injury and a rehab assignment, he has a 1.93 ERA with three holds and one save for the Aviators. In August, he has allowed zero runs and just three hits in 5.2 innings. Don’t be surprised if he gets a chance in the Athletics’ pen in September.
What’s Next?
The Texas Rangers come to town for a weekend series. Then, the Athletics are off to Kansas City to face the Royals.
(Top photo of Zack Gelof, courtesy: Athletics)
