Athletics Sweep Giants in Bay Bridge Series
Piscotty HR, 5 RBIs, A’s rout the Giants 15-3
Oakland Athletics’ Stephen Piscotty, right, swings for a three-run home run off San Francisco Giants’ Dereck Rodriguez in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.16 – Stephen Piscotty and Marcus Semien homered in the fifth inning as the Oakland Athletics rout the San Francisco Giants 15-3 Sunday for their Bay Bridge Series sweep.
Piscotty matched his career high with five RBIs as the A’s, with the best record in the AL, won for the 13th time in 15 games.
Chad Pinder provided the latest momentum-swinging home run for the slugging Athletics. Pinder hit a go-ahead, two-run shot during a nine-run burst in the fifth inning.
Pinder’s pinch-hit homer made it 4-2. Mark Canha added a two-run triple, Piscotty launched a three-run homer and Semien hit a two-run drive for an 11-2 lead.
“It’s been a fun two weeks, there’s no doubt about that,” Pinder said.
Pinder knocked his third career pinch-hit homer and first since Aug. 3, 2019, against St. Louis. Piscotty added a two-run double in the sixth.
The A’s gave Mike Fiers (2-1) all the support he needed and then some in his fifth start and improved to 4-1 in his outings. He struck out four over six innings and allowed two runs on seven hits.
The A’s (16-6) powered past the Giants once more to sweep the Bay Bridge Series, moving a season-best 10 games over .500.
2020.08.16 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
2020.08.16 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
“Just got to keep rolling,” manager Bob Melvin said. “When you’re winning games and playing good you’ve got to get greedy and win as many as you can because you sometimes you don’t go through winning streaks the entire season.”
This one wasn’t close after consecutive Oakland rallies for one-run victories — 8-7 in 10 innings Friday night following Piscotty’s tying grand slam in the ninth, then Canha’s go-ahead, three-run homer in a 7-6 win Saturday.
“It’s awesome,” Pinder said. “We don’t have that feeling of down in the dugout. It doesn’t feel like we’re ever out of a game.”
Right-hander Logan Webb (1-2) struck out five over 4 1/3 innings Sunday but was hurt by five walks.
Brandon Belt homered in the second for San Francisco in a steady rain after the Bay Area was hit with a rare thunderstorm overnight. Brandon Crawford connected in the seventh.
Donovan Solano went 0 for 5 and had his career-best 17-game hitting streak snapped as the Giants lost for the 11th time in 14 games. They have allowed 39 home runs — nine this series.
“It’s at least as much a result of the very good hitters in the Oakland lineup that there were that many home runs hit in the series off of our bullpen as it was our bullpen scuffling,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.
San Francisco allowed nine or more runs in an inning at home for the first time since Colorado’s 13-run fifth on on May 5, 2016.
OLSON’S BAT
After his seven hits in 43 at-bats over his past 11 games all had been home runs, A’s slugger Matt Olson had three singles.
LATE-GAME SWINGIN’
Oakland added two more runs in the eighth and has now scored 17 of its last 33 runs in the seventh inning or later with 48 such runs for the season.
SANDOVAL STRUGGLES
Out of the lineup against a righty starter, San Francisco’s Pablo Sandoval snapped an 0-for-11 funk stretching his previous five games with a pinch-hit single in the sixth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP reliever Burch Smith went on the 10-day injured list as expected with a strained right forearm after he was forced to exit in the seventh inning Saturday night. “We’re just trying to let it calm down right now,” Melvin said, unsure of the timeline for Burch until after doctors read an MRI scheduled for Monday. … Oakland recalled RHP James Kaprielian from its San Jose alternate site.
Giants: OF Austin Slater was available to hit or be used as a pinch-runner off the bench after he was limited to designated hitter duties Saturday. He had missed the two previous games with a strained right elbow. “He came out of yesterday’s game feeling good. We don’t have a throwing program in place for him yet that’s something that we’re working on,” Kapler said. … LHP Drew Smyly (sprained left index finger) threw out to 120 feet Saturday. … OF Steven Duggar worked on baserunning and stealing bases at the alternate site in Sacramento.
UP NEXT
RHP Chris Bassitt (2-0, 2.42 ERA) pitches the series opener at Arizona on Monday as the A’s begin four straight vs. the Diamondbacks — two in Phoenix then a pair in Oakland. Kapler announced after the game Tyler Anderson (0-1, 3.63) would start Monday’s game at the Angels.
RELATED: See below – 2020.08.15 (Oakland Athletics vs. SF Giants)
AP source:
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
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A’s stun Giants Again in Bay Bridge Series
A’s do it again: Canha’s 3-run HR in 9th beats Giants 7-6
Oakland Athletics’ Mark Canha (20) celebrates after hitting a three run homerun off San Francisco Giants’ Trevor Gott in the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.15 – Mark Canha hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and the AL-best Athletics rallied late for the second straight game, slugging past the San Francisco Giants 7-6 on Saturday night.
Sean Murphy started things off in the ninth inning with a home run and Canha had one thought: “Here we go again!”
Down to his final strike, Canha became the latest Oakland slugger to deliver a dramatic late-game hit.
“Obviously trying to go deep, just hit a homer and let’s win this game,” Canha said of his focus.
A night earlier, Oakland erased a 7-2 deficit to win 8-7 in 10 innings after Stephen Piscotty’s tying grand slam in the ninth. The A’s are 15-6 and have a three-game winning streak.
“These last two nights have been incredible,” pitcher Sean Manaea said. “You can’t really beat those kinds of wins. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Oakland is quickly making a habit of fabulous finishes much like last year — already with two walkoff grand slams.
Marcus Semien hit a two-run homer and Matt Olson also connected for the A’s, who won for the 12th time in 14 games.
2020.08.15 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
2020.08.15 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
“We have a deep lineup. I’ve said it often we can score anywhere one through nine,” manager Bob Melvin said. “When we get guys on base we have a good feeling. I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, our best at-bats come late in games.”
Darin Ruf put San Francisco ahead 6-3 with a three-run shot in the seventh before the bullpen squandered it again.
Trevor Gott (1-1) surrendered Murphy’s leadoff homer in the ninth that started the latest A’s rally and a one-out double to Tony Kemp before walking Matt Olson, bringing up Canha.
T.J. McFarland (2-0) recorded the final out of the eighth for the victory before Liam Hendriks closed it out for the second straight game and his seventh save.
Giants starter Kevin Gausman struck out a career-high 11 over 5 2/3 innings. It marked his fourth double-digit strikeout game and first since April 17, 2019, against Arizona while with the Braves.
Mike Yastrzemski hit a two-run triple in the fourth before scoring on shortstop Semien’s wild throw past Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman.
“It’s very difficult to deal with the last couple losses,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. “It’s part of baseball but at the same time I think it’s appropriate to feel the sting and to acknowledge the sting. Beyond that, I know we have better baseball in us.”
Olson tied it in the sixth. Of his seven hits in 43 at-bats over his last 11 games all of those have cleared the fences.
Manaea started a day earlier than scheduled for Oakland but is still searching for his first victory of 2020. He went 4-0 last September upon returning from shoulder surgery before losing the AL wild-card game to Tampa Bay.
SPECIAL MOMENT
A’s infield prospect Vimael Machin, the designated hitter as Khris Davis got most of the day off, singled leading off the third for his first major league hit. He scored on Semien’s homer.
MANAEA BY THE NUMBERS
Manaea reached five innings for the first time over his initial five starts and his first outing not surrendering four or more runs.
That such streak of not getting through the fifth and giving up at least four runs was the second-longest to begin a season in A’s history — with the only longer stretch being five by Rick Langford in 1983. Manaea has allowed 20 runs so far.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: RHP reliever Burch Smith is likely headed to the injured list after straining his right forearm. He will have an MRI on Monday. … RHP opening day starter Frankie Montas was scheduled to play catch a day after he woke up with the stiffness in his back and lower neck and was scratched from his scheduled start. While he was better, manager Bob Melvin said it wasn’t worth pushing him and Montas would likely throw off a mound before pitching again — “Tuesday at the earliest” in Arizona, Melvin said. … LHP A.J. Puk, on the injured list and yet to appear this season because of a strained pitching shoulder, threw a 20-pitch bullpen Friday and is set for a 30-pitch session Monday. “They have it all mapped out,” Melvin said.
Giants: OF Austin Slater returned to the lineup leading off as the designated hitter after missing the previous two games with a strained right elbow.
UP NEXT
RHP Logan Webb (1-1, 2.81 ERA) pitches the series finale for San Francisco opposite A’s RHP Mike Fiers (1-1, 6.86).
RELATED: See below – 2020.08.14 (Oakland Athletics vs. SF Giants)
AP source:
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
A’s Stun Giants in Bay Bridge Series Opener
Piscotty slam ties it in ninth, A’s beat Giants 8-7 in 10th
Oakland Athletics’ Stephen Piscotty, center hit a tying grand slam in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
2020.08.14 – Sthephen Piscotty hit a tying grand slam in the ninth inning, Mark Canha’s sacrifice fly put Oakland on top in the 10th, and the Athletics stunned the San Francisco Giants 8-7 on Friday night in the opener of the Bay Bridge Series.
Sure, Piscotty realizes there’s a little bit of luck involved when it comes to hitting with the bases loaded and delivering not once but twice already during this coronavirus-shortened season.
“It’s pretty cool,” Piscotty said. “It’s a weird game, a crazy game. You find yourself in those situations sometimes.”
Oakland trailed by five in the ninth inning but rallied to win from such a late deficit for the first time since July 15, 1952, according to STATS. The Giants hadn’t lost after leading by five or more runs in the ninth inning or latter since June 25, 1929.
Matt Chapman began on second base with the new extra-innings rule and advanced on Matt Olson’s groundout to bring up Canha. He hit a flyball to right off Jarlin García (0-1).
Joakim Soria (2-0) escaped trouble in the ninth for the win, and Liam Hendriks finished for his sixth save.
The A’s delivered another dramatic late-game grand slam. Olson hit one to beat the Angels in 10 innings on opening night. Piscotty had another in walkoff fashion in a win over the Rangers earlier this month.
“The magnitude of them, too, two walkoffs and one that ties the game on the road in the ninth,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Can’t explain it. You just try to get the pitcher on the defensive.”
2020.08.14 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
2020.08.14 (Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants) See video
Until Piscotty’s mighty swing, the Giants were beating the slugging A’s at their own power game.
Hunter Pence hit a three-run homer, and Evan Longoria and Mike Yastrzemski also connected to back Johnny Cueto. The right-hander struck out five over seven strong innings, allowing two runs, three hits and two walks but had nothing to show for it.
Longoria homered in the first against late fill-in Jesús Luzardo, moved up a day after A’s opening day starter Frankie Montas was scratched because of tightness in his upper back and neck.
Longoria’s two-run single in the fourth chased Luzardo. He still had plenty of rest having earned his first career victory last Sunday against the Astros.
The ball carried on a rare hot evening in San Francisco, where first-pitch temperature reached 85 degrees.
“It barely got out, but it felt good,” Piscotty said. “It was really warm here today, the wind was blowing out so I felt like it was going to go.”
Robbie Grossman hit an RBI triple in the A’s two-run seventh.
Oakland improved to 1-2 in interleague play and started a stretch with seven straight games against the National League West.
After playing 14 of their initial 20 games on the road the Giants are back home for 11 of 13 at home. Still, they squandered leads of 5-0 and 6-2.
COOLING OFF
Giants mascot Lou Seal spent much of the game paddling in a kayak on McCovey Cove alongside bay regular McCovey Cove Dave.
LAUREANO SUSPENSION
A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano sat out after he had a six-game suspension reduced to four games Friday following an appeal of the penalty for his role in a benches-clearing incident with the rival Houston Astros last Sunday.
Major League Baseball said a settlement had been reached. He will be eligible to play again Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Astros hitting coach Álex Cintrón received a 20-game suspension and a fine Tuesday for his role in the fracas at Oakland.
Canha made a great catch running hard into the wall and went 1 for 3 with a strikeout and walk while filling in for Laureano as he did for a stretch last season when the center field was hurt.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Montas woke up with the stiffness in his back and lower neck. “I hope he pitches in the series,” Melvin said. Montas will throw Saturday and if all goes well he could pitch Sunday. … RHP Jordan Weems was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing time with a strained lat muscle on his pitching side and was optioned to the club’s alternate site in San Jose.
Giants: LHP Drew Smyly (sprained left index finger) has begun throwing on flat ground and is scheduled to be re-examined this weekend. RHP Jeff Samardzija also is set to be re-evaluated as he is sidelined with inflammation in his throwing shoulder. He is yet to resume throwing. … RHP Sam Coonrod (right lat strain) threw a 30-pitch bullpen and will be examined by team doctors during the weekend. … OF Austin Slater missed his second straight game with a strained right elbow and is day to day. He could be used as designated hitter in the coming days.
ROSTER MOVE
The Giants added RHP Jake Jewell to their player pool and assigned him to their Sacramento alternate site.
UP NEXT
RHP Kevin Gausman (0-1, 4.05 ERA) pitches Saturday for the Giants, and left-hander Sean Manaea (0-2, 9.00) will start a day earlier than scheduled for Oakland.
RELATED: See 2020.08.09 (Oakland Athletics vs. Houston Astros)
AP source:
Read more at: Oakland Athletics Media Services / More AP MLB: www.apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the Oakland Athletics, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.