A's finish Spring with third loss to Giants, 2-1

By George Devine, Sr.

March 30, 2011
 
 



After losing the first two games of this year's Bay Bridge Series, the A's blew a lead in the final contest, losing 2-1. Taking the mound for the afternoon at AT&T Park before 34,341 were southpaws Dallas Braden (0-3. 7.02) and Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 7.17). Neither figured in the decision.

Following two scoreless innings, the Oaklands made their moves when Ryan Sweeney doubled to right, then stole third as Cliff Pennington struck out swinging. Coco Crisp then walked and stole second. The next batter, Mark Ellis, popped up to short center but Sweeney beat Aaron Rowand's throw to the plate to put the green and gold on the board, 1-0. Josh willingham then walked, to put two Elephants on base but, with two out, Conor Jackson made the third out, 6-4. In the bottom of that third inning, Eli Whiteside doubled to left with two out, but was left out to dry as Mark DeRosa grounded out to short.

With two out in the fourth Bob Geren called Craig "Never Say No" Breslow to relieve Braden. With Travis Ishikawa at the plate, Nate Schierholtz -- who had singled to center -- stole second, but it was all for naught as Breslow caught Ishikawa looking, to end the inning, after which Bumgarner gave way to Javier Lopez for two batters, and then Ryan Vogelsong took the mound.

Ryan Rohlinger's two-out double off Jerry Blevins in the eighth gave the Giants' fans hope, but Ishikawa swung and missed. In the ninth, again with two out, Mike Fontenot singled along the right field grass and advanced to second on an errant throw by Oakland reliever Bobby Cramer. Eli Whiteside scored the winning run on a single to left by non-roster catcher Chris Stewart, who pinch-hit third in the order, in what had become the pitcher's spot.

The win went to Giants' reliever Mark Kroon, who pitched one inning and struck out two. He is 2-0 for spring training. Cramer gets the loss and his first blown save. He is 0-2, having pitched two innings, allowing three hits and two runs, both earned, and striking one out

The Athletics next play Seattle in the season opener at the Coliseum on Friday, April 1, at 7:05 p.m. PDT.

 

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