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A’s Fall to Seattle, 6-1
By George Devine, Sr. May 27, 2009 |
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In a sun-drenched Coliseum loaded with cheering youngsters, the A’s hosted the Mariners for the last game in the current series, with southpaw Erik Bedard (2-2, 2.64) facing righthander Trevor Cahill (2-4, 4.62). The kids were there as a result of the A’s Home Run Readers program, sponsored by California :Police Youth Charities, and enjoyed topping off their school year with a special day honoring their accomplishments with the books. This event, combined with a BART Double Play Wednesday, yielded a crowd of 30,012. Immediately before first pitch, the A’s scratched Jack Cust from the lineup, due to tightness in the lower back. Ryan Sweeney replaced him in right field. Ichiro Suzuki led off with a seeing-eye double just inside the line to deep left, extending his hitting streak to 21 games, then slid under the throw to a jumping Jack Hannahan at third, stealing his ninth base of the season. But Cahill retired the next three batters and Ichiro was stranded. In the second, Russell Branyan singled to left, and reached third when Rob Johnson hit his own seeing-eye double down the line. When Endy Chavez went out, 4-3, Branyan came home to put the M’s on the board. In the home second, Bobby Crosby snapped a 72-game homerless streak by bashing Bedard’s 1-1 pitch 370 feet to the concrete staircase in left field, evening the score. In the third, Ichiro’s second attempt at a stolen base occurred when he singled past first baseman Crosby, then – with Yuniesky Betancourt at bat -- tried to steal second but was caught, through the efforts of catcher Kurt Suzuki and shortstop Orlando Cabrera. In the fifth, Johnson walked, Endy Chavez struck out, and Franklin Gutierrez’s double landed in left center. Suzuki, up next, lined one to Adam Kennedy reminiscent of Willie McCovey’s final out to Bobby Richardson in the 1962 World Series. Betancourt grounded out and the Mariners concluded a third straight scoreless inning, as would the A’s. In the sixth, Kennedy’s error allowed DH Ken Griffey, Jr., to reach first. Branyan then blasted Cahill’s 2-2 pitch into the seats above the out-of-town scoreboard above right field and it was 3-1, Seattle. Next inning, Chavez tripled against the right field wall, Suzuki was walked intentionally by reliever Brad Ziegler, and Betancourt flew out to left, scoring Chavez for a Mariners’ insurance run. In the eighth, new Oakland fireman Craig Breslow struck out the side. But in the ninth, reliever Russ Springer gave up hits to Johnson, Chavez and Ichiro resulting in a final score of 6-1. Cahill takes the loss (2-5, 6 ip, 6 h, 3 r, 1 er, 1 w, 5 k, 1 hr). Bedard is the winner (6.2 ip, 5 h, 1 r, 1 er, 2 w, 5 k, 1 hr). The A’s travel to Texas for a series against the Rangers, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, May 29, to begin at 2:05 p.m. PDT. Probable pitchers are: for the first game, LHP Josh Outman (2-0, 2.90) for Oakland against a Texas pitcher TBA, and for the second game RHP Edgar Gonzalez (0-0, 1.80) vs. RHP Scott Feldman (3.0, 4.04). Well-deserved kudos! The Oakland Board of Education has arranged a recognition ceremony for broadcasters Ken Korach, who does A’s play-by-play, and Marty Lurie, who hosts “Right off the Bat”. Korach has contributed to and raised money for the baseball programs of the Oakland Athletic League and Lurie has been a staunch supporter. Roster Moves: Before today’s game the A’s placed infielder Nomar Garciaparra on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 24 with a strained right calf. To take his spot on the roster, the A’s have recalled right-handed pitcher Jeff Gray from Triple-A Sacramento This is Garciaparra’s second stint on the disabled list this year with the calf injury. He originally went on the DL on April 29 and was reinstated last Friday. Garciaparra started at first base on Friday and Saturday, going 3 for 9 with a home run, but has not played since then. He is batting .250 with two home runs and eight RBI in 14 games with Oakland overall. This is his 14th career stint on the DL and his fifth in the last two seasons. Gray joins the A’s for the second time this year. He was also with the club from May 9 to 13 and made one relief appearance, retiring the only batter he faced on May 10 against Toronto. The right-hander did not allow a run in six games with Sacramento following his option on May 14 and was 2-1 with four saves and a 2.04 ERA in 14 relief appearances overall with the River Cats. He allowed a .177 opponents batting average and stranded all six of his inherited runners. |
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