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A's suffer season-worst sixth straight loss
By Morris Phillips October 3, 2009 |
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Scott Kazmir pitched five scoreless innings, and utility infielder Robb Quinlan, making the most of his playing time before the playoffs start, had two hits and three RBI’s in the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 victory over the A’s on Saturday. Now the A’s have dropped a season-high six games in a row, and for the first time following a promising September, probably can’t wait for the season to end, which for them, it does on Sunday. During the losing spell, the A’s have hit just .204 (39 for 191) while the pitching staff has an ERA a run and-a-half higher than their stellar 4.26 on the season. The recent numbers are in direct contrast to those posted by the redemptive A’s that hit, pitched and played great defense in going 17-7 in their first 24 games of September. Now instead of basking in the glow of their finishing kick, the A’s will instead have to take a hard look at their record against the AL West (23-33) and their record against the presumptive AL playoff teams (19-33 versus the Angels, Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers). Those paltry records might suggest the A’s aren’t the team on the rise, but still the Triple A’s. In this one, Dana Eveland allowed eight hits and didn’t survive the fifth inning, as his ERA jumped to 7.16 in his abbreviated big league season. The A’s two through five hitters went 0 for 14 as the A’s didn’t score until the eighth inning. The A’s managed just five hits on the day, but got a trio of extra-base hits by Bobby Crosby, Rajai Davis and Eric Patterson in the eighth to break up the shutout. In the ninth, the A’s went quietly as Los Angeles’ Brian Fuentes retired all three batters he faced to pick up his 48th save. On Sunday, the A’s turn to Edgar Gonzalez to stop the losing streak while the Angels will start Joe Saunders in his tuneup for a Game 3 start in next week’s divisional playoffs. |
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