|
|
|
|
|
A’s sweep Royals in K.C.
By Charlie O. Mallonee July 18, 2010 |
||
|
|
|||
|
The A’s completed a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals and raised their record to .500 (46-46) with a 9-6 win on Sunday. They keys to the victory were strong starting pitching and timely power hitting. A’s starter Vin Mazzaro began the game in a bit of a rocky fashion. In the bottom of the first inning, Mazzaro gave up two hits that allowed Jason Kendall to score the first run of the game for Kansas City. That would be the only run Mazzaro would give up in the game. For Mazzaro, it turned into a quality start by going 7.2 innings. Mazzaro gave up one run (earned) on seven hits while walking one and striking out five hitters. The win lifted Mazzaro’s record to 5-2 for the season. The A’s uncharacteristically relied on their power in this game. The A’s began the day with the fewest homers in all of baseball with 57. The A’s ended the game with 60 total HRs for the season. Adam Rosales, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Jack Cust all went yard for the A’s on Sunday. The A’s made the most their ten hits and six walks to score 9 runs. The A’s left just five men on base. The A’s were 2-4 in base stealing attempts on Sunday. Stolen bases never come easy with Jason Kendall behind the plate. Coco Crisp successfully stole second and third in the game. Those stolen bases lifted the A’s record to 32-14 when they have at least one stolen base in the game. The A’s are also a team that likes to play in the daylight. The A’s are now 21-10 in day games versus 25-36 in night games. The one down item on Sunday was the difficulty the A’s had in closing out the game. Ziegler gave up two runs in the ninth without recording an out. Cedrick Bowers came for Ziegler and promptly gave up three runs creating a save situation. The A’s went to Andrew Bailey to close out the game and get the save. Bailey threw one pitch that was good for a fly ball out giving the A’s their 46th win of the campaign. Reporter’s Notepad • The A’s have the best stolen base percentage in the majors at 80 .6% (71 0f 88) • The A’s have a record of 32-14 with a stolen base and 14-32 without a stolen base • The A’s have just 60 home runs this season which is the lowest total in the majors • The A’s are tied for the American League lead in triples with 21 • The A’s rank second in sacrifice hits with 31 • Coco Crisp has either scored or driven in a run 18 of his 21 games this season This Day in A’s History In 1983, the A’s turn the fifth triple play in Oakland history versus the Tigers when John Wockenfuss hits into a Ricky Peters to Tony Phillips to Bill Almon to Wayne Gross triple play … in 1988, Stan Javier records five hits in five at bats in the A’s 7-2 win over the Indians … in 2004, Mark Mulder extended his winning streak to 11 games in an A’s 5-3 win over the White Sox. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|||