A’s Pitching Implodes in Las Vegas Series Finale Blowout Loss
The Athletics and Colorado Rockies met in the series finale of their three-game interleague series on a scorching afternoon in Las Vegas. The Rockies avoided the sweep, defeating the A’s 23-9 in an absurd game that served as a fitting cap to the A’s eventful week in their future
The Athletics and Colorado Rockies met in the series finale of their three-game interleague series on a scorching afternoon in Las Vegas. The Rockies avoided the sweep, defeating the A’s 23-9 in an absurd game that served as a fitting cap to the A’s eventful week in their future home.
The Rockies struck right away against A’s starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs . With one out in the first inning, A’s third baseman Max Muncy made a throwing error, allowing the Rockies hitter to reach second base. Springs retired the next batter before Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman hit his 19th home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot to center field.
A’s center fielder Lawrence Butler led off the bottom of the first with a single against Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano . Nick Kurtz drew a four-pitch walk, advancing Butler to second. Then, left fielder Tyler Soderstrom hit his 19th double of the season, a line drive to right field that scored Butler and cut the A’s deficit in half.
Right fielder Carlos Cortes came up and kept the line rolling, lining a two-run single to right field to give the A’s a 3-2 lead. Sugano did not retire the first four batters he faced, immediately blowing his team’s lead.
With one out, A’s catcher Jonah Heim singled to right, moving Cortes from first to third. Muncy hit a sacrifice fly, knocking Cortes in for the host’s fourth run of the first.
The Rockies opened the second inning with two straight singles, making it first and third with nobody out. Athletics second baseman Zack Gelof made a diving stop and strong throw to retire Colorado left fielder Troy Johnston , but the visitors’ third run scored on that RBI groundout.
A couple batters later, the Rockies re-took the lead. Springs gave up Willi Castro ’s fourth home run of the season, a two-run blast just over the left field wall. Allowing five runs, including two home runs, over the first two innings was not the start Springs and the Athletics were looking for this afternoon.
A’s shortstop Alika Williams singled to start the second inning, giving him six hits in his past six at-bats. Kurtz tied the game with an RBI double to the left-center gap, bringing Williams home from first base.
