MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

The uninspiring feel of the previous finale against the Angels, a 4-3 loss, leaked over into the series versus the Boston Red Sox.

After drawing a whopping 16 walks from Angels pitchers where the A’s scored 30 runs, they managed just four free passes against the Red Sox.

This and more odd managerial decisions culminated in back-to-back shutout losses, 7-0 and 6-0 respectively.

On a brighter note, the A’s squeezed out a 5-4 win in the finale, with CF Lawrence Butler hitting a walkoff rbi single off of closer Ardolis Chapman (4-3, 29 saves).

Chapman had his seven week, 50 batter, 17 appearance hitless streak broken in the outing.

Athletics Batting:

In spite of losing 2-of-3 to Boston, many Athletics reached significant season milestones.

Leading the way was SS Jacob Wilson, who continued to fight for the AL batting title by batting .454 in the series, with hits in every game.

With 15 games remaining, Wilson trails only NYY Aaron Judge .322 to .319 and has a legitimate shot at being only the second AL rookie, ever, to lead the league in batting average. (’64, Tony Oliva- Minnesota Twins, .323)

First baseman Nick Kurtz joined Bash Brothers Legends Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, as the only Athletics rookies to reach 30 home runs in their inaugural season.

Kurtz is looking to maintain his batting average above .300, and is currently hovering at .302.

Catcher Shea Langeliers also hit his 30th home run, DH Brent Rooker hit his 40th double and OF Tyler Soderstrom hit his 30th two-bagger, all in the finale.

Manager Mark Kotsay continued his odd lineups when he didn’t start JJ Bleday for both shutout losses.

After batting .428, with a double and four home runs, nine rbi’s, and six runs scored over four games, Kotsay gave Bleday one at-bat over the next three games, all losses.

Kotsay batted RF Colby Thomas cleanup the entire series with him clearly late on pitches and striking out at a 38% clip on the year.

He was hitless in the series and is batting .120 for September, confusing many A’s fans as to him batting fourth.

Athletics Pitching:

Starters took both losses, all three were run by the sixth inning of their outings, and they pitched less innings than the relievers.

Justin Sterner and Sean Newcomb led a bullpen that gave up only 4 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings (2.55 era).

Sterner hasn’t allowed a hit since the Tigers series and 16-of-19 pitches went for strikes in the Boston finale, lowering his era to 2.79.

Newcomb has given up just three earned runs in his last 22 appearances and decisions on his future with the A’s must be made with him being an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Sterner is under A’s control through 2031 but will command a healthy raise if the A’s sign him again.

*Stockton Ports:

The single-A affiliate to the Athletics closed out their season September 7th, with a 5-0 win over the Visalia Rawhide.

Throwing out the first pitch was 17-year old Micah Ward, a wonderful young man with Down Syndrome.

Wanting to impress his brother Mason, who was in attendance, Micah practiced his pitches with his dad and Coach Trevor at Fulcrum Fitness in Lodi, Ca.

Support group The Brighter Side of Down Syndrome gave the family tickets and Micah took to 2024 7th-round pick, catcher Dylan Fien.

He told Fien he smelled good and that he loved him and Fien was such a good friend and said he loved him too.

An amazing moment to close out the season.

Upcoming Series:

The homestand continues Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds (74-72), whom are trying to grab a wildcard spot.

Two games out of the wildcard, with 16 games remaining, the Reds send RHP Brady Singer (13-9, 3.98) to the mound.

A winner of his last four decisions, he will be opposed by A’s RHP JT Ginn (3-6, 4.95), who won the 17-4 blowout win over the Angels.