MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

May 18th was the last time the A’s weren’t occupying the basement of the American League West.

The team mixed a little old school small ball, and patience at the plate, with 10 home runs to dominate and sweep the Cincinnati Reds.

With the three game sweep, the A’s move ahead of the LA Angels and out of last place in the division.

In spite of the Reds having leadoff hitters aboard in 6-of-8 innings, the A’s used three solo home runs to win the opener in a 3-0 shutout.

Saturday, the Athletics used three doubles and three home runs to blow out the Reds.

Twelve of the first sixteen A’s batters had at least a five pitch at-bat, to show amazing patience and draw seven walks in the game.

Batters drew 77 pitches in the 2nd/3rd innings alone in the 11-5 win.

Manager Mark Kotsay’s habit of emptying his bench in finales worked well for the skipper, while batters 2-5 in the lineup homered for the A’s in the 7-4 win.

Off and on starter Colby Thomas and situational player Brett Harris combined to go 6-for-7, with a double, and a home run, to help add two much needed insurance runs for the team.

Athletics Batting:

Lawrence Butler loves playing the Reds and his recent history resulted in him batting leadoff the first two games against the Reds.

He responded by batting .400, added his 20th home run on the year, and he also stole three bases in four attempts in game two of the series.

In his last six games versus Cincinnati, Butler has a .458 batting average, with 11 hits (6 home runs), and 10 RBI’s.

Carlos Cortes, playing left field for the injured Tyler Soderstrom, crushed three home runs and batted .500, to ease the pain of a 30-homer guy sitting injured on the bench.

First baseman Nick Kurtz hit the longest home run in MLB, since 2022, when he launched a 493 foot rocket that few saw land.

With hits in every game, DH Brent Rooker had a strong series.

In his last four games Rooker is batting .437, with two doubles and his 28th/29th home run on the season.

Athletics Pitching:

The series was all about the relievers again and they will enjoy a much needed day off.

The A’s bullpen won two of the three games while six different relievers had multiple appearances.

Tyler Ferguson (4-2) picked up the win in the opener while recently promoted Brady Basso (1-0) went one inning for his first MLB win of his career on saturday.

As a group, the bullpen allowed only a solo home run off Justin Sterner, in 12 2/3 innings for an outstanding 0.71 ERA.

Rookie starter Luis Morales (4-1) showed grit and confidence in the finale, navigating home runs in the first two innings and a bases loaded jam, to notch his fourth win in five decisions.

Upcoming Series:

The Athletics (70-80) get to enjoy the sweep for one day and its off to Boston for a three game series against the Red Sox (82-68).

The Red Sox starter is at post time undecided but having pitched Sunday, the A’s won’t have to face all-star Garrett Crochet again.

He shutout the A’s in a seven inning dominant outing a mere week ago.

The A’s will send LHP Jeffrey Springs (10-11, 4.68) to the mound, who has struggled of late.

Springs has lost his last three starts, and has given up nine home runs in his last nine games, but looks to end his season with a streak of good starts.

GameTime:

Sept 16th, 2025

Fenway Park

Boston, Mass.