MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

I had about 2/3 of today’s column written before Sunday’s 5-2 loss to Toronto, but after the game, I think I need an intervention AND a revision. This was one of the ugliest series at the plate that I have ever witnessed.

So how bad? Swept!

Athletics hitters, a 2025 Top 5 offensive powerhouse, struck out an MLB record 50 times in a season series opener. Opening Night, C Shea Langeliers had three hits while everyone else went hitless.

Langeliers homered twice and singled once, while the experiment of 1B Nick Kurtz at leadoff went rough. Both Kurtz and DH Brent Rooker went 0-for-4 with three k’s, and Athletics batters struck out 16 times, even achieving the rare: four strikeouts in an inning, thanks to a wild pitch.

A’s starter Luis Severino allowed two runs on three hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Reliever Scott Barlow went 1 2/3 innings pitched and took three pitches or fewer to retire every hitter. 

Hogan Harris finished the 7th for Barlow, and had a fine 12-pitch eighth, and it was surprising that he didn’t work the ninth.

Justin Sterner had a horrible sequence of five pitches in the ninth, giving up two singles and a double to take the loss.

Saturday produced similar results, with the Athletics squandering a four-run lead and losing 8-7 in 11 innings. The Athletics struck out 19 times, including seven consecutive batters. Rooker struck out three times for the second consecutive game and started 0-2 in 4-of-5 at-bats.

Langeliers hit a grand slam, going 2-for-4, and Tyler Soderstrom added a double while going 2-for-5, but pitching failed the Athletics.

Starter Jeffrey Springs had a solid outing, giving up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, with five hits and three walks. He began the third inning: Single-Single-Double, but limited scoring to one run, going on to have a clean 12-pitch 4th and 5th innings.

Kotsay went through six relievers, with most allowing runs. Mark Leiter Jr. did his usual high-traffic, giving up a run on 2 hits, followed by Elvis Alvarado, who had a high-stress 7th, and I was surprised to see him start the 8th. He walked the first two on nine pitches before being replaced by Hogan Harris, and both ended up scoring.

Mike Kelly gave up the game-tying home run in the ninth to push extra innings. After the A’s took a 7-6 lead, Scott Barlow gave up a tying sacrifice-fly in the 10th, and the A’s couldn’t score again.

Luis Medina intentionally walked a batter, and it backfired with a walkoff single by Ernie Clement in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Sunday’s game was the game I dreaded, with Luis Morales on the mound. He had a horrible Spring Training, and he was just as bad: 4 ⅓, five earned runs on five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts.

Did he even read the Scouting Report? George Springer has the second-most home runs leading off a game, IN HISTORY! You might not want to throw a fastball first pitch, waist-high, because Springer made it 1-0 real quick. 

Morales gave up a 2-run bomb to Jesus Sanchez two innings later, and a solo shot to Kazuma Okamoto in the 4th, his 1st MLB home run.
JT Ginn had a solid relief appearance with 3 2/3 of one-hit scoreless baseball, and while he walked in the fifth run, he set down the last ten batters he faced. With a 9-pitch 6th, 11-pitch 7th, and 10-pitch 8th, Ginn had the consistency the Athletics wanted from Morales, and if Morales continues to struggle, switching roles may become an option.

Other than a Jacob Wilson double, followed by a Max Muncy home run, the A’s scattered just three weak singles. Someone needs to answer for this approach because 34 (0-2) counts in a 3-game series doesn’t work.
Next up: Atlanta Braves