MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Byrnes

Is this the future of the Athletics and MLB in Nevada? Will Las Vegas be where everyone goes to pad their season stats totals?

The A’s are in the middle of a six-game introduction to Las Vegas as they wait for the futuristic stadium on Tropicana Blvd to be built and it is a hitters paradise. They met the Milwaukee Brewers for a series that proved the over/under projections of 13.5 and 14.5 were an accurate assessment of the offensive potential of Nevada. Dry and hot air means home runs and the Athletics managed a record fifteen in the three-game series.

The teams opened the series with a thrilling 15-14 Brewers win in a 12-inning slugfest. The A’s came from four runs down, with two outs in the bottom of the tenth, to tie the game at 14-14. The game had it all: 34 hits, 11 home runs, 35 strikeouts to preview the possible outcomes when the Athletics make Vegas their permanent home in 2028.

While the weather in the desert may be awesome if you hit a ball for a living, it doesn’t have the same positive outcome if you’re a pitcher. The teams used 14 pitchers Monday, who gave up a combined 26 earned runs, so MLB playing 81 games in Nevada is going to destroy some ERA’s.

Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom both homered twice, while Shea Langeliers, Zack Gelof, and Jonah Heim each had a home run for seven home runs in the game. Heim’s dramatic two out solo shot was as exciting as it gets, tying the game in extra innings.

For all the firepower from the bats of both teams the game was won on an errant throw home by A’s second baseman Jeff McNeil that allowed Christian Yelich to score in the top of the 12th inning. McNeil struck out on three pitches in the bottom half of the inning to finish the Athletics chances to tie the game, and the team is now 7-15 in series openers.

The A’s hit five more home runs on Tuesday, giving JT Ginn (4-3, 3.15) the only win for a starter in the series. Soderstrom and Kurtz each hit their third home run of the series, while Heim and Gelof each hit their second, to tie another record of twelve homers over two games.

While the scoring was down for the opener it still took its toll on the pitching staffs of both teams. It appeared that both managers were going leave starters in, regardless of outcome, because the two starters combined for another eleven earned runs. The 7-5 contest was surprisingly won by the Athletics bullpen, with relievers Elvis Alvarado and Mason Barnett combining for 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. They allowed no hits or walks and struck out eight with Barnett getting his first career save.

The finale was a 4-3 win by the Athletics but don’t let the low score lead you to believe that the power numbers were down. Alika Williams hit his first career home run and Carlos Cortes and Lawrence Butler each hit home runs over 460 feet to remind everyone that the “smaller” bats have some pop too.

Athletics starter Jack Perkins lasted just four innings and the relievers saved the day again, holding the Brewers scoreless for the final five innings. Scott Barlow (2-0, 4.25) took the win and Elvis Alvarado had his second consecutive solid relief appearance to secure another series win. Alvarado looks to be the most reliable arm that can get a 1-2-3 inning on the regular and hopefully Manager Mark Kotsay will set up a better bullpen strategy and use him in high stress situations as a closer.

The A’s continue the Las Vegas “homestand” against the Colorado Rockies Friday night and they will prove to be a challenge in spite of being 18 games back in the NL West. The conditions in Colorado make it a hitter’s paradise as well and they are used to that kind of environment, so the series should be another shootout.

Next: 6/12 Rockies @ Athletics Las Vegas Ballpark Las Vegas, Nevada