Athletics drop series finale 6-4 to D-backs

Bleday goes 4-4 with a homer in return

Looking to take yet another series against a western rival, the Athletics faced off against the Arizona Diamondbacks today at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento.

Jack Perkins got the start today against Eduardo Rodriguez for the D-backs. Perkins escaped with just a threat in the first but didn’t have the same luck in the second. Walks and singles bit him as he walked in the first run with bases loaded and then a sac fly and single made the score 3-0.

The A’s got something going against Rodriguez in the bottom of the second, loading the bases on a leadoff double by Austin Wynns, a single by recent call-up JJ Bleday and a walk by Gio Urshela. But Max Schueman ground into a 5-3 double play.

With two outs in the top of the third, Tyler Locklear walked and stole second. He scored on an Alek Thomas single, increasing the D-backs lead to 4-0. Ben Bowden replaced Perkins in the top of the fourth. Perkins final line for the day was three innings, four earned runs on five hits, three walks and he struck out four.

Osvaldo Bido replaced Bowden in the top of the fifth inning. He tossed a quick 1-2-3 inning. In the bottom of the fifth, JJ Bleday singled, Gio Urshela singled and Max Schuemann dropped down a sac bunt to move both runners into scoring position. All-world rookie Nick Kurtz singled to right, driving both runners in. That tightened the score to 4-2 at the end of five.

Elvis Alvarado entered the game to pitch the top of the seventh. With two outs, Blaze Alexander hit his first homer of the year to put the Diamondbacks lead at 5-2. The A’s continued to show grit fighting back in the bottom of the seventh. JJ Bleday led off with his third hit of the day, a double down the right field line. Two ground outs moved him to third and then home, getting back the run Arizona scored in the top of the inning.

Sean Newcomb entered the game to pitch the top of the eighth inning. Newcomb sent them down in a row striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Michael Kelly replaced Newcomb in the ninth. With one out Jose Herrera singled and Corbin Carrol walked. Blaze Alexander singled to center scoring Herrera. Geraldo Perdomo singled to load the bases still with just one out. Kelly struck out his final two batters to end the inning.

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, JJ Bleday homered to tighten the score at 6-4. That gave Bleday a 4-4 day. Unfortunately, that was the only run they could muster, and they dropped the game and the series. Tonight, they’ll head to Washington, DC to face off against the Nationals.