What a ninth inning! Even for spring!
The Athletics rallied back late in a big way on Thursday afternoon, scoring 11 runs in the top of the ninth to take the lead for good against the Cincinnati Reds.
It was a battle of left-handers as JP Sears took on Reds’ starter Nick Lodolo. Both starters were on their A-game today in what could be their second-to-last start before the regular season begins. Neither team scored a run over the first five frames as offense was at a premium in today’s contest. At least, early on.
Sears pitched five and a third strong innings in his best and longest outing this spring. The lefty allowed just five baserunners (four singles and a walk) while striking out three Reds hitters and only allowing a single run in that final inning of work. The third-year starter will anchor the middle of the starting rotation behind #1 and #2 starters Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, respectively. He looked ready today.
Cincy’s own left-hander got hit a bit harder but also kept his opponent off the scoreboard during his outing. The only extra-base hit the A’s collected off him was a double that came off the bat of Max Schuemann. Zack Gelof, Luis Irias, and Logan Davidson all chipped in with singles, with Davidson also drawing a walk. Lodolo finished his outing after four innings and racked up six K’s as well.
The A’s finally got on the board in the seventh when Schuemann collected his second double, this one of the RBI variety. The game would be tied until the top of the ninth inning. Here it comes.
The A’s proceeded to score 11 times in the inning. It went a little something like this:
Double
Single
RBI Single
Single
2-run Single
Walk
2-run double
RBI single
2-run double
Groundout
Walk
Force out
RBI ground-rule double
2-run single
Groundout
When the rally was finally, mercifully done, the A’s had scored 11 runs to make it a 12-1 game. All that was left was for the A’s to get those finally three runs. Right-hander Michel Otañez nailed down the win, giving the Athletics their 11th win of the season.
Whew. What a ninth-inning rally!!! The beginning of this game went slowly for the offense but eventually everyone got in on the fun at the end. The pitching staff looked good as Sears fired 5 1⁄3 innings of one-run ball and looks ready for the start of the season. And the bullpen went 3 2⁄3 scoreless as well to keep Cincy off the board. Jose Leclerc, Matt Krook, and Noah Murdock pitched in to the effort today without allowing a single hit, and Otañez did what he needed to do. After a few tough days at the ballpark, the A’s got back in the win column. That would be fun to do again tomorrow.
That matchup will be against the division-rival Angels, who they’re facing for the third time this spring. The Athletics will send out right-hander Joey Estes, who is theoretically still in the battle for the fifth starter’s role. A big day on the mound would go a long way for him after his competition Osvaldo Bido looked good in his outing a couple days ago. Estes will be opposed by Angels lefty veteran Tyler Anderson. First pitch is at 1:05 P.M. back at Hohokam Stadium.