The Athletics faced the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of this three-game interlegaue series. Once again, A’s starter Jacob Lopez turned in a quality start and gave his team a chance to win, only to receive no help from the bullpen and a struggling offense in a 3-2 loss, the Green and Gold’s seventh straight defeat.
Early Action
The A’s took the lead before most fans found their seats. The first batter of the game, right fielder Lawrence Butler, hit his seventh home run of the season against Reds starter Rhett Lowder to put the visitors in front 1-0.
Lopez prevented an immediate response from the Reds, striking out the side in the bottom of the first inning. The Reds tied the game the following inning. With two outs, right fielder Noelvi Marte stole second base and then scored on catcher Jose Trevino’s RBI single.
Both teams Waste Scoring Chances
Lopez minimized the damage by striking out the next batter for his sixth strikeout of the game through two innings. The A’s southpaw recorded two more strikeouts in the third inning as the Reds stranded the go-ahead run at second base.
In the fourth inning, a walk and a single gave the Athletics their first scoring opportunity with a runner in scoring position. However, the A’s could not capitalize, as Donovan Walton grounded right back to Lowder to end the inning and keep the game tied at 1-1.
Reds Take the Lead
The Reds took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Second baseman Matt McLain hit his ninth home run of the season, a two-out solo shot off Lopez. The inning ended when Butler threw out Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz as he attempted to stretch a single into a double.
Back and Forth We Go
Cincinnati’s lead did not last long. With one out in the sixth inning, Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom singled, then raced around the bases to score the game-tying run on catcher Jonah Heim’s RBI double.
That was all the A’s offense mustered, as Lowder retired the next two hitters and stranded the go-ahead run at second base. The Reds’ right-hander completed six strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He did a good job of keeping the ball on the ground, inducing eight groundouts.
A’s Bullpen Blows
In the bottom of the sixth, the A’s brought in right-handed reliever Hayden Juenger. Lopez turned in another solid start, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. He struck out nine, and more importantly, walked just one batter.
At 87 pitches, Lopez could have returned to start that inning, but A’s manager Mark Kotsay decided to switch pitchers, a decision that ultimately backfired. Juenger found himself in trouble immediately, allowing back-to-back singles to begin his outing. The first hit was a play he should have made, as it was a grounder hit directly back at him. The hosts regained the lead, 3-2, on Marte’s one-out sacrifice fly.
After both teams pushed across a run in the sixth inning, neither team scored in the seventh and eighth, keeping the Reds’ one-run lead intact heading into the final frame. A’s right-hander Scott Blewett pitched two scoreless innings of relief to keep the game within reach.
Last night, the Athletics put up a fight against Reds’ closer Emilio Pagán, but tonight he retired the side in order to secure his second consecutive save and the Reds’ second straight series victory.
In Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly ballpark, the A’s offense delivered another disappointing performance, remaining quiet for most of the contest. The trio of A’s players who recently received contract extensions — Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler — combined for just two hits, a lack of production the team cannot afford with so many of its starters sidelined by injuries.
Speaking of injuries, if Wilson’s ailments are affecting his performance, it may make sense for the A’s to give him additional time to recover, especially with the team’s playoff hopes out of reach.
It seems like the Athletics may not win a game for the rest of the season. This evening’s loss makes the A’s losers of 12 straight series and winless in their last 14 series played.
Tomorrow morning, the team will look to salvage the series finale and finally end its losing streak. Right-hander Mason Barnett will start for the A’s. He will be opposed by Reds’ talented left-hander Andrew Abbott, who will look to take advantage of the injury-depleted A’s lineup.
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