Some of the terrible first halves in Oakland A’s historical past ended Sunday in irritating and maybe becoming style.
The A’s managed simply 4 hits and noticed one in every of their largest potential buying and selling chips within the departure of starter Frankie Montas after one inning in what turned a 2-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners at T-Cell Park.
Elvis Andrus homered within the seventh inning, however the A’s went Zero-for-Four with runners in scoring place in dropping three of 4 within the sequence and completed Three-7 on the highway journey that started with stops in Kansas Metropolis and New York. York.
The A’s at the moment are 26-55, the second-worst report on the midway level in Oakland historical past, besting solely the 1979 crew that was 23-58 on the midway level.
Coming into Sunday, the A’s ranked final within the MLB in batting (.213), on-base proportion (.274), slugging proportion (.330) and OPS (.604).
A extra quick concern was the well being of Montas, who exited Sunday’s recreation after he threw simply 13 pitches within the first inning, together with a 92-mph sinker that Mariners leadoff hitter Julio Rodriguez grabbed off the wall. left area for a 1-Zero lead for Seattle. . Montas additionally allowed an infield single to Eugenio Suarez.
Proper-handed reliever Austin Pruitt warmed up within the A’s bullpen within the first inning and changed Montas within the backside of the second.
The A’s, in keeping with MLB.com, mentioned they would offer an replace on Montas after Sunday’s recreation, the final of a four-game sequence. A crew spokesman added that Montas has not been traded.
Within the first inning, Montas’ four-seam fastball was clocked at 94 mph, a pitch that’s usually 2 to Four mph quicker.
Montas’ fastball reached 99 mph on June 23 when he hitless the Mariners for 7 2/Three innings on the Coliseum. Montas pitched eight scoreless, however the A’s allowed two runs within the ninth and misplaced to Seattle 2-1.
Montas entered Sunday with a Three-Eight report with a Three.20 ERA and 99 strikeouts, although his report is a bit deceptive. Earlier than Sunday, he had given up one help run or fewer in every of his final three begins and 10 of his final 11.
Due to his arm, Montas’s identify has been unfold in commerce rumors as groups seemed to strengthen their beginning corps forward of the Aug. 2 deadline. Nevertheless, an harm might chill these commerce talks.
Pruitt stored the A’s within the recreation as he retired 12 straight batters from the second via fifth innings, racking up six strikeouts. He allowed an RBI double to Rodriguez within the sixth inning because the Mariners took a 2-Zero lead.
Oakland managed simply three hits within the first six innings towards Mariners left-hander Robbie Ray, who completed with 12 strikeouts. However Andrus’ homer, his fifth of the season and fourth this yr at T-Cell Park, knocked Ray out of the sport after 107 pitches.
