BALTIMORE ORIOLES NOTES:
OFFENSE IN OAKLAND: The Orioles defeated the Athletics last night, 9-4, in the threegame series opener…Gunnar Henderson hit his 20th home run of the season as part of a 3-for-5 effort while Adley Rutschman reached base four times while going 3-for-4 with a walk…Four O’s relievers combined to toss 4.0 scoreless innings…The win snapped a brief two-game losing streak and the team hasn’t lost three games in a row since dropping four straight from June 27 to July 1.
All 10 O’s position players who appeared recorded a hit, tied for the most in a game by the Orioles this season, joining July 9 at Minnesota and July 6 at New York-AL. Kyle Gibson earned his 12th victory of the year, tied for the AL lead and tied for fifth in MLB; his 12 wins are tied for the third-most in his career and one behind his career high of 13 set in 2014 and matched in 2019 with Minnesota. Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins both recorded their 100th career doubles; Mullins did so with a two-bagger in the first inning while Hays notched his with a double in the fourth inning, his first of two in the game.
Rutschman has reached safely at least four times in nine games this year, tied for the fifth-most such games in MLB and one behind the leaders.
SWEEPLESS IN BALTIMORE: With tonight’s game, the Orioles will have gone 79 consecutive series of at least two decisions (no ties) without being swept…According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that is the most consecutive series without getting swept in Orioles history (since 1954), ahead of 46 consecutive sweepless series from 1971-72…It is the fifth-longest such streak in MLB history, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), 1903-05 New York Giants (105), and 1922-24 New York Yankees (83)…The Birds have not been swept in a series of at least two games since May 13-15, 2022 at Detroit (0-3), and have not been swept at home in a series of at least two games since August 27-29, 2021 vs. Tampa Bay (0-3).
WHAT’S TRENDING: The O’s have won four of their last six games, five of eight, 12 of 18, 13 of 20, 26 of 38, and 27 of 41…At 75-47 (.615), the Orioles have the best record in the AL and second-best in MLB (see box at right)…The Braves (79-42, .650) and Dodgers (74-47, .612) are the only other teams with at least 70 wins and a .600 winning percentage this season… The team had a season-best eight-game winning streak from July 5-16, Baltimore’s longest since a 10-gamer from July 3-13, 2022…The Birds are 137-96 (.588) since June 2022, the second-best record in the AL and fourth-best in MLB during that time. The O’s hold a 2.0-game lead over the Rays in the AL East.
AGAINST OAKLAND: The O’s and A’s are meeting for the second and final time this season this weekend…Baltimore has won four of five games against Oakland this year while the teams have combined to score 66 runs in the season series…The Orioles took three of four games against the Athletics from April 10-13 during the opening homestand of the season. On April 11, Ryan Mountcastle became the third player in Orioles history with nine RBI in a game, tying Jim Gentile (5/9/61 at MIN) and Eddie Murray (8/26/85 at CAL) for the team record; he drove in 12 runs in the April series at Camden Yards to become the first O’s player with 12 RBI in one series since Rafael Palmerio from August 15-18, 1996 at Oakland (5 G) and the first to do so in a four-game series since Dan Graham had 13 RBI from July 21-23, 1980 at Minnesota.
O THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: The Orioles are in the middle of a nine-game, 10-day road trip which began with three games in Seattle (2-1) last weekend, three at San Diego (1-2) earlier this week, and three games in Oakland (1-0) through Sunday…The O’s have a scheduled off day on Monday, August 21 before beginning a nine-game homestand from August 22-30…The current trip is tied for Baltimore’s second-longest of the season with another nine-game, 10-day tour from September 1-10, which features three games each in Arizona (September 1-3), Los Angeles-AL (September 4-6), and Boston (September 8-10)… Baltimore’s only longer trip this season was a 10-game, 11-day expedition from April 27 to May 7, during which the O’s went 6-4 in Detroit (3-1), Kansas City (2-1), and Atlanta (1-2). Baltimore is 39-24 (.619) away from Camden Yards this season, the best road record in the AL and second-best in MLB, behind Atlanta (38-22, .633); the .619 road winning percentage would be the second-best since the team moved to Baltimore in 1954, behind 1997 (52-29, .642). The Orioles have scored 326 runs on the road, second-most in the AL and fourth-most in MLB; the 5.17 runs per game away from Oriole Park is third-highest in the AL and fifth-highest in MLB.
MAKING THEIR PITCH: O’s pitching has posted a 3.73 ERA (155 ER/373.2 IP) in 42 games since July 1, ranked fourth in the AL and sixth in MLB during that time…Starters have thrown 237.1 of those innings, second-most in the AL and third-most in MLB while Baltimore’s 27 victories over that period are the second-most in the AL and third-most in MLB.
YOUNG GUNN: Gunnar Henderson is the ninth rookie in Orioles history (since 1954) to hit 20 home runs in a season along with Ryan Mountcastle (33 in 2021), Cal Ripken, Jr. (28 in 1982), Eddie Murray (27 in 1977), Trey Mancini (24 in 2017), Curt Blefary (22 in 1965), Sam Bowens (22 in 1964), Ron Hansen (22 in 1960), and Jim Gentile (21 in 1960)…He is also the seventh O’s rookie to hit five triples and the first since Ripken, Jr. also hit five…Henderson is three doubles away from becoming the third rookie in team history to record 20+ doubles, 5+ triples, and 20+ homers, which would join Ripken, Jr. and Hansen, both of whom won AL Rookie of the Year.
He leads the AL and ranks tied for second among MLB rookies with 3.6 bWAR and is tied for the AL lead and tied for fifth among MLB rookies with 2.7 fWAR.
Henderson leads the O’s with eight Defensive Runs Saved, per Sports Info Solutions; seven of those are at shortstop, tied for seventh in MLB despite playing 200 fewer-innings at the position than anyone ahead of him.
MOUNT UP: Ryan Mountcastle has reached base safely in a career-high 24 straight games since July 21, the longest active streak in MLB (see box at right)…It is the longest on-base streak by an Orioles batter since Jonathan Schoop reached in 26 consecutive games from April 12 to May 12, 2017…Mountcastle has recorded a hit in 18 of the last 19 games since July 28…His 12-game hitting streak, the second-longest of his career, was snapped on August 11 at Seattle…Mountcastle is slashing .390/.456/.576 (23-for-59) with two doubles, three home runs, 11 runs scored, 10 RBI, eight walks, and one stolen base in 16 games in August… Entering today’s games, he ranks among MLB leaders this month in batting average (6th), on-base percentage (7th), and hits (T-8th)….He’s reached base safely in all 27 of his starts since returning from the Injured List on July 9 while batting .379/.435/.611 (36-for-95) with seven doubles, five homers, 18 runs scored, 16 RBI, 11 walks, and one stolen base in those games.
MOUNTAIN TIME: Félix Bautista ranks second in the AL and fourth in MLB with 32 saves… Bautista has secured a win or save in 39 of his 52 appearances (75.0%) this year…That would be the third-highest such percentage in O’s history (since 1954), behind Randy Myers (77.0%, 47-of-61) in 1997 and Lee Smith (82.9%, 34-of-41) in 1994, per the Elias Sports Bureau… Bautista is looking to become the seventh Oriole (eighth time) in team history to lead the league in saves and the first since Zack Britton locked down 47 games in 2016…Johnson has the team record of 51 saves set in 2012.
His 108 strikeouts are more than 12 qualified pitchers, per STATS. Bautista’s 16.95 K/9 (108 K/57.1 IP) would be the fourth-best by a qualified reliever in MLB history in a full season; Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman holds the record with a 17.67 mark set in 2014.
ROSTER MOVES: The Orioles today recalled outfielder Ryan McKenna from Triple-A Norfolk and placed outfielder Aaron Hicks on the 10-day Injured List with a low back strain, retroactive to August 16…Right-handed pitcher Mychal Givens was also placed on unconditional release waivers.
STARTING PITCHER – #19 COLE IRVIN LHP
QUICK HITS: Scheduled to make his 18th appearance (10th start) of the season, ninth appearance (fifth start) on the road, and second career start against the Athletics tonight…Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 10, his third stint with the O’s…Spent the 2022 season with the Athletics; led the team in wins (9),
starts (30), innings pitched (181.0), and strikeouts (128)…Posted career-lows in ERA (3.98), opponent batting average (.251), on-base percentage (.293), slugging
percentage (.416), and OPS (.709)…Allowed two earned runs-or-fewer in 17 of his 30 starts…Acquired by the Orioles along with RHP Kyle Virbitsky from Oakland in exchange for SS Darell Hernaiz on January 26, 2023…Originally selected by the Phillies in the fifth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Oregon.
LAST TIME OUT: Did not factor into the decision in his last outing on August 12 at Seattle…Worked 5.0 scoreless innings on two hits with one walk and a season-high six strikeouts…Induced a season-high 11 swings and misses…Marked his first scoreless start of the season…Threw 67 pitches, 52 strikes.
FAMILIAR FACES:Is slated to make his second career start against the Athletics tonight…Made 62 starts across two seasons (2021-22) with Oakland, pitching to a 19-28 record with a 4.11 ERA (164 ER/359.1 IP), 253 strikeouts, and 30 quality starts in those games…Did not factor into the decision in his only career start against the Athletics on April 13, 2023 at Oriole Park…Permitted a season-high tying six runs (also: 4/2 at BOS) on five hits (1 HR) with two walks, a hit batter, and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings…Threw 80 pitches, 50 strikes.
HEADING WEST: Making his 37th career start against the AL West…Has pitched to a 9-19 record with a 4.34 ERA (97 ER/201.1 IP) and 14 quality starts in 36 career assignments against the division…His nine career victories, 36 starts, 201.1 innings, and 131 strikeouts are his most against any division.
LIFE ON THE ROAD: Is scheduled to make his ninth road appearance (fifth start) of the season tonight…Sports an 0-2 record with a 4.18 ERA (11 ER/23.2 IP) in eight outings away from Oriole Park this season.
KEEPING IT IN THE YARD: Irvin has not surrendered a home run in four consecutive starts since June 26, tied for the longest such streak of his career (3x, last: 7/4-22/22 w/ OAK)…Opposing batters are slashing .197/.250/.268 (14- for-71) with five doubles against him in those games.
WHAT A RELIEF IT IS: Irvin has made eight relief appearances for the O’s this season, pitching to a 5.40 ERA (7 ER/11.2 IP) in those games…Credited his first career hold in his last such outing on August 6 vs. New York-NL (1.0 IP, K)…Worked a career-high 4.0 innings of relief on July 18 vs. Los Angeles-NL, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks, a hit batter, and four punchouts.
SWIRVIN’ IRVIN: Irvin has posted a 1-1 record with a 3.15 ERA (14 ER/40.0 IP) in his last 13 appearances (six starts) since being recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on June 10…Owned an 0-2 record with a 10.38 ERA (15 ER/13.0 IP) in his first four appearances (three starts) of the year.
LIFE IN THE FAST LANE: Irvin has relied on his fastball more than any other pitch this season, throwing it 30.7 percent of the time…Opposing hitters are slashing .227/.268/.409 (15-for-66) against his primary pitch…In 2022, Irvin held batters to a .218/.266/.379 (53-for-243) slash line against his heater.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS NOTES:
ABOUT THE A’S: Have lost eight of the last 10 games…are 22-38 (.367) over the last 60 games dating back to June 6 after going 12-50 (.194) over the first 62 contests…are 34-88 (.279) overall, which is the lowest winning percentage in the majors…have clinched a losing record in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2015-17 when they had three straight…the last two Major League teams to finish with a winning percentage under .290 are the 2003 Tigers (43-119, .265) and 1962 Mets (40-120, .250)…have been swept 16 times this year, which is one short of the Oakland record (17 in 1978)…have swept two series…are 8-13-1 over the previous 22 series after going 1-16 over the first 17…have a run differential of -287, which is the lowest in the majors…the lowest in Oakland history is -287 in 1979 and the lowest in Athletics history is -344 in 1915.
TRAGIC NUMBER: The A’s tragic number to be officially eliminated from the American League West is three…last year, the A’s were eliminated from the West in game 129 on Aug. 28, which was the earliest they have ever been eliminated from the West…the only other time Oakland was eliminated before Sept. 1 was in 1979 (game 135 on Aug. 30)…have a tragic number of eight to be eliminated from the playoffs.
OFFENSE: The A’s are batting .283 (51-for-180) with 26 runs scored over the last five games but have just one win over that stretch…are hitting .224 overall, which is the lowest batting average in the majors…also rank last in slugging (.365), OPS (.666), runs (439) and extra base hits (308), third in fewest doubles (171) and home runs (119), fourth in lowest on-base percentage (.301), tied for fourth in most times shut out (12), eighth in most strikeouts (1108) and tied for eighth in most grounded into double plays (95)…are tied for the most sacrifice hits (24) and are tied for seventh in hit by pitches (63).
IN THE PINCH: A’s pinch hitters lead the majors in hits (33), rank third in plate appearances (140), tied for fourth in extra base hits (8), tied for fifth in doubles (5), tied for ninth in home runs (3) and tied for 10th in walks (12).
PITCHING: The A’s have two shutouts in their last eight games but have allowed six or more runs five times over that stretch for a 4.92 ERA (37 er in 67.2 ip)…have a 4.93 ERA (349 er in 637.2 ip) over the last 73 games dating back to May 23 after compiling a 7.02 ERA over the first 49 contests…have a 5.77 ERA overall, which is the highest in the majors and the highest in Oakland history (5.48 in 1997)…also have the highest opponents on-base percentage in the majors (.358), the second highest slugging percentage (.462) and OPS (.819) and third highest batting average (.271)…lead the majors with 75 hit batters, which is an Oakland record and six short of the Athletics record of 81 set in 1911…also have a ML leading 520 walks, which are the most by an A’s team since 2009 (523)…are tied with the Orioles for second in the majors in most wild pitches (50), rank fourth in fewest shutouts (4) and fifth in most home runs (164) and fewest strikeouts (982).
STARTING PITCHING: A’s starting pitchers are 2-8 with a 5.19 ERA (44 er in 76.1 ip) over the last 17 games dating back to July 29 and both of the wins are by Paul Blackburn…starters are 12-55 with a 6.02 ERA for the season…have the fewest wins in the majors and the fewest wins from starting pitchers in Major League history is 21 by the Pirates last year…also have the highest ERA in the majors this year and the second most losses…have tossed 7.1 innings or fewer in each game and have the second fewest innings pitched (556.1).
THE BULLPEN: The A’s bullpen is 0-3 with three blown saves and a 6.75 ERA (20 er in 26.2 ip) over the last seven games…has tied the Athletics record for most losses by relievers (33, also in 1965) and is closing in on the record for most walks (has 281, record is 282 in 1996) and most runs (has 338, record is 341 in 1955)…has a 5.50 ERA, which is the highest in the majors and the highest in Oakland history (5.22 in 1980)…also has the most losses in the majors this year (33) and the second most innings pitched (512.1)…is 20-for-43 (46.5%) in save opportunities…has the lowest save percentage in the majors, the second fewest saves and is tied for the fifth most blown saves (23)…has allowed 93-of-237 (39.4%) inherited runners to score, which is the third highest percentage…is tied with the Reds for the most inherited runners.
ON THE BASES: The A’s have been successful in each of their 11 stolen bases attempts in August and are 114-for-136 (83.8%) for the season…rank fifth in the majors in steals, attempts and percentage…the stolen bases are the most by an A’s team since 2012 (122)…A’s opponents are 84-for-120 (70.0%) in stolen base attempts, which is the second lowest success rate in the majors…the 36 caught stealings are the most…A’s pitchers have 11 pickoffs, which is tied for fourth most.
DEFENSIVE DOINGS: The A’s committed two errors yesterday after making just one over the previous seven games…now have 73 for the season, which is tied for fourth most in the majors…A’s outfielders had an assist in each of the three games at St. Louis and now have 22 for the season, which is tied for fifth most in the majors…the A’s have turned 85 double plays, which is second fewest.
HOME AND AWAY: The A’s are 0-1 on this six-game homestand against Baltimore (0-1) and Kansas City (three games)…went 3-2 on the last homestand against San Francisco (2-0) and Texas (1-2), which was the A’s first winning homestand of the season…are 18-42 (.300) at home, which is the lowest home winning percentage in the majors…went 29-51 at home last year and have back-to-back losing seasons at home for the first time since 2015-16… snapped a nine-game road losing streak on Wednesday, which was the second longest road losing streak this year (15, May 7-June 5) and tied for eighth longest in Oakland history…went 1-5 on the last road trip to Washington (0- 3) and St. Louis (1-2) and are 16-46 (.258) on the road, which is the worst road record in the majors…have compiled a 5.02 ERA (308 er in 552.0 ip) at home compared to 6.57 on the road…are batting .215 (415-for-1932) at home compared to .233 on the road..
ONE-RUN GAMES AND OTHER CLOSE CALLS: Half of the A’s wins have been by one run as they are 17-24 (.415) in one-run games and 17-64 (.209) in games decided by two or more runs…are tied for the most one-run losses in the majors and rank third in games (41)…are 6-6 (.500) in extra inning games…are tied for 10th in the majors in extra inning games (12), losses and wins…have six walk-off wins, which is tied for seventh most…have scored the winning run in their final at bat in 14 of their 34 victories (41.2%).
PLAYER NOTES: Last night, Francisco Pérez became the 18th pitcher to start a game for the A’s this year…that is an on-going Oakland record and is the most by an A’s team since the 1956 Kansas City A’s also had 18…have set Athletics records for most pitchers in a season (36), most relievers in a season (32) and most non-Covid injured list placements in a season (28)…used the IL an Athletics record 31 times last year (including nine times for Covid)…have used 57 players overall, which is second highest in Athletics history to the record of 64 set last year…the 57 players are second most in the majors to the Angels (60) and the 36 pitchers are third most (Rays 39, Dodgers 37)…have employed 18 rookies, which is tied with the Pirates for second most in the majors to the Reds (19)…used an Oakland record 34 rookies last year.
THIS AND THAT: The A’s are 7-32 (.179) in the final game of a series…are 25-47 (.347) in night games, 9-41 (.180) during the day…according to baseball-reference, the lowest winning percentage in day games by an AL or NL team since 1901 is .231 (12-40) by the 2003 Tigers…the A’s are 1-11 (.083) on Thursday… have an average time of game of 2:44, which is fourth longest in the majors… however, have not averaged under 2:53 per game since 2010 (2:44).
A’S VS. ORIOLES
- The A’s have lost the season series for the first time since 2017 as they are 1-4 with two games remaining.
- Are 19-12 (.613) against the Orioles dating back to 2018…that includes 10-4 in Oakland and 9-8 in Baltimore.
- The A’s are 1018-957 all-time against the Orioles/Browns/Brewers…they are the only one of the seven other original American League franchises that the A’s have a winning record against.
Year Home Road Totals
2023 0-1 1-3 1-4
2022 3-1 1-2 4-3
Oakland History: 282-177
at the Coliseum: 143-139
at Camden Yards: 72-64
Athletics History: 1018-957
TODAY’S TIDBITS
Lawrence Butler went 0-for-4 in his Major League debut but has hit safely in each of his six games since then (7-for-21, .333)…Zack Gelof has eight home runs, which are the most in Athletics history by a player over the first 29 games of his career…his 20 extra base hits match the most (Page, 1977), his 11 doubles are tied for third and his 21 runs are tied for fifth… Austin Pruitt has not allowed a run in his last 12 games (14.2 ip, 7 h, 5 bb, 12 so) and the 14.2-inning scoreless streak is a career high…has not allowed a run in his last 15 relief appearances (17.0 ip).
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: Ken Waldichuk (2-7, 6.07 ERA)
FOR STARTERS: Is scheduled to make his 28th appearance and 17th start of the season…it will be his 15th traditional start as he also has two appearances as an opener…has also pitched three times in relief of an opener…has left with the lead in each of his last two starts only to have the bullpen blow the save…it was the fourth and fifth time this year he was in position to win only to have the pen blow the save…has allowed two runs or fewer in three of his last four appearances and is 0-1 with a 3.226 ERA (7 er in 19.1 ip) and .205 (15-for-73) opponents batting average over that span.
RANKINGS: Ranks fourth among Major League rookies in strikeouts (100) and sixth in innings pitched (99.1)…also ranks second in most walks (56), third in most hits (113) and most runs (72), tied for fifth in most losses (7) and seventh in most home runs (16)…the 56 walks are 10th most among all pitchers…among pitchers with 90 or more innings, he has the highest opponents on-base percentage in the majors (.380), the second highest OPS (.880), third highest ERA (6.07), sixth highest slugging percentage (.500) and seventh highest batting average (.287).
HOME AND AWAY: Is 0-2 with a 4.60 ERA (23 er in 45.0 ip) and .819 opponents OPS in 12 games at home compared to 2-5 with a 7.29 ERA (44 er in 54.1 ip) and .929 OPS in 15 games in the road…has surrendered 10 of his 16 home runs on the road…is now 2-3 with a 4.33 ERA and .779 OPS in 15 career games in the Coliseum, 2-6 with a 7.03 ERA and .918 OPS in 19 games on the road.
OPPONENTS BATTING: Has allowed a .214 (28-for-131) opponents batting average and .668 OPS over his last nine games dating back to June 29…had a .323 opponents average and .985 OPS over his first 18 contests…has not allowed a home run over his last four starts (19.1 ip) and has yielded just two home runs over his last 16 games and 49.2 innings dating back to May 31 after surrendering 14 home runs over his first 11 games and 49.2 innings… overall, has allowed 21 hits to left-handed hitters, 14 of which are for extra bases (nine doubles, one triple, four home runs)…10 of the 16 home runs he has allowed have been solo shots…opponents are 2-for-16 (.125) with a double, home run and three walks with the bases loaded…as a starter, he has a .256 (30-for-117) opponents batting average the first time through the order, .282 (29-for-103) the second time and .354 (23-for-65) the third time.
STARTING, RELIEVING AND OPENING: Has pitched in 27 games…that includes 14 traditional starts, two starts as an opener (May 28, June 20), three appearances in relief of an opener (May 24, July 5, July 25) and eight traditional relief appearances…began the season in the starting rotation and made nine starts through May 19…has tossed five innings or fewer in nine of his 14 traditional starts and never more than 6.1 innings…logged 1.0 inning and 1.2 innings in his two starts as an opener (May 28 vs. Houston, June 20 at Cleveland)…has tossed at least 2.0 innings in eight of his 11 relief appearances.
THAT’S ODD: Has a 3.79 ERA (23 er in 54.2 ip) in odd numbered innings, a 8.87 ERA (44 er in 44.2 ip) in even numbered innings…last year, he had a 7.52 ERA and .962 opponents OPS in odd numbered innings, a 1.26 ERA and .523 OPS in even numbered innings.
2023 DAY-BY-DAY: Began the season in the A’s starting rotation and went 1-4 with a 6.85 ERA in nine starts through May 19 before splitting his duties between the pen, the rotation and opening…allowed six runs on a career-high nine hits in his first start of the season on April 2 against Los Angeles (AL) and was the losing pitcher in the A’s 6-0 loss…surrendered a three-run home run to O’Hoppe in the fourth to snap a career-high 14.0-inning scoreless streak dating back to last year…allowed three home runs against the Angels and a career-high four in his next start on April 7 at Tampa Bay…the seven home runs in back-to-back starts match the most in Oakland history by a pitcher over a two-game stretch…Mike Fiers (Sept. 3-9, 2019) is the only other one to do it over the last 25 years…allowed a career-high eight runs in 3.0 innings in the start against the Rays, which was his shortest outing of the season in a traditional start…tossed a season-high 6.1 innings April 12 at Baltimore but had a no decision in the A’s 8-4 win…left with a 4-2 lead but Familia blew the save…it was the first of five times he left with the lead in position to win only to have the bullpen blow the save (April 12, 24 and 30; August 7 and 13)…tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his fourth start on April 18 at Chicago (NL) but had a no decision as the A’s were shutout 4-0…struck out a season-high seven batters in 5.2 innings on April 30 against Cincinnati… finished April 0-2 with a 7.26 ERA and .976 opponents OPS in six starts… had the highest opponents OPS (.976) and slugging percentage (.598) in the majors in April, the fourth highest on-base percentage (.378) and the fifth highest ERA and batting average (.307)…the ERA was the highest April ERA in Athletics history among pitchers with 30 or more innings…allowed 10 home runs, which were the most in the majors and matched Gil Heredia (2001) for the most home runs in April in Athletics history…then went 1-2 with a 7.78 ERA and 1.062 OPS in six games in May…walked a career-high six batters and tossed a career-high 114 pitches on May 6 at Kansas City but picked up his first win of the season in the A’s 5-4 victory…then walked five batters in each of his next two starts and his streak of three consecutive games with five or more walks matches the longest by an A’s pitcher over the last 30 years (Chad Gaudin, July 12-23, 2007)…was moved out of the starting rotation after allowing four runs on five hits and five walks in 5.0 innings in a 5-1 loss at Houston on May 19…took the loss in his first relief appearance on May 24 at Seattle…struck out a season-high tying seven batters in 2.2 innings but allowed five runs on eight hits and three walks…made his first start as an opener on May 28 against Houston (1.0 ip, 1 h, 1 r, 1 er, 2 so)…earned the first save of his career on June 12 against Tampa Bay when he tossed 3.0 scoreless innings in the A’s 4-3 win…became the first A’s pitcher to toss three or more scoreless innings for the save in a one-run game since Elias Sosa on May 2, 1978…made his second start as an opener on June 20 at Cleveland (1.2 ip, 2 h, 2 so)…allowed six runs in 2.1 innings of relief on June 25 at Toronto…went 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA, .203 opponents batting average and .678 OPS in five games, including two starts, in July…struck out a season-high tying seven batters on Aug. 7 vs. Texas.
LAST START: He had his second consecutive no decision in the A’s 8-7 loss at Washington last Sunday…Oakland scored three times in the first and he allowed a RBI double to Garrett in the bottom of the first…that would be the only run he would allow in five innings of work…left with a 5-1 lead and the A’s had a 7-2 lead entering the bottom of the ninth when the Nationals scored six times for the win.
