A’s lose another close one, 3-2 to the Giants

Rivalry Weekend Ends in a Sweep

After dropping a tenth inning walk-off loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Athletics finished off the series today at Oracle Park. Today’s game closed the books on this weekend’s MLB Rivalry Series.

After loading the bases in the top of the first but being held off the scoreboard, Heliot Ramos homered on the first pitch of the bottom of the first to straight-away center field. At the end of one, the Giants led 1-0. Springs has been effective with his pitch count, tossing just twenty-two in the first two innings.

The A’s took the lead in the top of the fourth. After loading the bases with two outs, Lawrence Butler singled, driving in both Luis Urías and Max Schuemann. At then of four innings, the A’s led 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Spring struck out Wilmer Flores, the Giants hitting hero of the first two games of the series. That was Springs 20^th consecutive batter to be set down. But then Matt Chapman singled to break that streak and to chase Springs. Justin Sterner replaced him with two outs. Springs final line was 5 2/3 innings with one earned run, two hits, no walks and five strikeouts.

Things went downhill when (once again) Ferguson entered the game in the eighth, Lamont Wade starting things off with a triple to right field, Patrick Bailey singled to center to score Wade and tie the game. Heliot Ramos singled to score Bailey and give the Giants the lead. After Ferguson walked Flores, Grant Holman replaced him. Holman ended the inning without any more damage, but the A’s went down meekly in the top of the ninth. The 3-2 loss gave the Giants the series sweep in San Francisco.

The team opens up a four game series against American League West rivals, the Anaheim Angels in West Sacramento on Monday night at 7:05 PM.