So, for the most part on the road trip, we saw decent offense, spotty defense and poor pitching. Tonight was the opposite: great defense, good pitching, very little offense. At least the latter is more familiar – and, maybe why that combination concerns me less. I remain convinced that it’s generally less of a chore to get bats going than it is to get arms right.
We shall see . . .
ON the MOUND
J.A. had another quality start, comparable to his performance in Oakland (where he allowed a couple more hits in less IP but, also didn’t allow an XBH or a BB but, only had one K). So far, I think we’d take J.A.’s performance in his first two starts ALL season long – especially from our “5th” starter 🙂 His line tonight . . .
SEVEN innings ~ FIVE hits ~ TWO earned runs ~ TWO walks~ THREE strikeouts
} Yoervis got a couple of quick outs in the 8th but then allowed a double
} Charlie still sporting a 0.00 ERA but, he walked the only batter he faced tonight 😦
} Dom came in to get the final out in the 8th but then, allowed a lead-off walk in the 9th followed by an over-turned DP (runner out at 2B, runner safe at 1B) and then a WP moved the runner from 2B to 3B who would eventually score on a freaky infield hit that bounce off the 3B bag (if the M’s didn’t have bad luck they’d have no luck 😦 )
AT the PLATE
EIGHT hits but, only ONE for extra bases . . .
Brad led off the 8th with a double and scored on Seth’s sac-fly for the lone M’s run
LoMo continues to be the leader in bad luck . . .
Line drives right at fielders and now add a sure extra base hit (if not a home run) robbed at the wall in the 9th (by Choo). He plays all out though – had a nice hard slide into 2B to break up a double-play in the 5th (which WOULD have been the Rangers 4th DP turned)
https://twitter.com/SteveSandmeyer/status/589280317585821696
Nellie had THREE singles coming into the 9th when he the came T H I S close to extending his streak homer streak to SIX games . . .
IN the FIELD
Credit where credit is due . . .
* Gotta gush about LoMo again. He really is an under-rated first baseman. He had a great snare of a liner and more than one nice stretch at the bag to ensure the out. Here’s hoping he can stay healthy because it’s very apparent he’s capable of saving runs.
* Nellie’s never going to be a gold glove right fielder but, he is at least serviceable (he made a nice play cutting off a line drive with a great throw to keep the runner at 1B). Seems the main concern with him playing the field is more health than competency.
* Austin had a couple of really nice running catches in CF and Kyle had one of those “look what I found” catches of a bullet hit right at him – he was still in a squat position and didn’t have to move a muscle
* Zu, as usual was great BEHIND the plate (yes, we all know he needs to improve AT it) including a great throw to nail a would-be base-stealer at 2B
tweets of the game . . .
Compass Rosy 