Deadspin | Slumping A’s face tricky process in weathering ‘typhoon’ vs. Phillies

Athletics supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned his staff is in the course of a “perfect storm” of ways issues can pass mistaken abruptly.

Mired in a nine-game shedding streak, the Athletics have a difficult process to halt their slide on Friday night time once they open a three-game collection in opposition to the National League-leading Philadelphia Phillies in West Sacramento, Calif.

The Phillies recorded their 7th consecutive victory with a 2-0 choice over the woeful Colorado Rockies in Denver on Thursday afternoon.

In a bid to stay the great instances going, Philadelphia will ship ace right-hander Zack Wheeler (5-1, 2.67 ERA) to the mound on Friday night time.

Wheeler is 2-1 with a 6.67 ERA in opposition to the Athletics. His closing get started in opposition to them got here on June 18, 2023, when he scattered six hits over six scoreless innings to select up the win.

“We’ve brought some different guys up to try them in non-leverage roles, and we haven’t been able to hold games,” Kotsay mentioned after the Athletics’ 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. “That’s kind of the story over the last two weeks and maybe longer.

“Is there a handy guide a rough repair? I would like to inform you there’s. We’re going to stay operating. That’s all we will do. Fix the ones problems via cleansing up our execution and permitting guys to move via this and recuperate.”

Things initially looked good for the Athletics, who led 5-2 after six innings on Thursday. Starter Luis Severino allowed two runs on seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out five.

Reliever Grant Holman struggled in the seventh inning, however. He loaded the bases and allowed Taylor Ward’s grand slam as well as a solo homer to Logan O’Hoppe.

“You get to that time within the sport the place you are going to check out to make use of (nearer) Mason Miller for 2 innings, however we simply could not get there,” Kotsay said.

Brent Rooker hit a two-run homer and a double during his 3-for-4 performance for the Athletics.

Their starter on Friday has yet to be announced.

On Thursday, starter Ranger Suarez allowed six hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Philadelphia, with three walks and six strikeouts.

“I felt excellent,” Suarez said through a team interpreter, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Especially on this atmosphere, in this kind of stadium, the place your pitches would possibly not do the similar that they generally do movement-wise, however the cutter used to be operating smartly.”

Suarez left with two runners aboard in the bottom of the seventh before Orion Kerkering induced Hunter Goodman to pop out to end the inning. Matt Strahm worked the eighth, and Jordan Romano pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season.

In his last nine appearances, Romano has allowed three hits and struck out 13 over nine scoreless innings.

“The day we do not essentially rating many runs, we truly pitched smartly and performed excellent protection,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “It used to be very fulfilling.”

Bryce Harper is 14-for-28 with four doubles, a home run and nine RBIs during the team’s seven-game winning streak. He had an RBI double on Thursday, and Max Kepler added another for Philadelphia.

“They paintings at it each day,” Thomson said. “We’ve made some changes, and I feel they’re going to proceed to do it. … A few well timed hits with Kepler and Harp. So Harp seems excellent on the plate presently.”

–Field Level Media