The right-hander had struggled recently, posting a 5.27 ERA over his previous seven starts. “It’s extremely frustrating, especially as good as I felt coming out”. “I think I was a little excited to get out there”. “The team made me feel like I was a part since Day 1”. “The ball was flying out today and they took advantage”.
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In reaching the 50-win mark in their fewest games since 2008, they had gone 9-3 following a one-run loss, including wins in their past four tries.
“I was trying to get a good pitch to hit”, said Smolinski, who recorded his first career multi-homer game in just his fourth game with the A’s.
Shane Robinson’s RBI triple in the ninth off Scribner, on a ball that center fielder Billy Burns appeared to lose in the sun, spoiled the shutout bid. He hadn’t allowed a homer since June 12 at Texas, when Elvis Andrus took him deep six starts ago.
At the plate:Milone (5-2), who pitched for the A’s from 2012-14, wasn’t treated kindly by his old teammates.
“It was a good day for everyone”, said Smolinski.
Three of those homers came off lefty Tommy Milone, who was riding a hot streak until running into his old team for the first time Sunday afternoon. Phegley drove in three runs.
Josh Reddick added a grand slam in the fifth off Twins reliever J.R. Graham, who grew up in nearby Livermore and was pitching as high school coach David Perotti watched from the stands. Chavez would finish the game with nine strikeouts in six innings, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk. “But regardless I have to do a better job of getting out of the third with two outs”.
For the A’s Kazmir looked the part of All-Star as he went 8 1/3 innings before giving up what would be a game tying run on an RBI by double Joe Mauer. But it was too little to late as the A’s five-homer day cruised them to a 14-1 win.
Santana’s error opens door for A’s: Santana had a rough day in the field, making two throwing errors, including a costly one in the second with two outs that kept the inning alive for the A’s and set up Phegley’s two-run blast. Smolinski followed with a solo shot and Lawrie singled, ending Milone’s night.
“It was awesome watching the guys hit”, Chavez said. “You see the potential, it’s just not as consistent as we’d like to this point”.
“The break probably helped him”, Melvin said.
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NOTES: Twins DH Miguel Sano showed up at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland on Sunday using crutches, the result of a sprained right ankle suffered in pre-game drills on Saturday. The first seven runs were with two outs. Molitor said Sano would be re-evaluated but he is hopeful it will be only three to five days. A’s RHP/LHP Pat Venditte (strained right shoulder) will throw batting practice in Stockton for the Class A Ports on Monday.
