The Athletics chalked up their 93rd loss of the season Friday night, dropping their fourth straight game in a 5-3 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians. It was a tough start to their final road series of the year, especially after their offense roared to life early before completely fading. You had to wonder if this was finally the night they’d turn things around after a first-inning eruption, but nope, same old story.
Gelof Goes Yard, Then Silence
The A’s wasted no time getting on the scoreboard against Guardians opener Daniel Espino. Center fielder Henry Bolte and right fielder Lawrence Butler got things going with walks. Then, with one out, left fielder Zack Gelof stepped up and absolutely mashed his 19th home run of the season. It was a huge three-run shot to right center, putting the visitors up 3-0 before Cleveland even got a chance to swing. That early blast made it feel like the A’s might actually have something going. But here’s the kicker: that first inning was their first and *only* scoring chance of the entire game. Brutal, right? You get a big lead like that, you gotta keep pushing.
Barnett’s Traffic Jam Leads to Bullpen Bleed Out
A’s right-hander Mason Barnett, who’d just been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas, immediately found himself in trouble. He struggled with command from the jump, loading the bases in the bottom of the first on a pair of walks and a single. Lucky for him, Cleveland failed to score when Barnett got second baseman Travis Bazzana to ground into an inning-ending double play. Then, in the bottom of the second, Barnett somehow loaded the bases again, for the second time in as many innings! And again, he escaped, striking out Jose Ramirez to end the threat. The guy needed 54 pitches just to navigate two traffic-filled, scoreless frames.
But that luck didn’t last. Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo came in after Espino pitched just one inning and completely neutralized the A’s offense. Cantillo threw six scoreless innings, facing only one batter over the minimum, which gave his teammates all the time they needed. Cleveland finally broke through against Barnett in the fourth. After two singles, shortstop Brayan Rocchio ripped a two-RBI double to cut the lead to 3-2. Ramirez followed with an RBI single to tie the game, sending Barnett to the showers. He gave up three runs on seven hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings, probably fortunate it wasn’t worse with all those early baserunners. Scott Blewett came in and stopped the bleeding, keeping it tied.
The bullpen struggles continued though. Blewett stayed in for the fifth, but Bazzana, who earlier grounded into that double play, blasted his 15th homer of the season, a solo shot to right-center, putting Cleveland up for the first time. Then, with two outs in the sixth, Ramirez hit his 12th homer of the season, a solo shot to right against A’s reliever Seth Johns. Just crushing to see a lead evaporate like that.
This one stings. Losing the 93rd game of the season, especially when you start with a three-run bomb like Gelof’s, just shows how tough this year has been. The A’s have to find some way to snap this four-game skid in the rest of their series against the Guardians. They’ve got to find a way to finish strong, even when it feels like everything is going against them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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