The Oakland A’s got their six game road trip off to a strong start with a victory over the Kansas City Royals in Bobby Cramer’s major league debut. Cramer had spent eight seasons in the minor leagues before getting the call today. In his debut, Cramer lasted 5 1/3 innings and held the Royals to one run on four hits and a walk while striking out four.
It was an interesting game as the A’s scored their first two runs without recording a hit in the first few innings. Errors, walks, and fielder’s choices resulted in the A’s taking an early 2-0 lead. Mike Aviles cut the lead in half with a solo home run in the fourth inning, but the A’s added an insurance run when Jack Cust went yard in the sixth inning.
The A’s bullpen was able to lock down the game with 3 2/3 innings of shutout ball. Brad Zeigler, Jerry Blevins, Muchael Wuertz, Craig Breslow, and Andrew Bailey combined to hold the Royals to three hits and two walks in locking up Cramer’s first win. Congratulations to the rookie for a strong outing, and congratulations to the bullpen for a great job finishing it up.
The A’s send out Gio Gonzalez against Zack Greinke in tomorrow night’s matchup.