Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Oakland Athletics Pitcher X puts together an excellent pitching performance. The A’s offense proceeds to score one or no runs in support of Pitcher X. Pitcher X leaves the game having given up hardly any damage of his own and will do no worse than a no-decision. A’s bullpen pitcher X gives it up in the late innings and the A’s go on to lose.
Monday saw the wash, rinse, repeat pattern strike again. Josh Outman made his return to the big leagues after Tommy John surgery two years ago and put together a very solid outing. Outman pitched seven innings, giving up one run on five hits and three walks. While it remains to be seen whether Outman will spend the whole season with Oakland, he most definitely bought himself another start while the A’s wait for Brandon McCarthy to get healthy.
The A’s bullpen and offense were the reasons the A’s couldn’t pull this one out. Hideki Matsui hit a sacrifice fly to score their lone run. The A’s had a chance to take the lead in the seventh but Andy LaRoche was thrown out at home plate. The A’s worked their way past Jered Weaver, but it just wasn’t enough.
The Angels ended things with a big eighth inning against the A’s bullpen. Brian Fuentes walked a batter and then retired the second batter, which then brought Michael Wuertz into the game. Wuertz proceeded to give up an RBI double to Torii Hunter and an RBI single to Jeff Mathis. The A’s couldn’t manage anything off Jordan Walden in the ninth and that was that.
Wash, rinse, repeat.