The Oakland Athletics dropped the second game of a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 after the DBacks jumped on Josh Outman. While Outman was not shelled he did not have the command he’s had in recent games and it cost him Chris Young carried Arizona’s offense as he had three straight hits including a two-run home run to net four RBIs. The A’s attempted a rally late but ran out of time.
Joe Saunders was dominant through seven innings as the A’s could not get the key hits they got Friday night. The A’s managed some bases-empty two out hits, but they could not get the two outs with runners in scoring position until the eighth inning. Scott Sizemore drove in a run on a ground out followed by Hideki Matsui singling in a run with two outs. The A’s got the tying run on base when Chris Carter singled, but Conor Jackson struck out looking to end the eighth. The A’s went in order in the ninth and that was that.
Chris Young was the spark plug for Arizona a night after they struggled much of the game. Young singled off in Willie Bloomquist in the first inning to give the Diamondbacks a 1-0 lead. Young followed that up in the third with an RBI double to drive in Kelly Johnson. He capped his evening with a two-run home run to drive in Justin Upton in the fifth inning. The Diamondbacks would not score any more runs but none were necessary.
The A’s and Diamondbacks will meet in the rubber match on Sunday at 1:05pm. Gio Gonzalez and Ian Kennedy square off in a battle of potential All Star pitchers.