SB Nation Bay Area - A's Break Losing Streak, Win 14-4 Against The Pirateshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2010-06-26T00:11:45-07:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13015472010-06-26T00:11:45-07:002010-06-26T00:11:45-07:00Athletics Nation Post-game Thread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>They've got a rather... unusual (or is it usual for them) <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2010/6/25/1538156/as-two-tds-beat-bucs-two-safeties" target="_blank">post-game thread for discussion</a> on the A's win over the Pirates over at Athletics Nation, so check it out.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/6/26/1538279/athletics-nation-post-game-threadJames Brady2010-06-25T22:39:26-07:002010-06-25T22:39:26-07:00Recap: A's Win 14-4
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Oakland, CA <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/53797/recap/107625" target="_blank">(Sports Network)</a> - Cliff Pennington went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored as the Oakland Athletics pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates, 14-4, in the opener of a three-game interleague set.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Ryan Sweeney went 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored while Coco Crisp added three hits and three runs scored for the Athletics, who had dropped seven of eight coming in.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Ben Sheets (3-7) benefited from the run support as he snapped a four-start losing streak. He was charged with four runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts over six innings. Also, it was his first win since May 8 as he was held winless in his previous eight starts.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Ryan Doumit drove in two runs while Andrew McCutchen had an RBI and two runs scored for the Pirates, who have lost 15 straight road games. Brad Lincoln (0-2) was tagged with the loss as he was charged with five runs -- three earned -- on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout in six innings.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Neil Walker went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored for Pittsburgh, but left the game in the seventh inning after colliding with right fielder Ryan Church while the two players were trying to snag a foul ball. Walker lay on the ground for several minutes and was tended to by trainers before walking off the field with help from the trainers.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pittsburgh jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Walker hit a one-out double and scored when McCutchen followed with a double. McCutchen later scored when Doumit reached base on a Daric Barton error.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Oakland, though, answered in the home half of the first. With men on first and third and two outs, Sweeney reached base on a Walker error, allowing Crisp to score and Jack Cust followed with a single to score Barton and tie the game.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Pirates again took the lead in the third as Doumit's double scored McCutchen, who earlier reached base on a fielder's choice.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The A's responded in the bottom of the frame to take the lead. With the bases loaded, Mark Ellis punched a single to right to plate Kevin Kouzmanoff and Cliff Pennington followed with a sac fly to score Sweeney for a 4-3 lead.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Crisp led off the fourth with a triple and came home to score on Barton's sac fly for a 5-3 lead.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pittsburgh made it a one-run game in the fifth when Walker smacked a solo homer to right, his third of the year.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Oakland locked down the win with seven runs in the seventh. Sweeney doubled to score Kouzmanoff, Pennington later knocked a two-run single to right and Gabe Gross followed with a bloop RBI single to center. Barton then brought home Pennington with a single and a wild pitch from Brendan Donnelly scored Gross. Kouzmanoff then hit into a fielder's choice to score Crisp for a 12-4 lead.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The A's continued to pour it on in the eighth as Adam Rosales hit an RBI triple and then scored on Ellis' sac fly for a 14-4 lead.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Pittsburgh, which has lost its last four games, has not won on the road since May 25 in Cincinnati...Pittsburgh fell to 2-11 in interleague play this season while Oakland improved to 6-10...Oakland has won all seven matchups with Pittsburgh. It's the first time the teams are playing each other since 2004, when the A's swept the Pirates in Oakland.</p>
</span></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/6/25/1538187/athletics-beat-pirates-14-4James Brady2010-06-25T15:32:55-07:002010-06-25T15:32:55-07:00Preview: A's Looking To End String Of Losses Against Pirates
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/53797/preview/107565" target="_blank">(Sports Network)</a> - The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/OAK" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a>' chances of ending its current slide just got a little better with thePittsburgh <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/PIT" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a> in town for a three-game set that starts with tonight's series opener at the Coliseum.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Oakland was just swept in three games by the visiting <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CIN" class="sbn-auto-link">Cincinnati Reds</a> and suffered a 3-0 loss in Wednesday's series finale. <span>Johnny Cueto</span> shut the A's down with seven shutout innings, while Oakland starter <span>Vin Mazzaro</span> was dealt the hard-luck loss for giving up just two runs in seven innings of work.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"I thought [Mazzaro] pitched good," A's catcher <span>Kurt Suzuki</span> said on the team's website. "It was probably his best performance of the year. He was attacking the strike zone and not necessarily trying to force strikeouts but just get weak contact, which he did."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Conor Jackson</span> and <span>Mark Ellis</span> each posted a pair of hits for the Athletics, who have lost 10 of their last 12 contests. Jackson has 10 hits and three runs batted in since coming over from Arizona via trade.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Oakland starter <span>Ben Sheets</span> hopes to put the clamps down on a personal four- start losing streak when he takes the mound Friday. Sheets, who hasn't won since May 8 versus Tampa Bay, is coming off last Saturday's 4-3 loss at St. Louis in which he allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Sheets fell to 2-7 in 15 starts to go along with a 4.95 ERA this season. The right-hander hasn't fared too well at home either, going 2-2 in seven starts. He is 8-8 with a 2.92 ERA in 22 career starts against Pittsburgh during his many years with Milwaukee.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The Pirates were just swept in three games at Texas to kick off a nine-game road trip and have lost 15 of 17 games overall, including 14 straight on the road. Pittsburgh hasn't dropped 15 straight away from home since a 19-game slide July 23-Aug. 30, 1985.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">In Thursday's 6-5 loss to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/TEX" class="sbn-auto-link">Rangers</a> in Arlington, <span>Vladimir Guerrero</span> singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth off of Pirates reliever <span>Steven Jackson</span>, who was dealt the loss. Bucs starter <span>Jeff Karstens</span> recorded a no-decision for yielding three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">"I wish I would've gotten it in the dirt," Steven Jackson said of his pitch to Guerrero. "He's a great hitter. He's been doing that his whole career."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span>Pedro Alvarez</span> drove in two runs, <span>Garrett Jones</span> chipped in three hits and an RBI and <span>Jose Tabata</span> went 3-for-5 for the Pirates, who will also visit the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CHC" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago Cubs</a> on the trek and own a 9-28 mark away from the Steel City this season. Jones is hitting .423 in his past 14 contests.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Rookie <span>Brad Lincoln</span> is slated to make his fourth start tonight for the Buccos and is 0-1 with a 6.50 ERA in three outings so far. Lincoln lost to the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/CWS" class="sbn-auto-link">Chicago White Sox</a> back on June 15 for his first career decision, then did not factor into the outcome of Sunday's 5-3 win over Cleveland.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Lincoln, a right-hander, gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. He has lasted six innings in each of his three starts this season and will face Oakland for the first time.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">The A's are 6-0 all-time against the Pirates and swept a three-game series by the Bay the last time these two clubs met in 2004. Oakland took all three matchups in Pittsburgh during the 2002 campaign.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/6/25/2316998/preview-as-looking-to-end-string-of-losses-against-piratesJames Brady