Final
A's target sixth straight win in capper with Padres
Jun 17, 2012 - 11:24 AMVideo
The Athletics have now won five straight games but the fifth win didn't come easily.
Oakland took a 3-0 lead through five innings on a solo home run from Seth Smith and run scoring hits from Collin Cowgill and Jemile Weeks. The Padres answered with a two-run home run from Carlos Quentin in the sixth and a two- run double from Will Venable in the seventh.
The Athletics didn't wait long to respond with a three-run bottom of the seventh inning highlighted by a two-run home run from pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes. Gomes had been hitless in 34 previous pinch hit appearances before the home run.
In his return from Triple-A, Tyson Ross pitched well, allowing just two runs on one hit and four walks in six innings of work, but it was Sean Doolittle who got the win, despite surrendering the Athletics' lead in his one inning of work.
In his first start of the 2012 season Ross Ohlendorf allowed three runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings, but like his counterpart did not factor in the decision. Joe Thatcher surrendered Gomes' tie-breaking home run and took the loss in the game.
It's fitting that Bartolo Colon will be on the mound with Oakland's winning streak on the line. After collecting back-to-back wins in his last two starts, Colon will try to win three straight starts for the first time as a member of the Athletics when he takes the mound on Sunday.
Colon was shaky his last time out when he allowed five runs on nine hits over five innings of work, but his offense picked him up as he earned his sixth win in an 8-5 triumph over Colorado.
The rough outing against Colorado came on the heels of a pair of strong starts from Colon that had brought his ERA below 4.00 for the first time since early May.
The 39-year-old veteran is now sitting on an ERA of 4.21 to go along with an even 6-6 record in 14 starts this season.
Colon will be making just his third career start against the Padres on Sunday and his first one since 2006 when he was a member of the Montreal Expos. In his first two times out against San Diego, Colon went 1-1 with a 1.13 ERA.
On the other side, the Padres will counter with Clayton Richard.
After going nearly a year since winning on the road Richard was able to end up on the winning side as the road pitcher his last time out. Richard pitched seven strong innings allowing just one run on eight hits as the Padres downed the Seattle Mariners 5-4.
The victory was only the third of the season for Richard and the first after a four-start drought in which he was 0-2 despite an ERA of 3.86.
Richard is now 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA overall this season. The seven losses are tied for the most in the majors and are due in large part to a brutal five- start stretch from the end of April into mid-May when Richard dropped five straight decisions.
This will be the second start and third career appearance against Oakland for the 28-year-old who spent some time early in his career out of the bullpen. Richard lost the one start he has against Oakland giving up five runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of work during the 2009 season.
- SAN DIEGO: 2
OAKLAND: 1
Final
Jun 17 6:59 PM - Coco Crisp single to center scored Seth Smith with two outs. On the play, Cliff Pennington advances to third. Runners on first and third and Jemile Weeks due up.
Padres 2, Athletics 1 Bot 9, 2 OutsJun 17 6:57 PM - Logan Forsythe scored on a wild pitch with two outs. None on and Nick Hundley at the plate.
Padres 2, Athletics 0 Top 9, 2 OutsJun 17 6:41 PM - Will Venable ground ball fielder's choice, short, third, second to pitcher scored Everth Cabrera with one out . On the play, Alexi Amarista out at third. Runner on second and Chris Denorfia due up.
Padres 1, Athletics 0 Top 3, 1 OutJun 17 4:48 PM - SAN DIEGO: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jun 17 4:09 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- Padres notes: Luis Patino brought back, Victor Rodriguez next hitting coach Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- Good Morning San Diego: Could Padres trade Ha-Seong Kim, Jake Cronenworth? Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: JJ Bleday Dec 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Replies off, talk to the hand Dec 21
- Good Morning San Diego: Who is new Padres reliever Yuki Matsui? Dec 21