MLB Team Report – Oakland Athletics – INSIDE PITCH
Tommy Milone finally figured out how to get it done on the road.
The lefty is 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA in home starts, the lowest home ERA in the majors.
On the road, entering Monday’s game in Seattle, he had been 2-4 with a 7.42 ERA, the second-highest road ERA to Tim Lincecum’s 7.59.
On Monday, it all changed.
He pitched seven scoreless innings in Oakland’s 1-0 win over the Mariners. He gave up seven hits and walked none while striking out five.
“We were joking before the game: ‘Let’s put that road thing to a halt so people would stop talking about it,'” catcher Kurt Suzuki said.
Milone said Safeco Field isn’t much different from the Oakland Coliseum, and that was a help.
“There’s a lot of room out there, just like the Coliseum,” Milone said. “My game is to throw strikes, and in a big park, it makes it a lot easier to do that and not worry about them hitting the ball over the fence. I felt today Suzuki could’ve called any pitch and I would’ve thrown it in the spot.”
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MLB Team Report – Oakland Athletics – NOTES, QUOTES
–C Kurt Suzuki isn’t a full-time catcher, not with rookie C Derek Norris making a splash. Norris hit a game-ending homer to beat the Giants on Sunday, but he didn’t play Monday. Suzuki caught the three-pitcher shutout and said he feels better physically than they he has all year. However, he went 0-for-3, lowering his average to .213. Norris is expected to catch Tuesday.
–LF Seth Smith homered for the only run in Oakland’s 1-0 victory at Seattle, a second-inning shot off RHP Erasmo Ramirez, who struck out 10 in his third big-league start. It was a first-pitch fastball, one of three A’s hits, and Smith said, “I tried to be aggressive early in the count. I saw how he pitched our first four batters (three strikeouts and a popout), and you don’t want to get behind (in the count) against a guy like that.”
–C Derek Norris got his home run ball from Sunday. At first, he didn’t think he would, but a family from Los Angeles emerged and wanted to give him the ball, which wasn’t authenticated by Major League Baseball. Norris appreciated the act, nonetheless. He agreed to give the family an autographed bat, and clubhouse man Steve Vucinich said he’d include other items in a package that’ll be sent to the family. Norris became the third player in A’s history to have his first big-league homer end a game.
–DH Yoenis Cespedes will move to the outfield Tuesday, manager Bob Melvin said. Cespedes has been used as a DH as he recuperated from a hamstring injury, and he told Melvin he’s ready to play defense and try stealing bases. Melvin will put him in either left field or, if CF Coco Crisp rests Tuesday, center field. Melvin said he’d also play INF Brandon Hicks at first base for Brandon Moss.
–RHP Grant Balfour has not allowed a run in his last nine games, and he has a 10 2/3-inning scoreless streak. Opponents are batting just .091 (3-for-33) during that span. On Monday, he tossed a scoreless eighth inning, appearing after LHP Tommy Milone’s seven-inning stint and before RHP Ryan Cook’s four-batter save.
BY THE NUMBERS: 19 — First-pitch strikes for Tommy Milone, who faced 24 batters Monday at Seattle.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “The flight was sweet. Never been on a charter before.” — RHP A.J. Griffin, who made his big-league debut Sunday with six solid innings and flew with the team to Seattle to begin a weeklong trip.
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MLB Team Report – Oakland Athletics – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Brandon McCarthy (strained right shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20. He hopes to return around the All-Star break.
–OF Collin Cowgill (sprained left ankle) went on the 15-day disabled list June 23. He might be ready to return in mid-July.
–RHP Bartolo Colon (right oblique strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 18. He might be able to return before the All-Star break.
–LHP Dallas Braden (left shoulder surgery in May 2011) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 24. He was moved to the 60-day DL on April 22. Braden played catch several times in early May and is scheduled to throw off a mound during the week of June 25-July 1. He is unlikely to return before midseason.
–LHP Brett Anderson (Tommy John surgery in July 2011) went on the 60-day disabled list March 13. He threw 30 pitches to hitters at extended spring training on April 27, and then pitched again in extended spring training May 9. He threw off a mound for the first time June 23, and he could return in July.
–RHP Andrew Carignan (sprained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list June 6, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 9. He had season-ending Tommy John surgery June 19.
–RHP Joey Devine (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 24, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 15. He will miss the entire season.
–3B Scott Sizemore (left knee surgery in March 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list March 3. He will miss the entire season.
ROTATION:
LHP Tommy Milone
RHP Jarrod Parker
LHP Travis Blackley
RHP Tyson Ross
RHP A.J. Griffin
BULLPEN:
RHP Ryan Cook (closer)
RHP Grant Balfour
LHP Brian Fuentes
LHP Jerry Blevins
LHP Sean Doolittle
RHP Jim Miller
LHP Jordan Norberto
RHP Evan Scribner
CATCHERS:
Kurt Suzuki
Derek Norris
INFIELDERS:
1B Brandon Moss
2B Jemile Weeks
SS Cliff Pennington
3B Brandon Inge
INF Brandon Hicks
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Yoenis Cespedes
CF Coco Crisp
RF Josh Reddick
OF Jonny Gomes
OF Seth Smith
