Could 10, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics supervisor Mark Kotsay (7) heads towards the dugout earlier than a recreation in opposition to the New York Yankees at Sutter Well being Park. Obligatory Credit score: Dennis Lee-Imagn Photos Athletics supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned his group is within the midst of a “good storm” of how issues can go unsuitable unexpectedly.
Mired in a nine-game shedding streak, the Athletics have a tricky activity to halt their slide on Friday night time after they open a three-game collection in opposition to the Nationwide League-leading Philadelphia Phillies in West Sacramento, Calif.
The Phillies recorded their seventh consecutive victory with a 2-0 determination over the woeful Colorado Rockies in Denver on Thursday afternoon.
In a bid to maintain the great occasions going, Philadelphia will ship ace right-hander Zack Wheeler (5-1, 2.67 ERA) to the mound on Friday night time.
Wheeler is 2-1 with a 6.67 ERA in opposition to the Athletics. His final begin in opposition to them got here on June 18, 2023, when he scattered six hits over six scoreless innings to select up the win.
“We have introduced some completely different guys as much as attempt them in non-leverage roles, and we have not been capable of maintain video games,” Kotsay mentioned after the Athletics’ 10-5 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. “That is form of the story over the past two weeks and possibly longer.
“Is there a fast repair? I might like to let you know there may be. We’ll maintain working. That is all we will do. Repair these points by cleansing up our execution and permitting guys to undergo this and get higher.”
Issues initially seemed good for the Athletics, who led 5-2 after six innings on Thursday. Starter Luis Severino allowed two runs on seven hits, didn’t stroll a batter and struck out 5.
Reliever Grant Holman struggled within the seventh inning, nonetheless. He loaded the bases and allowed Taylor Ward’s grand slam in addition to a solo homer to Logan O’Hoppe.
“You get to that time within the recreation the place you are going to attempt to use (nearer) Mason Miller for 2 innings, however we simply could not get there,” Kotsay mentioned.
Brent Rooker hit a two-run homer and a double throughout his 3-for-4 efficiency for the Athletics.
Their starter on Friday has but to be introduced.
On Thursday, starter Ranger Suarez allowed six hits in 6 2/3 scoreless innings for Philadelphia, with three walks and 6 strikeouts.
“I felt good,” Suarez mentioned by a group interpreter, per The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Particularly on this setting, in this kind of stadium, the place your pitches could not do the identical that they normally do movement-wise, however the cutter was working effectively.”
Suarez left with two runners aboard within the backside of the seventh earlier than Orion Kerkering induced Hunter Goodman to come out to finish the inning. Matt Strahm labored the eighth, and Jordan Romano pitched the ninth for his sixth save of the season.
In his final 9 appearances, Romano has allowed three hits and struck out 13 over 9 scoreless innings.
“The day we do not essentially rating many runs, we actually pitched effectively and performed good protection,” Phillies supervisor Rob Thomson mentioned. “It was very satisfying.”
Bryce Harper is 14-for-28 with 4 doubles, a house run and 9 RBIs in the course of the group’s seven-game profitable streak. He had an RBI double on Thursday, and Max Kepler added one other for Philadelphia.
“They work at it day-after-day,” Thomson mentioned. “We have made some changes, and I feel they will proceed to do it. … A few well timed hits with Kepler and Harp. So Harp appears to be like good on the plate proper now.”
–Discipline Degree Media
