A's beat Red Sox 2-1 despite blown call

A's beat Red Sox 2-1 despite blown call
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 21, 2014


OAKLAND – As has been the case for much of this four game weekend series against the defending champion Boston Red Sox, Stephen Vogt and Coco Crisp were the offensive stars of the game in Saturday’s 2-1 win in 10 innings.

Vogt reached base in his first three at bats and was responsible for the only run to score in the A’s win over the Red Sox, securing a season series win over the defending World Series champions.

Vogt lead off the third with a triple and came around to score on Alberto Callaspo’s sacrifice fly and Jesse Chavez went seven scoreless innings, which included no-hitting the Red Sox through the first five innings.

“It was fun,” Vogt said of the triple. “I was hoping it was going to get out. In retrospect, I wish I’d slid into third. I’m fortunate I was just fast enough to beat the throw.”

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A's beat Red Sox 4-3 on clutch Crisp single

A's beat Red Sox 4-3 on clutch Crisp single
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 20, 2014


OAKLAND–The Oakland A’s proved Friday night at the O.co Coliseum that you can get a lot more for a dollar than you think as they beat the Boston Red Sox the second straight night, winning 4-3 on an eighth inning Coco Crisp two-out RBI single as well as five scoreless innings from the bullpen.

Newly acquired pitcher Brad Mills struck out the first four batters he retired. The A’s got Mills for one dollar from the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday and he took injured started Drew Pomeranz’s spot in the rotation against the Boston Red Sox in the second of four games between the two teams this weekend.

Mills would get tagged for three runs, two of them earned, in four innings for the A’s.

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Kazmir, A's beat Red Sox 4-2

Kazmir, A's beat Red Sox 4-2
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 19, 2014


OAKLAND–Thursday night, the Oakland A’s defended their title as the team with the best record in the majors as they beat the defending champion Boston Red Sox by a 4-2 score in the first of four games at the O.co Coliseum between the two.

Stephen Vogt and Yoenis Cespedes were the offensive stars for the A’s. Vogt was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Cespedes’ third inning home run gave the A’s a 3-0 lead through the first four innings.

Scott Kazmir (9-2, 2.07 ERA) was excellent once again, going seven strong innings–the only runs allowed coming off a two-run Dustin Pedroia home run in the sixth inning. That made the game 3-2, but the A’s tacked on a run in the seventh on a John Jaso RBI single that scored Eric Sogard from second base. Coco Crisp was thrown out trying to advance to third.

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A’s offensive smorgasbord sends off Jeter as they beat Yanks 10-5

A’s offensive smorgasbord sends off Jeter as they beat Yanks 10-5
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
June 15, 2014

OAKLAND–After a power outage delayed Saturday’s game nearly 40 minutes, the A’s could’ve powered the stadium themselves Sunday as they hit two three-run home runs in the first two innings en route to a 10-5 win to begin their ten game home stand winning two out of three at O.co Coliseum.

The A’s gave Derek Jeter a nice send off and presentation before Sunday afternoon’s game, including a standing ovation from a fan base whose hearts Jeter has stomped on before.

The A’s got the last laugh in Jeter’s final regular season game against the club, dominating them to a 6-0 second inning lead on the strength of two three-run home runs from Derek Norris and Coco Crisp on Father’s Day.

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