The Athletics took on the Washington Nationals in the second game of this three-game interleague series at West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park. This game was a complete reversal of Friday night’s opener, as the A’s scored early and often en route to a 15–1 victory that had to feel good for a club that had been struggling. Unlike his last start, J.T. Ginn protected an early lead, turning in the best performance by an Athletics starter in quite some time.
A’s Offense On Fire Early
Ginn set the tone for the rest of the game by striking out the side in his first inning of work.
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The hosts took the lead in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Jacob Wilson did not waste any time, launching a home run on Nationals’ starter Zack Littell’s first pitch of the game. His fifth long ball of the season and second career leadoff home run, gave the A’s an early 1–0 lead.
Left fielder Tyler Soderstrom singled to left. With one out, right fielder Carlos Cortes doubled to center, scoring Soderstrom from first. Third baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer followed by doubling down the right-field line, bringing home the A’s third run of the inning.
Designated hitter Jonah Heim kept the party going by lining an RBI single to center, scoring Kuroda-Grauer from second. Center fielder Lawrence Butler capped off the inning by grounding into an RBI fielder’s choice, beating the relay throw and allowing Donovan Walton to score the A’s fifth run of the frame.
The Nationals failed to take advantage of their first scoring chance in the second inning. Ginn worked out of a two on, two out jam.
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The A’s scored another run against Littell in the bottom of that inning. The team loaded the bases with one out before Kuroda-Grauer hustled down the line and beat the relay throw on a potential double play, allowing Wilson to score the A’s sixth run of the game on the RBI fielders-choice. The “Green and Gold” had a chance to score more, however Heim popped out with the bases loaded.
JKG doing it all!
In the fourth inning, Kuroda-Grauer made an incredible diving catch in shallow left field to rob Nationals’ shortstop CJ Abrams of a base hit. That stellar catch, as well as his nice play the next inning, helped Ginn complete six scoreless, hitless innings on just 77 pitches.
Sodey Pop
In the bottom of the sixth, facing Littell, Soderstrom hit his second home run in as many games. His 16th long ball of the season was a two-run, two-out shot to right-center field, increasing the Athletics lead to 8-0.
Ginn Dominant Again
Ginn’s no-hit bid ended with one out in the seventh inning. After allowing Keibert Ruiz to single for the visitors’ first hit of the night, A’s manager Mark Kotsay removed Ginn. He brought in left-handed reliever Hogan Harris, who got the final two outs of that inning.
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Ginn gave the A’s the quality start the team needed, allowing just one hit and three walks over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and induced eight groundouts and two fly-outs.
The Floodgates Opened
In the bottom of the seventh. A’s right fielder Carlos Cortes welcomed Nationals’ reliever Max Kranick to the game by crushing his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left field.
Walton and Butler walked and then first baseman Jeff McNeil delivered a two-out RBI single, increasing the hosts’ lead to double digits. Wilson made it two consecutive RBI singles, his hit bringing Butler home to put the Athletics up 11-0.
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The A’s were not done scoring against the Nationals’ beleaguered bullpen. Facing left-hander Carson Palmquist, Shea Langeliers ripped a bases-clearing double to right field that missed being a grand slam by just inches. Washington’s right fielder James Wood lost that fly ball, which would have ended the inning, but instead allowed three more runs to score.
In the eighth inning, Athletics’ reliever Mark Leiter Jr. escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam unscathed, keeping the Nationals off the scoreboard.
In the bottom of that inning, Wood robbed Butler of a home run against position player-turned-pitcher Jorbit Vivas. The A’s did manage one run against Vivas, as McNeil lined a two-out RBI single for his third hit of the evening.
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Shutout Over
The Nationals finally scored in the ninth. Vivas hit a sacrifice fly against A’s reliever Luis Medina, but that was all Washington could muster as Medina shut the door, securing his team’s blowout victory and setting up a rubber match tomorrow afternoon.
The winner-take-all series finale will feature a matchup between two left-handers. Jacob Lopez will start for the Athletics, looking to capitalize on his second chance in the team’s starting rotation. He will be opposed by Nationals’ southpaw Foster Griffin, who has impressed in his return to the majors after he spent time rediscovering his form in Japan’s professional baseball league.
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