The Oakland Athletics have now dropped a season-worst seventh in a row, usurping their season-best six-game win streak from just a couple of weeks ago.
The team’s downturn has been sharp and sudden, with the offense continuing to flounder outside of a few high-scoring games against the Texas Rangers. On top of that, the pitching staff, which has kept the team afloat in the first half, has looked much more fallible in recent weeks. Not only are injuries taking a toll, but ineffectiveness is beginning to surface, such as with Ross Stripling tonight, who’s been mostly steady and reliable thus far in 2024.
In his 5 innings today, however, he allowed 9 hits, albeit with his usual lack of free bases, leading to 5 Royals runs that the A’s couldn’t catch up to. T.J. McFarland and Michael Kelly each threw a scoreless inning behind him, but the typically shutdown Lucas Erceg gave up the Royals’ sixth run to center fielder Kyle Isbel.
Oakland’s offense wasn’t as lifeless as they’ve been recently, as they were able to lay down 11 hits, including a big two-run shot to center field from the struggling Seth Brown, scoring Zack Gelof after he hit a hustle-play double.
445ft Brownie Bomb pic.twitter.com/ulSZO3Sw3F
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 18, 2024
Two of the A’s hottest hitters combined for the team’s third run in the top of the 7th, with likely repeat All Star Brent Rooker singling home Abraham Toro. That made it a close 4-3 game, but Isbel’s aforementioned shot off Erceg widened the lead to 5-3 and shut the door on Oakland’s hopes.
The A’s seem to be hitting rock bottom for the season, but they still can’t see the floor. If they lose again tomorrow, they’ll have lost 8 in a row, with consecutive sweeps at the hands of talented but not great teams in the Royals and Houston Astros. However, a win could alleviate much of the pressure the clubhouse is likely feeling from squandering all the momentum and fanfare they’d built up.
Oakland will have their best starter in JP Sears lined up to face the Royals’ Brady Singer in the Sunday series finale. Baseball gods, help us.
