Gallen, back from the IL stymies the A’s bats
The Oakland Athletics took on the Arizona Diamondbacks in game two of the three game series at Chase Field in Phoenix. It’s a comfortable 78 degrees indoors at Chase despite 106-degree temperatures outside. The A’s clobbered the D-backs in game one 9-4 and hope to win the series today.
Hogan Harris took the mound facing Zac Gallen in his first game back from an extended IL stay.
The Diamondbacks got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning when Eugenio Suárez singled off Harris. Jose Herrera walked, moving Suárez to second. Ketel Marte singled, driving Suárez home for a 1-0 D-backs lead.
In the bottom of the third with one out, Christian Walker singled. Eugenio Suárez then singled to move Walker to third. Jake McCarthy singled to drive Walker home and give the Diamondbacks a 2-0 lead.
Jose Herrera singled to open the fourth inning. Lourdes Guriel Jr. doubled to score Herrera. Osvaldo Bido replaced Harris and slammed the door on the inning stranding two D-backs. Arizona scored single runs in three consecutive innings.
Bido seemingly lost control momentarily in the bottom of the sixth, walking Marte and planting one in the ribcage of Blaze Alexander. He induced a Guriel 6-4-3 double play, moving Marte to third. But then dangerous Christian Walker popped out to short to end the threat.
After a full month on the IL, Gallen ended his afternoon having set down thirteen straight A’s batters. He gave way to Kevin Ginkel in the bottom of the seventh with a 3-0 lead.
Bido walked Jake McCarthy with two outs. A wild pickoff attempt allowed McCarthy to sprint all the way to third, but once again Bido buckled down and got Newman to pop out to Schuemann to end the inning.
Bido pitched 4.2 innings in relief today. While bending, he did not break, allowing five baserunners but no runs. Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald entered to close out the game in the ninth. He shut the A’s down 1-2-3 to end the game 3-0.
