Lawrie’s Liner Secures One-Run Win For Oakland Athletics In Extra Innings
By Casey Witt
Jul 7, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Brett Lawrie (15) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the tenth inning at Yankee Stadium. The Athletics defeated the Yankees 4-3 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Known for his exuberant personality, Brett Lawrie wouldn’t let an 0-for-3 performance affect his demeanor against two-time All-Star Dellin Betances in the top of the 10th inning at Yankees Stadium in the Bronx. After striking out swinging in his three previous at-bats, Lawrie worked the count and took advantage of a hanging slider, which he pulled down the left field line, extending the Athletics winning-streak on the road to eight consecutive games. Even though it was an uphill battle for most of the game, Oakland was able to pull out the win in extra innings.
Highlights
There aren’t too many factors that would keep Sonny Gray sidelined for 11 games except for being hospitalize for two nights with salmonella. When Gray is given five days or more of rest, he possess a 3-2 record with a 2.32 ERA, which is vastly contrary to his distinguished 6-1, 1.44 ERA with the typical four days off. In the Big Apple, Oakland’s ace still managed to toss seven quality innings of three-run baseball, while striking out five in a span of 110 pitches. With a runner on second, the A’s offense got the ball rolling in the top of the first when Josh Reddick chopped an 88 mile-per-hour split-finger fastball through the infield, barely out of the reach of Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius. Before things got out of hand, Brett Gardner and Chase Headley set the stage for Brian McCann and Garrett Jones with two away; scrapping together back-to-back singles, along with a 2-1 lead.
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Heading into the top of the third, Marcus Semien and Billy Burns would emulate the actions of the pinstripes with back-to-back singles of their own. This conclusively set the table for Stephen “Everything Bagel” Vogt, who singled a ground ball to right field, knotting the game at two just a day after being announced to his first All-Star game in Cincinnati. After surrendering a lead-off walk to McCann, Jones would reach base on a single to left field. However, Gray buckled down and induced a 6-3 double play on former Athletic Chris Young, which put Gray in prime position to escape the jam unscathed. Unfortunately, Gregorius didn’t wait around and lined a first-pitch single up-the-middle to regain a one-run advantage.
Once Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi was replaced by Chasen Shreve, Billy Butler took matters into his own hands and launched a towering 90 mile-per-hour cookie fastball into the left field bleachers, bringing the A’s dugout to life. Drew Pomeranz would make his 24th appearance of the season and, 16 pitches later, he managed to rack up two innings of scoreless baseball as the A’s — and their 0-6 record — entered the top of the 1oth. With his six-foot-eight frame intact, Betances worked an 0-2 count to Lawrie and wanted nothing more than to place a golden sombrero on the 24-year-old. However, Oakland’s third baseman had other plans.
Known for his sharp-downward movement on his slider, Betances released an 0-2 slider that ultimately hung out over the plate and into the wheelhouse of Lawrie, who responded by wearing a smile when he connected for his eighth home run of the 2015 campaign. A’s closer Tyler Clippard retired Stephen Drew and Headley in the bottom half by inducing pop-up’s to Vogt and catching Mark Teixeira napping on an 80 mile-per-hour change up. Clippard helped secure Oakland’s 39th win and recorded his 16th save of the season.
The Good
- Coming into tonight’s series opener against the Yankees, the Athletics sported a dismal 6-21 record in one-run games before Lawrie lined a solo-shot down the left field line and Clippard slammed the door. It just goes to show that regardless of their standing in the American League West, the green and gold have yet to give up. They have the intention of making a run in the second-half.
The Bad
- As mentioned in the highlights, Gray has a 3-2 record with a 2.32 ERA whenever given five days of rest or more. Of the three walks he surrendered, two ultimately came in to score. Even though Gray didn’t have his sharpest stuff, it was enough for the Athletics to pull off the victory in the end.
The Notable:
- Vogt, who was named to the 2015 American League All-Star team, ranks first in the league among catchers in batting average (.293), home runs (13), runs batted in (54), hits (77), walks (40) and OPS (.883). His battery mate, Gray, posted impressive numbers himself with a 9-3 record and a 2.20 ERA, which is the third best amongst pitchers in the A.L.
- After surrendering a solo shot to Lawrie in the 10th, Betances’ home run total to the opposition increased to just two for the season, which snapped a 54- game streak without allowing a long ball since last season.
- With two on and two away in the bottom of the 10th inning, Clippard struck out Teixeira to end the game and secured Oakland’s first extra-inning win since September 21, 2014.
Up Next
Scott Kazmir (5-5, 2.56 ERA) will take the mound against Vallejo, Calif., native C.C. Sabathia (3-8, 5.59 ERA) hoping to guarantee a series victory at 4:05 PM PT. Outfielder Jake Smolinski, who the Athletics just brought up from Triple-A, is rumored to be starting tomorrow due to his success against left handed pitchers. Swingin’ A’s co-editor Samantha Riley will have tomorrow’s complete recap, insights, statistics, and probable pitchers for Thursday’s finale.