After the pre-dawn dust settled on the Oakland Athletics‘ 19-inning, 10-8 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim last night/this morning, it was evident that Oakland would have to make some adjustments heading into tonight’s game, the middle of a three-game set.
Not only did the team lose outfielders Coco Crisp and Chris Young to injuries in the almost seven-hour game, but the pitching staff was used to the point of exhaustion (see: Brett Anderson going 5 1/3 with a sprained ankle and Jerry Blevins gutting it out for the final few innings himself, in his fourth consecutive day of activity).
Today, the team announced that pitcher Dan Straily (who started Monday’s game) has been optioned back down to Triple-A Sacramento. Evan Scribner was called back up to the A’s to take Straily’s spot.
Unless tonight’s starter Jarrod Parker pitches a complete game, I bet there’s a 90% chance Scribner gets into the game somehow. The A’s bullpen needs a night off as does the Angels’, after a particularly poor performance last night Jerome Williams’ heroism notwithstanding.
As for tonight’s lineup, Crisp and Young are predictably absent, while Yoenis Cespedes will start in center and Josh Reddick will play his usual right field. Jed Lowrie has the night off with Adam Rosales starting at shortstop and hitting second after DH John Jaso.
Games like last night have dramatic consequences for the teams involved, and the Angels made their own moves today in preparation for what will hopefully be a clean, quick, nine-inning affair. Both teams will probably be trying their hardest to avoid heading into extra innings, because it’s obviously not a scenario Mike Scioscia or Bob Melvin would embrace.
Adrian Garro is an Oakland Athletics writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter and/ or add him to your network on Google.
