Springs sharp in final Spring outing
The Athletics faced the Milwaukee Brewers today at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa. With only two spring training games remaining after today, this was the final tune up for Jeffrey Springs, one of the team’s big trade acquisitions this off-season. Springs matched up against journeyman lefty Jose Quintana.
Springs worked hard in the first, giving up a double to Christian Yelich and a walk to Rhys Hoskins but struck out two. But he threw twenty-eight pitches in the inning. He had an easier inning in the second, striking out two more while giving up just an infield hit. He added two more Ks in the top of the third.
Drew Avens dropped a bunt single to open the bottom of the third. He stole second and then scored on a big fly by Colby Thomas, his first of the spring. That gave the A’s a 2-0 lead after three.
Jake Bauers led off the top of the fourth inning with a homer to straight-away centerfield. Joey Ortiz reached on a throwing error by Luis Urías. Springs then walked Isaac Collins. But he struck out two more Brewers to close out the inning.
TJ McFarland took over for Springs in the top of the fifth. Springs’ final line was four innings, three hits, one earned run and eight strikeouts. Noah Murdock replaced T.J. McFarland in the top of the sixth. Murdock, the Rule 5 draft selection has made the A’s opening day roster. The Brewers took the lead on a 2-run triple by Andruw Monasterio, scoring Isaac Collins and Eric Haase.
Luis Urías lined a ground-rule double to right-center field to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Henry Bolte drove him home with a bloop single to right to tie the ball game 3-3.
Carter Aldrete led off the seventh with a bloop single. Aldrete is the nephew of Athletics hitting coach Mike Aldrete. He was, however, stranded at second.
Lefty David Leal replaced Noah Murdock in the top of the eighth. He gave up a single to Isaac Collins, but in a wild play, Eric Haase grounded out with a ricochet off Leal and second baseman Valenzuela to shortstop Max Muncy who then threw out Haase.
Micah Dallas, a 24-year-old righty, entered the game to pitch the ninth inning. He kept the Brewers off the scoreboard, setting the stage for a potential walk-off victory. Davis Diaz walked to open the ninth, and Angel Arevalo pinch ran for Diaz., and Carter Aldrete moved him to second on a ground out. Sahid Valenzuela singled to centerfield scoring Arevalo with the winning run.
The A’s will face the Chicago Cubs Sunday at Sloan Park in Mesa. Osvaldo Bido will take the mound against Matthew Boyd for the Cubs.
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