Recap: A’s @ Mariners Game 76

The A’s had two hits and that was enough. The Mariners had four hits and that was two few. And so goes another offensively loaded affair between the A’s and M’s at Safeco Field as they combine for three runs on six hits, with an error in a battle between Jarrod Parker and for the most part (Kevin Millwood started the game but left due to injury) could’ve been Athletic Hisashi Iwakuma.

• The A’s had just two hits. These hits were big ones though solo home runs from Coco Crisp on the second pitch of the game from Millwood, and one from Yoenis Cespedes in the sixth inning to give the A’s the lead and send Iwakuma to the showers. Aside from those two the A’s went 0-for-21 with two walks and seven strikeouts. Another far from stellar performance from A’s hitters who tallied just ten hits in the series against Seattle while managing to strikeout 32 times against Seattle hurlers.
• It seems that Bob Melvin really wants to use Brandon Hicks somewhat regularly as he found himself in the lineup again today patrolling second base and hitting eighth. The A’s must think they have something in him, something I fail to recognize myself, but it is interesting to see the A’s calling up players and using them as opposed to the past where they were called up and left to rot on the bench.
• Aside from the oddity of the two hits being home runs and them being enough to win, this game really was about pitching as any game where you hold an opponent to a lone run is. Parker pitched seven innings, with just the one earned run allowed (a solo home run to John Jaso) on three hits, while walking four but K’ing a career high nine. Great way to start a career for Parker who just looks so poised out on the mound, I really like everything I’ve seen from him and think he will become a true number one ace for this club.
• Grant Balfour pitched a one hit eighth inning to record his eighth hold of the season. Ryan Cook pitched a sort of sketchy ninth inning with Brandon Inge committing an error, before Cook hit Brendan Ryan with a pitch, ending the game with a strikeout of Ichiro Suzuki.