News
Hits keep coming for A's pitchers
Oakland (29-37) at San Diego (29-37), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Amy Brittain / MLB.com
06/20/09 3:45 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Much of Friday's chatter at PETCO Park concerned the unusual batting placement of Padres starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc, who hit in the No. 8 spot in the lineup.But at the end of the night, it was A's relief pitcher Edgar Gonzalez who had the greater impact at bat.
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Gonzalez was 2-for-2 at the plate, which made him the first Oakland reliever to get two hits since Rollie Fingers did so in 1970.
Gonzalez entered the game in the second inning when starter Josh Outman exited with a strain in his left arm.
Oakland manager Bob Geren said Gonzalez's at-bats were impressive, only raising the level of expectations for his pitchers in Interleague play.
"Edgar had two hits. That's awesome," Geren said. "Our pitchers are bunting and hard-hitting now."
Regardless of his hitting skills, left-hander Brett Anderson carries extra weight to give the bullpen some rest Saturday after Outman tossed just 1 2/3 innings Friday. Gonzalez pitched 3 1/3 innings, and four other relievers saw time for the A's. Anderson has thrown six or more innings five times this season.
Now in his third season in professional baseball, Anderson will be making his first career start against the Padres. Anderson tossed just four innings in his last start, giving up eight hits on six runs.
Pitching matchupOAK: LHP Brett Anderson (3-7, 5.77 ERA)
Anderson had his second consecutive rough outing, giving up eight hits and six runs, all earned, in the A's 7-1 loss to Giants. He lasted only four innings, despite striking out six and walking just one. Anderson gave up a pair of home runs, a two-run blast to Pablo Sandoval in the first inning and a three-run, inside-the-park number to Nate Schierholtz in the third, after he got the first two outs. In his previous start, Anderson gave up 10 hits and five earned runs in a loss to the Twins. SD: RHP Walter Silva (0-0, 6.52 ERA)
This was to be Jake Peavy's spot in the rotation, but he was placed on the disabled list on Saturday with a strained tendon in his right ankle. The Padres will go instead with Silva, who is to be recalled from Triple-A Portland. Silva started the season with the Padres and posted a 6.52 ERA in two starts before he went on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. He was later activated and optioned to Portland. Tidbits
Outfielder Ryan Sweeney appeared as a pinch-hitter Thursday against the Dodgers in his first day back after being activated from the 15-day disabled list. Sweeney did not start Friday, but is expected to start Saturday against the Padres. ... Against the Dodgers on Thursday, catcher Kurt Suzuki had three assists and three putouts by three different position players. "Having that opportunity is just so rare," said A's manager Bob Geren. "To get three in one inning, and then one at each base, that's something you have to see in print to realize how rare it was." ... Outman threw just 1 2/3 innings Friday against the Padres in the shortest start of his two-year Major League career. Tickets
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• KTRB 860, KDIA 1640 (Español) Up next
• Sunday: Athletics (Dallas Braden, 5-5, 3.31) at Padres (Kevin Correia, 3-5, 4.52), 1:05 p.m. PT
• Monday: Athletics (Trevor Cahill, 4-5, 3.89) vs. Giants (Jonathan Sanchez, 2-7, 5.43), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Tuesday: Athletics (Vin Mazzaro, 2-1, 1.75) vs. Giants (Tim Lincecum, 6-2, 2.72), 7:05 p.m. PT
Amy Brittain is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
