NewsRecent callups help A's top Jays
Everidge, Patterson and Pennington play key roles
By Adam Loberstein / MLB.com
08/01/09 3:10 AM ET
OAKLAND -- The A's are slowly morphing into the Sacramento River Cats. Jason Giambi is hurt. Matt Holliday and Orlando Cabrera have been dealt. Recent callups Tommy Everidge, Eric Patterson and Cliff Pennington are getting the chance to play on a regular basis. The kids look all right. Everidge and Patterson had RBIs while Pennington scored a run and impressed defensively as the A's posted an 8-5 win over Toronto in Monday's series opener. The so-called veterans aren't doing too bad, either. Ryan Sweeney -- at the ripe old age of 24 -- had a career-high three RBIs. Rajai Davis, 28, reached base four times, scoring twice and driving in two. "He's done a nice job. He really has," manager Bob Geren said of Davis, who batted .405 with 16 RBIs and six steals in July. "That's not easy to do as a part-time player. ... He's played very well. He played exceptional defense." The youngsters got it done on defense, too. Pennington and Everidge combined on one for the highlight reel in the eighth. Pennington ranged deep up the middle, fielded the ball cleanly and fired down to first. Everidge made a nice scoop to complete the play. "It was a real nice play," Geren said. "From my angle, I really thought it was going to be a base hit. To stab it like he did -- I didn't see how he was going to make the throw. "Give Tommy credit, too. ... He made a nice play on the other end with that backhanded scoop." Toronto, meanwhile, committed three errors that resulted in three unearned runs. Dallas Braden (8-9) got the win despite allowing five runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. "Poor to quite poor," Braden said of his performance. "It was better than last time. Giving up five is better than seven, and we won ... but it's not progress." Adam Lind's two-run homer to deep center chased Braden. "That was one of the hardest-hit balls I've ever seen," Geren said. Braden hasn't looked himself since the All-Star break, surrendering 20 earned runs in 24 1/3 innings (7.40 ERA). Opponents are hitting .324 against him over that stretch. Braden said falling behind hitters has been the problem. "Going 2-0, 3-0 on guys -- that'll get you kicked out of the game real quick," he said. Braden had a 3.13 ERA in 18 starts before the break. The A's held an 8-1 lead in the fourth before the Blue Jays scored the game's final four runs. Andrew Bailey pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 14th save. Everyone in the Oakland lineup had a hit, but only Davis (2-for-3, two walks) had more than one. Jack Cust reached base four times (three walks) and scored twice. Sweeney was 1-for-4 with a walk, extending his hitting streak to six games. "He's always had a nice, level swing," Geren said of Sweeney. "Right now, he's getting himself in good counts and taking advantage of that." Lind was 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Marco Scutaro went 3-for-3 and recorded his 32nd double, tying a career-high he set with the A's in 2004.Adam Loberstein is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
