Brandon Brown
Break down the Oakland Athletics. Saturday night, the A’s defeated the Miami Marlins for their sixth consecutive victory (OAK 20, MIA 4) and evened their record at 17-17. It’s the first time they’ve been .500 or better since they were tied 1-1 in both games last season. It’s the first time they’ve hit .500 or better late in the season since they were 86-76 on the final day of 2021.
The A’s ended Saturday’s game early with a 10-run third inning. It was his first 10-run inning since June 18, 2019, against the Baltimore Orioles. Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run It is a three-run homer as part of Saturday’s 10-run inning. He is the first Athletic with two homers in one inning since Mark McGwire against the Seattle Mariners on September 22, 1996.
The 20 runs are the most since the 21-7 victory over the Houston Astros on September 10, 2019. It is the first 20-run game in baseball this season. Here’s the carnage of the third round:
As noted, Saturday was Oakland’s sixth straight win. It has also won eight of its last nine games and is 16-10 since a 1-7 start to the season. During this recent winning streak, the A’s split four games with the Yankees in New York and, most impressively, beat two of three against the Orioles in Baltimore. Both victories featured ninth-inning comebacks.
Last season, the A’s had the worst record in baseball, 50-112, and, their recent hot streak aside, they are not expected to struggle this year. Even last year’s team was on a seven-game winning streak at one point. That said, there is some talent on the roster despite the front office’s business missteps and owner John Fisher’s negligence.
Consider:
- JJ Bleday, the fourth pick in the 2019 draft, appears to be figuring things out. He hit a three-run home run Saturday against the Marlins, his former team. The A’s acquired him from Miami in the AJ Puk trade.
- Rooker and Tyler Nevin are great waiver finds. Nevin has always been a sleeper prospect because of his approach, and now he’s getting a chance to play every day. He walked three times on Saturday and is hitting .302/.378/.465.
- Paul Blackburn, Saturday’s starter, and JP Sears are true big league starters. Blackburn is a no-nonsense guy and Sears is an analytics darling because of his soaring fastball and funky arm slot.
- Lucas Erceg and Mason Miller might be the best setup/closer duo in the game. The A’s can knock him out with 100 mph fastballs in the late innings. Miller, in particular, is devastating.
Additionally, rookie third baseman Brett Harris hit two home runs on Saturday. He was called up on Friday after hitting .289/.418/.456 in 27 Triple-A games. MLB.com ranks him as the No. 9 prospect in the A’s systemwhere he earned comparisons to Brandon Drury and Spencer Steer.
Athletics is, of course, moving to Sacramento next season as the interim step before his possible move to Las Vegas. Fisher is still working to secure final financing for the move to Las Vegas, so it’s not a done deal yet, but the A’s are leaving Oakland after the season. A surprise postseason run would be a big send-off in Oakland.
The A’s will send Joe Boyle (2-4, 6.08 ERA) to the mound on Sunday as they try to extend their winning streak to seven games. The Marlins will counter with Sixto Sánchez (0-1, 8.36 ERA). Saturday’s loss dropped Miami to 9-26. The sell-off in South Beach began with Luis Arraez being sent to the San Diego Padres on Friday.
