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OAKLAND — Reports of the A’s starting pitching deficiencies may have been greatly exaggerated.
It’s early in the season, but the A’s starting rotation has been downright dominant. Mike Fiers was the latest starter to shine on the mound as he held the Boston Red Sox scoreless through six innings of work in Tuesday’s 1-0 victory. The A’s have now held the Red Sox scoreless through the first two games of their four-game series.
Fiers continued an impressive stretch that he began in the team’s home opener last week as he turned in the sixth consecutive six-inning outing by an A’s starter. In the past six games, starters have combined to allow just one run in 36 innings, good for a 0.25 ERA over that span.
For a club whose strength was considered to be its offense and bullpen entering the season, the starting pitching has been the reason for the majority of success in this six-game stretch. The A’s (5-3) have won four in a row and five of their last six. Their only loss in that time came after the bullpen coughed up a two-run lead in relief of a scoreless six-inning performance by Marco Estrada against the Los Angeles Angels.
“It seems like when we’re out on defense our pitchers have a quick pace and are putting up strikes,” A’s third baseman Matt Chapman said. “It’s fun to play defense like that and gives your offense confidence. We don’t have to put too much pressure on ourselves because we are always in the game.”
Red Sox (1-5) ace Chris Sale did his best to match Fiers but slipped up in the first just two batters into the game when he surrendered a solo home run to Matt Chapman. It was Chapman’s third home run of the season and second in as many games. The Gold Glove third baseman has reached base in each of the A’s first eight games to begin the regular season.
Fiers allowed five hits with no walks and three strikeouts through six before handing it over to the bullpen.
The trio of Ryan Buchter, Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen had little room for error with the one-run lead. But they combined to shut the door with a scoreless final three innings. Treinen recorded his third save of the year, with an assist from Ramón Laureano, who for a second consecutive night made another jaw-dropping throw from the outfield to nail Xander Boagerts for an out, this time in the ninth as he tried to take third base on a line drive off the wall in right-center. Laureano heaved the ball from center for a perfect one-hop strike to Chapman, who applied a quick swipe tag on Bogaerts for the second out of the inning.
Ramón Laureano is unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/UpAC89U1kC
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) April 3, 2019
“I was thankful it wasn’t a home run and when I saw the ball kick off the wall and how quickly Bogaerts was coming around the bags I had a feeling there would be a play at third base,” Chapman said. “I’m never betting against Ramón’s arm. He just seems to make incredible throw after incredible throw and they are all on the money. He never ceases to amaze me.”
Here are some takeaways from the A’s second consecutive victory over the defending World Series champs:
1. Teams should probably stop running on Ramón Laureano
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times? I don’t know what else to say.
This isn’t the first time Laureano made a ridiculous play from the outfield, nor was the play he made Monday night. Laureano made arguably the play of the 2018 season in Anaheim last year when he threw out Eric Young Jr trying to get back to first base after a fly out with a missile to Mark Canha.
“The throw he made against the Angels, it’s hard to top that one,” Chapman said. “But this one is just as good. To be able to throw the ball like that on the money every time is just incredible.”
A’s manager Bob Melvin said that Laureano’s throw Tuesday night surpassed any of his previous insane throws.
“We’ve seen three throws from him that I don’t think anybody in the league makes,” Melvin said. “Given the situation, that’s probably the best throw we’ve seen him make. Probably better than the one in Anaheim.”
It wasn’t a 96 mph bullet like the throw he made Monday, but what made Laureano’s throw Tuesday great was the fact that it only took him 0.6 seconds from the time he picked up the ball to actually make the throw.
“You have to throw it absolutely on the money and you better have his arm,” Melvin said. “It’s your only chance.”
Laureano said there was no thinking involved on the throw. With Bogaerts’ speed, that just was not a possibility. Laureano leaped up against the wall in an attempt to make a catch before hustling over to the ball and firing it to Chapman.
“I didn’t even look at the runner,” Laureano said. “I just grabbed it and threw it to third base. It was a heat of the moment thing.
“I just saw that he hit it pretty hard and the wall got to me pretty quick. I was trying to balance myself with the wall and trying to find it. Good thing it didn’t go too far from me.”
The friendly confines of the Coliseum may have saved Treinen from disaster by just allowing Laureano a chance. Bogaerts crushed the pitch from Treinen and the ball bounced right off the top of the wall in right-center field. If the ball landed just one more foot to the left, it would have been a game-tying home run.
“It would have been gone in most ballparks,” Laureano said. “We have to be grateful for that 388 sign on the wall.”
Bogaerts might not have learned his less after getting thrown out the first night, but you can bet he won’t be testing Laureano’s arm again anytime soon after falling victim to it for a second straight night.
“How can he do that two nights in a row?” Bogaerts told Boston reporters. “The next time, I won’t run.”
The putout at third was Laureano’s 11th assist in his 56 big league games, the most in baseball over that time since he was first called up last August.
2. Mike Fiers’ calf is something to monitor
Fiers appeared to pull his right calf on an infield single by Andrew Benintendi in the sixth inning. He was checked on by trainer Nick Paparesta after the play but was allowed to finish out the inning after throwing a few warm-up pitches.
Melvin revealed postgame that Fiers had been dealing with the calf issue in spring training, but said it is not serious to the point where he believes the right-hander will have to miss time.
“I think he’s learned to pitch around it and hopefully by his next start, he’s okay with it,” Melvin said. “He pitched as well if not better than last time out.”
Fiers also did not seem too concerned.
“I’m just dealing with things here and there,” Fiers said. “I’ve been dealing with the calf for a couple of weeks. Nothing too crazy. I just need to get over that hump.”
Fiers’ next start will come Sunday in Houston against the Astros.
3. Matt Chapman’s bat could soon match his glove
Matt Chapman announced his presence on defense in 2018 by winning his first Gold Glove after countless incredible plays at the hot corner. Could 2019 be the year his bat gets him in the serious MVP discussion?
Chapman upped his batting average to .345 Tuesday night and has now reached base safely in the team’s first eight games of the season.
“Everybody talks about his defense but he is going to be an elite offensive player,” Melvin said. “Since he’s been in the two-spot he’s hitting like one of the elite hitters in the league. It’s only going to get better with him.”
Chapman was considered to have a power bat throughout his minor league career, but strikeouts were an issue. That’s no longer the case.
Chapman has struck out just four times in 35 plate appearances to begin the year, no longer chasing after balls he once did in his younger years.
“I’m just trying to be consistent with the pitches I’m swinging at,” Chapman said. “There are some days where you’re not feeling good and might not have your best swing. But being able to go up there and battle is the best thing I’ve done. Just finding a way to compete. Whether that means choking up on the bat or trying to take what you can get.”
