Facing the hard-throwing Felix Hernandez on a chilly night is no
hitter’s idea of a good time. In that context, the A’s meager
output against the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner
Thursday night is no big surprise. But the A’s are out of mulligans
after a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Regardless of weather conditions or any other variables, they need
to take care of business against cellar-dwelling teams such as the
Mariners, who have the second-worst record in the majors at
7-13.
SEATTLE
Facing the hard-throwing Felix Hernandez on a chilly night is no hitter’s idea of a good time.
In that context, the A’s meager output against the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Thursday night is no big surprise.
But the A’s are out of mulligans after a 1-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Regardless of weather conditions or any other variables, they need to take care of business against cellar-dwelling teams such as the Mariners, who have the second-worst record in the majors at 7-13.
Follow Free Lance Sports on Twitter.
Oakland mustered just five hits in losing the opener of a four-game series. After finishing with the Mariners, the A’s head to Anaheim for a three-game series against the Angels, who are in sole possession of first place in the American League West.
The first-pitch temperature at Safeco Field was 51 degrees, and the A’s bats never did thaw out against Hernandez (2-2), who threw a five-hitter against Oakland on opening night. His only two wins of the season are against the A’s, and he’s won 10 of his past 12 decisions against Oakland.
The Mariners – who came in ranked last in the American League with a .226 team batting average – didn’t fare much better against A’s starter Brandon McCarthy (1-1).
They didn’t need to.
McCarthy, a pleasant surprise for the A’s in the back of the rotation, was terrific once again, allowing just four hits in a complete-game effort and seemingly getting stronger as the game went on.
But his one mistake was all it took to doom the A’s.
Seattle first baseman Adam Kennedy hit a 3-1 pitch for a towering homer to right field to account for the game’s only run in the fourth inning.
Kennedy, who hit .289 as a utility infielder for the A’s in 2009, teamed with another former A’s player, Jack Cust, as the Mariners’ 3-4 hitters.
The A’s didn’t advance a runner as far as third base. And when they did hit the ball hard, they managed to make more outs.
After leadoff man Josh Willingham singled in the seventh, Ryan Sweeney hit a liner to third base, which Chone Figgins snagged and threw to first to double up Willingham easily.
A’s manager Bob Geren talked before the game of the importance of a seven-game road trip against AL West foes.
“It’s an early run through the division, but you want to fare well,” Geren said. “It seems year to year whoever does best in the division ends up winning.”
Hernandez allowed four hits over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.
Willingham reached in the ninth on a leadoff single against Brandon League. He advanced to second on Sweeney’s ground out but was stranded.
A’s first baseman Daric Barton was a late scratch from the lineup because of illness, though he struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth.
Conor Jackson, originally scheduled to play left field, switched to first base, and Sweeney was inserted in left.
Oakland could have used all the thump it could muster against Hernandez. But regular designated hitter Hideki Matsui was out of the lineup. Geren called it a regular day off for Matsui and said Matsui was fine physically.
Matsui came in 6 for 29 (.207) against Hernandez for his career.
Willingham served as DH.
— Story by Joe Stiglich, Contra Costa Times
