Oakland – The Kansas City Royals had no answer for the “hot” bats they faced today. The A’s continued their winning ways behind an offensive burst while the Kansas City Royals struggled with their pitching. Oakland’s three home runs today sparked their 11-2 win over Kansas City.
Jackson Kowar lasted only 1.1 frames allowing five hits, four runs, three walks and struck out one. Tony Kemp led off the first with a single and advanced to third on Matt Olson’s single. Mitch Moreland’s sacrifice fly drove in Tony Kemp to make a 1-0 game.
But the damage came in the second when the A’s scored three runs knocking Kowar out of the game. Elvis Andrus led off with a single, Kemp got a free pass and Kowar gave up back-to-back doubles. Matt Chapman’s two-run RBI double drove in both Andrus and Kemp while Olson’s double drove in Chapman to make it a 4-0 game.
If things couldn’t get any worse for the Royals, it did in the eighth. Oakland’s offensive burst led to five consecutive hits and five scored runs. Skye Bolt led off the frame with his first Major League home run after striking out three times prior. Olson then cleared the bases with a three-run homer. Chad Pinder’s sacrifice fly drove in Mitch Moreland to make it a 11-2 game.
“Your first home run, to hit it out of here on a line like that, after punching out a couple of times, that’s a tough thing to follow up so it’s good that he’s got that out of the way now,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin on Bolt. “You can settle in a little bit, he’s only had two starts. Finished a couple of games defensively but that goes a long way in making you feel comfortable when you hit a ball like that.”
“He’s a pretty good player, we’ve come to that conclusion,” Melvin said on Olson.
An outstanding game on both sides of the ball for Oakland. Kaprielian got into two jams but great defense helped him get out of it. Jarrod Dyson led off the third with a base hit. Kaprielian walked Nicky Lopez and both runners stole third and second base. Kaprielian then walked Carlos Santana to load the bases but he forced Andrew Benintendi to pop out to end the threat.
By the fourth things didn’t get any better for Kaprielian. Kelvin Gutierrez tripled and Kaprielian issued a free pass to both Hunter Dozier and Dyson to load the bases again. Cam Gallagher flew out to right fielder Seth Brown who made a big play at home plate to keep runners on base. Lopez grounded out and left all three stranded.
“Probably in the middle innings he struggled with his command some and then finds a way to get through it,” said Melvin. “I was almost reluctant to let him go out for the sixth and that was his best inning. He’s able to put it behind him and go out there and compete. Seems like he has a way of wiggling out of some tough innings… really the entire year.”
Despite a few rough patches, Kaprielian completed six scoreless innings. He lowered his ERA 2.52 and recorded his third win of the year. Kaprielian allowed only two hits, four walks and struck out seven.
“I take pride in being able to pitch out of jams and turning a negative into a positive situation,” James said. “I did another good job of that today, but obviously I’m putting myself in those situations, can’t be walking guys, that just can’t happen. I did that too many times today. What I’m learning is to trust myself, use the plate, cut in half and make guys beat me.”
Both Chapman and Olson put on a show. Chapman is coming off another great night at the bat but today he was just shy of the cycle. Chapman singled, doubled and hit a home to prove why Melvin moved him up to the No. 2 spot in the lineup. It’s been eight months since he opted out of the 2020 season to have surgery due to hip tendinitis.
“Well when you hit the ball at 107 the other way, it means his bat path is really good,” said Melvin on Chapman. “I think sometimes you can get caught up in mechanics and thinking too much as oppose to just going out there and competing. He had some good at-bats last night and followed it up with today. The last couple of days you see the player he expects out of himself and that what we’ve seen for quite some time now.”
“I’m trying to find ways to get my back hip to fire a little bit better into the zone, coming off surgery it always takes time to get that trust and that feel back,” Chapman said. “Everybody I talked to that had that surgery said ‘it took a little bit of time to get back to the way I was accustomed to feeling.’ I definitely feel like I’m getting my strength back and that trust back but its only been eight months since my surgery, so I have to keep that in perspective and just find ways to help the team get the job done.
I was a little surprised to see myself in the two-hole today. Bo Mel probably thought I was ready to get back into the two-hole. Definitely felt comfortable, I had a lot of success there in 2018 and felt like I hit 3rd or 4th more in 2019. I’ve always liked the the two-hole but its been a long time since I’ve hit in front of Olson.”
Olson went 4-of-5 today with two singles, a double and a three-run homer.
Photo by the A’s/Kavin Mistry
AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
The A’s celebrated the rich heritage of Oakland’s Black history and culture during the team’s annual African American Heritage Day today. Members of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir sung the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” During the game, the A’s highlight their Black players and alumni. Fans who arrived early received an African American Heritage T-shirt, which was part of the A’s free-giveaway today.
| Oakland A’s to Host Vaccination Clinic at all Remaining 2021 Regular Season Home Games Free A’s tickets are available for fans receiving COVID-19 vaccine at Coliseum |
| OAKLAND, Calif. — As part of Major League Baseball’s “Vaccinate At The Plate” initiative, starting June 14, A’s fans can receive the COVID-19 vaccination at all remaining regular season home games this season at the Oakland Coliseum. Fans receiving a vaccine will be given a voucher for two tickets to either that day’s game or an upcoming game at the Coliseum. The vaccination clinic, hosted by Clayworth Pharmacy, will open one and half hours before first pitch in the Eastside Club, and it will operate through the fifth inning. Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines will be available. No appointment is needed. “The Coliseum has served as a Vaccination Center since February, and we are thrilled to continue to extend this community benefit at our games starting next week with our partners at Kaiser Permanente and Clayworth Pharmacy,” said Oakland A’s President Dave Kaval. “We will host our vaccination clinic at all home games until there is no longer a need in our community. We encourage baseball fans to head to the Coliseum to receive a vaccine and then join us for a great day of A’s baseball.” Vaccines are free, and insurance is not required. Individuals 12 and older are eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine as a first or second dose. (Children under the age of 18 receiving the Pfizer vaccine must have consent from a parent or guardian.) Individuals 18 and older are eligible to receive either their first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Individuals are eligible to return to the vaccination clinic for their second dose at a future game and will once again receive a voucher for two tickets to an A’s game. The A’s will also team up with Kaiser Permanente, the Club’s Official Health Care Partner, to support their COVID-19 vaccine education and equitable access campaign and pop-up clinics focused on reaching populations most at risk of contracting COVID-19. “Kaiser Permanente is actively engaged in reaching the communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of our commitment to serve both our members and the larger community, we are excited to team up with the Oakland A’s to support MLB’s “Vaccinate At The Plate Initiative,” said Edmund Chan, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, East Bay Area. “Our efforts will reach more families through education about the vaccines and by removing access barriers such as having to come to a medical facility or make an appointment. Together we will continue to encourage local Bay Area residents to stay safe and healthy by getting vaccinated.” Individuals who do not have a ticket to that day’s game can enter the vaccination clinic in the Eastside Club via the BART Ramp. For more information, visit athletics.com/vaccinate. |
| – athletics.com – |
| Contact: Catherine Aker, 510-563-2380 caker@athletics.com |
