With nine runs in their first springtime victory, the Oakland A’s defeated the NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks 9–8 in a walk-off fashion. After the D-Backs tied the game at eight in the top half, it was former Atlanta Braves prospect Drew Lugbauer who got the key hit, a solo home run, in the bottom of the ninth.
That follow through resembles Matt Olson, a former first baseman for the A’s. Similar to Oly, Lugbauer is a bat that can hit; over the last three minor league seasons, he has hit 24, 28, and 25 home runs. As a 26-year-old in his first season at Triple-A last year, he struck out 44.9% of the time in 25 games. He won’t be considered for Oakland’s roster until his strikeout rate significantly declines.
Hoy Park, an outfielder who played for the Braves last season, joined the home run frenzy on Monday by launching a three-run home bomb in the bottom of the sixth inning. He is 3-for-5 in camp thus far, with two runs scored, a home run, four RBI, and a double. He was added to the team this offseason as a depth piece, but if he continues to hit, he might be able to move up the depth chart. He has been utilized all over the infield, mainly at second base, in addition to stumbling around the outfield.
The highlight of the day was the debut of Rule 5 pick Mitch Spence, who was wearing green and gold for the first time. He will either spend the entire season with the A’s or be sent back to the New York Yankees because of his Rule 5 eligibility.
Spence pitched two frames on Monday, giving up three hits, one run, striking out three and not allowing a walk. After working around a two-out single in the first, Spence allowed Emmanuel Rivera to single and Andres Chaparro to double, resulting in a run being scored. Three strikeouts, two of which came via swinging.
The four A’s relievers who start games early and are all competing for a roster spot have combined to give up only two runs in eight innings while walking just one batter in three games. Free passes were a major problem for the A’s pitchers early in the previous season, so manager Mark Kotsay must be feeling a little better after this start.
A recent addition to the bullpen In his inning of work, Trevor Gott gave up two hits, including a solo home run to Jordan Lawlar. He walked one, gave up one run, and had one strikeout.
Aledmys Díaz and Abraham Toro made mistakes that cost Lucas Erceg, who is a candidate for the closer position, an unearned run in his maiden action. Erceg walked one.
This is an important season for 27-year-old Adrían Martínez because he just has one option left. The right-hander’s first appearance in camp was not without incident; in his inning of work, he gave up four runs on three singles and a walk. Kristian Robinson hit a home run after Ivan Melendez walked and Chaparro had a single to start the game. Brett Johnson delivered consecutive bombs.
Martínez, to his credit, bounced back wonderfully, retiring the next three on a pop up and two ground outs to second as well.
After Daz Cameron hit off Dodgers closer Evan Phillips on Sunday, we discussed him. On Monday, he entered the game late and scored another run off Yu-Min Lin, a 20-year-old righty for the D-Backs who is regarded as MLB’s No. 74 prospect by Baseball Prospectus. Additionally, Cameron drew a walk off 21-year-old Cristian Mena, who was just acquired by the White Sox in exchange for Dominic Fletcher.
Park and Cameron are both off the A’s 40-man roster, so they would need to prove themselves before someone else is removed to make room for them. Although spring training is still early, there are a few noteworthy performances to keep an eye on.
At second base, newly acquired Abraham Toro got the start and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. on the top of the fifth, he also made two mistakes on the same play that brought Corbin Carroll aboard and advanced him to second base.
Miguel Andújar, meanwhile, played in left field, went one-for-three with a single, and contributed as an outfielder to Chaparro’s double that resulted in a run being scored in the second. Chaparro attempted to stretch his two-bagger into a three, but he was chopped down at third.
In Goodyear on Tuesday, the A’s opponent on Opening Day, the Cleveland Guardians, are predicted to give JP Sears the nod.
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