A’s Try To Avoid Sweep With Colon On The Mound: Game Preview
Apr 27, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics infielder Josh Donaldson (20) hits an RBI single against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
The Oakland A’s have had a rough go of it over the last ten days, but the few bright spots have come with Bartolo Colon on the mound, and they’ll need another solid performance out of their veteran right-hander to avoid a sweep in their four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.
Colon went seven innings in his last start against the Boston Red Sox on a wet, windy day in New England and compiled seven strikeouts while giving up only three hits, and he’ll try to remain undefeated against an organization that is going for its first sweep against Oakland in a quarter century.
Miguel Gonzalez will take the hill for Baltimore, and the right-hander is 2-1 in four starts and will face the Athletics for the first time in his career. The 28-year-old has a 4.13 ERA with 13 strikeouts and 12 walks on the season.
The A’s have lacked the swagger they displayed over the first two-and-a-half weeks of the season, and although the lack of offense is concerning, the fall-off in regards to the performance of the starting rotation has been just as much of a concern to for a team that was so sharp in that area in 2012.
That’s exactly where Colon comes in Sunday afternoon. The 39-year-old has been the most reliable member of the staff so far for Bob Melvin, and Oakland will need him to be at his best in order for them to snap their four-game losing streak. Colon has a 2.42 ERA over 23 innings in 2013.
The A’s have often lacked run production in their losses, and Yoenis Cespedes is set to return from a stint on the disabled list Sunday to provide a big bat for a lineup that is sorely in need of some power hitting. He’ll bat in the cleanup spot today in an effort to immediately inject some life into the offense. Outfielder Casper Wells will be sent down to Sacramento to provide a roster spot for Cespedes.
Dan Straily has also been called up, and he’ll try to aid the pitching staff after performing well with the Rivercats, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA and only 11 hits allowed in his time with the Triple-A affiliate. He will start Monday against the Los Angeles Angels in place of Brett Anderson, who will get the day off.
LINEUPS
Oakland Athletics
1. C. Crisp CF
2. J. Jaso C
3. S. Smith DH
4. Y. Cespedes LF
5. B. Moss 1B
6. J. Donaldson 3B
7. C. Young RF
8. E. Sogard 2B
9. A. Rosales SS
Baltimore Orioles
1. N. McLouth LF
2. M. Machado 3B
3. N. Markakis RF
4. A. Jones CF
5. C. Davis 1B
6. M. Wieters C
7. J. Hardy SS
8. R. Flaherty 2B
9. N. Reimold DH