Oakland Athletics Rally With 5 in 8th To Tie Dodgers; Russell Hurts Hamstring

Mar 10, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jarrod Parker (11) throws in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

If spring training is any indication, Oakland Athletics fans should be ready for lots of free baseball in 2014.

For the fourth time in 14 Cactus League games, the A’s played to a nine-inning tie on Monday, finishing deadlocked with the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-8 after scoring five runs in the eighth inning at Camelback Ranch.

Oakland batted around and picked up six hits and a walk in the eighth inning off Dodger relieversBrian WilsonandCarlos Friasafter falling behind 8-3.

It was another rough outing for A’s starterJarrod Parker, who allowed four runs in the first inning before settling down. He gave up four runs on four hits with a walk and struck out five in 4.2 innings to lower his spring ERA to 10.61. He was also touched up for two homers in the first.

Parker walkedCarl Crawfordwith one out and gave up a single toHanley Ramirezbefore serving up a three-run homer toAndre Ethier. One out later,Juan Uribetook Parker deep to left to put L.A. up 4-0.

The A’s came back to get a run back in the fifth on a leadoff homer byMichael Taylor—his second of the spring—off Dodger starter Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Oakland added two more in the sixth off relieverBrandon League.Nick Puntoled off the inning with a walk andJosh Donaldsonfollowed with his second home run in as many days to cut the Dodger lead to 4-3.

ButLuke Gregersonran into some problems in the bottom of the seventh for the A’s, surrendering a bases-clearing double toMiguel Olivoand an RBI single toMiguel Rojasas Los Angeles hung up four runs to take an 8-3 lead.

But Oakland battled back in the eighth.Addison Russellgreeted Wilson with a double to center and scored on a single byJose Martinez. After gettingLuke Montzto fly out, Wilson was lifted in favor of Frias, who walkedNate Freimanto put runners at first and second.

Pinch-hitterBilly McKinneyflared a single to right to score Martinez and move Freiman to third andStephen Vogt’s single knocked in another run while leaving runners at the corners.

Darwin Perezreached on an infield single that scored McKinney andAlden Carrithersfollowed with a single to right to knock in the tying run.Matt Magillrelieved Frias to finally stop the bleeding, striking outBilly Burnsand getting Russell to ground into a force play.

Russell strained his right hamstring running out the play and left the field at the end of the game on a cart in order to not have to walk back to the team bus. He will be evaluated on Tuesday.

Arnold Leonworked a 1-2-3 eighth for the A’s, who went down in order in the top of the ninth. After another 1-2-3 frame by Leon, the game was called.

Joe Saverystruck out the only batter he faced for Oakland andDan Oteroworked a scoreless sixth, allowing two hits. Gregerson was touched for four runs on four hits and two walks while recording just one out andDeryk Hookergot out of the seventh, retiring the only two hitters he faced. Leon struck out three of the six hitters he faced.

The A’s finished with 11 hits, two by Donaldson, who has pushed his spring average up to .238 by going 3-for-5 the last two days.

Oakland travels to the Peoria Sports Complex on Tuesday to face the San Diego Padres at 1:05 p.m. Pacific.

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