Mar 4, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Tommy Milone (57) throws to the Chicago Cubs in the first inning of their spring training baseball game at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
Tommy Milonecame into Saturday’s split squad game for the Oakland Athletics needing a good outing.Matt Cainentered for the San Francisco Giants having thrown nothing but zeroes all spring.
Their fortunes reversed at Scottsdale Stadium in a matchup of split squads as Milone fired five shutout innings while Cain was lit up for seven runs in just 2.2 innings as the A’s beat the Giants 8-1.
Milone (1-1) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out two, an important outing for the left-hander on the same day the A’sannouncedright-handerA.J. Griffinwould be shut down for three weeks with a muscle strain in his right arm.
The A’s jumped on Cain (1-1) quickly.Nick Puntogrounded a one-out single to right and went to second on a wild pitch by Cain.Alberto Callaspodoubled to center to score Punto and one out later,Daric Bartonlined a single to left and Callaspo beat the throw home to make it 2-0.
They were just getting started.
Stephen Vogtled off the second with a walk andLuke Montzpowered his second homer of the spring to center field to give Oakland (8-6) a 4-0 lead.
In the third,Yoenis Cespedesreached with one out when he was hit by a pitch, Barton worked a walk and one out later, Vogt went deep for the first time in the Cactus League season, a three-run bomb to center.
The Giants (10-6) got their lone run in the sixth off relieverFernando AbadwhenHunter Pencehit his third homer in the last two days over the wall in left.
Oakland’s final run came in the ninth off Giants relieverDerek Law.Jake Elmoreled off with a walk, went to second on a single to right by Chad Overacker andDusty Colemanworked a walk to load the bases. Law then uncorked a wild pitch to score Elmore.
Cain was tagged for six hits—including the two homers—and walked three in 2.2 innings.Mike Kickhamworked 2.1 scoreless frames,Santiago Casilla,Sergio RomoandErik Cordiereach recorded a scoreless inning and Law was touched for the one run in the ninth.
Drew Pomeranzstruck out five in two scoreless innings for the A’s andPaul Smythworked a 1-2-3 ninth.
Callaspo and Montz had two hits apiece as the A’s totaled nine safeties on the day. Pence had two of San Francisco’s four hits.
Oakland will be on the road again Sunday, visiting the Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark at 1:05 p.m. Pacific. The Giants face a Cleveland Indians split squad at Scottsdale Stadium at 1:05 p.m. Pacific.
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