A’s dominated by Pablo Lopez in 3-0 loss

Another solid effort from Harris gets clouded by a gem from Lopez

Fifty years ago, the A’s rocked an offense that tallied the most runs in the American League en route to a third-straight World Series Championship. Today, that 1974 championship team was honored before the game through some amazing honors and words, but the offense didn’t follow one bit. In fact, the A’s didn’t record their first baserunner and hit until two outs in the sixth inning.

It’s a shame the A’s couldn’t manufacture anything offensively either because they spoiled another impressive start from Hogan Harris. The southpaw matched Minnesota Twins hurler Pablo Lopez for most of the afternoon today but it’s Lopez catching the last laugh going eight strong while striking out 14.

The Twins took the game 3-0 as starting pitching reigned victorious for the second time in as many days after a Bailey Ober gem in his own regard yesterday. The Twins also take the three-game series and 6/7 overall against the A’s in 2024.

After an offensive barrage for the Twins last night especially early, they got the scoring started in the second with a Byron Buxton no-doubt solo shot to left.

As for the A’s offense, they’d wait a lot longer to crack the hit column. Miguel Andujar got the crowd into it just minutes into the first inning with a fabulous defensive double play started from left field, but the offense literally couldn’t do anything to jump on the momentum.

Lopez worked five perfect innings right out of the gate in just 58 pitches. Besides a Tyler Soderstrom hot shot up the middle that was gloved by Carlos Correa, the A’s offense didn't have any positives through the first half of play.

Lawrence Butler broke up the perfect game bid with two outs in the sixth after a line-drive single to right. Down 1-0, Max Schuemann laid down a pretty bunt next to play for one run but Lopez made a nice play to scamper off the mound and throw out Schuemann.

Harris wasn’t far behind Lopez’s heroics as he’d allowed just the one Buxton run and two hits through his first six innings of work. The third time around the Twins order in the seventh inning, however, brought some different fortunes.

Three straight knocks concluding with a Buxton RBI double grew the lead to 2-0 and ended Harris’ day with no outs and runners at second and third. Austin Adams was inserted in relief and allowed one of those runs to score to end Harris’ final line at six innings pitched, three earned runs, and five hits allowed.

Harris will get credited with the loss today, but the perception about him as a pitcher still shouldn’t change in 2024; he was thoroughly outdueled by Lopez who was near perfect.

Lopez allowed another hit, an Andujar single, but otherwise, he went the eight scoreless while allowing just one walk, two hits, and striking out 14 to tie his career high. Brent Rooker had three of those punchouts (and four total) while JJ Bleday, Tyler Nevin, and Zack Gelof all added a pair.

Lopez entered Sunday sporting nearly a ten ERA through three starts in June with more earned runs than innings pitched. To say he turned it around today could be a soft way to put it.

After yesterday's 10-2 loss where the offense didn’t do much either, the A’s combined for two runs and seven hits over their last two games. They’ll thankfully face a top-three worst pitching staff in baseball upcoming in the Los Angeles Angels, but just banking on the numbers won’t cut it.

The A’s and Angels start their three-game stand tomorrow night at 6:38 PM PDT. It’ll be the first time the two division rivals meet all season as Luis Medina and Griffin Canning are set to square off on the bump.