The Athletics had this one lined up for a while. They carried a 3-1 lead deep into the game, and then the bottom of the ninth turned into a collapse they couldn’t stop.
Bobby Witt Jr. delivered the walk-off hit, and just like that, a chance to push the series decider to Wednesday vanished. Now the A’s are left trying to avoid a sweep in Game 3.
There was still plenty to like on the mound before the finish fell apart. Brady Basso got the start, and the Athletics trusted one of their steadiest relievers to set the tone.
He worked 2.1 innings and gave up only two hits. Then Jack Perkins took over and was excellent for 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out four.
Three of those punchouts came in the bottom of the sixth, when he looked completely in control.
That kind of setup may be exactly what Perkins needs after some shaky recent starts. It also explains why the A’s were willing to use Basso early, even if that meant losing him later in the game.
The move was about keeping things from unraveling too soon. Going forward, it will be worth watching whether Mark Kotsay sticks with another opener in Perkins’ next start.
The bigger issue was the bullpen’s condition by the end. The Athletics had a strong series against the Rangers, but that group hasn’t looked the same since. Mason Barnett’s 2.2 innings in Game 1 may have thrown the rhythm off, and Basso having to cover the first two innings here only added to the strain.
By the late innings, the bullpen looked spent. Hogan Harris was asked to clean up the eighth for Luis Medina, and that is not a spot many closers want to inherit. The Royals were already squaring him up, and that should have pushed Kotsay to get Elvis Alvarado involved sooner.
Even with the late-game mess, the offense has been doing its part early. The Athletics have been getting bats going right away, and the next three games set up better on the pitching side with Gage Jump, JT Ginn, and Jacob Lopez lined up consecutively. With the lineup producing consistently, the A’s need to keep cashing in on those early opportunities.
Jeff McNeil and Henry Bolte at the top have helped make that happen. Their skill sets have given the Athletics a real lift early in games, and Tommy White and Lawrence Butler have also been coming through lately. That combination is a big reason the A’s have been so effective early on.
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As Late Collapse In Kansas City Raises A Familiar Bullpen Fear
The Athletics had the kind of game that should have traveled well, with Jack Perkins and Brady Basso turning in strong work on the mound and the offense handing over a three-run cushion by the sixth inning in Kansas City. For most of the night, it looked like Oakland had done the hard part, controlling the pace and building a lead that should have been enough to finish the job.
Then the ninth inning arrived and flipped everything. The Royals put together a rally for three runs and walked off with the win, the sort of late collapse that can quickly sour a solid team effort and send the focus right back to the bullpen. For Oakland, the loss was less about what went right early than the uneasy reminder of how fragile a late lead can feel once the last inning turns messy. [Read more 🡒]
A's Farm System Faces A New Concern After Midland Shuffle
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The bigger concern for Oaklands player pipeline came away from the scoreboard. Leo De Vries was moved to the 7-day injured list with a shoulder ailment, and the ripple effects were felt in the organizations alignment as the RockHounds adjusted around a reshaped infield and new faces moved into Midland while another was sent on to Triple-A Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]