The Athletics' spring training woes continued with a 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants, marking their third consecutive defeat. While the A’s started strong, scoring two runs in the first inning, they couldn't maintain the momentum as the Giants answered with six unanswered runs. Remember, though, spring training is more about preparation than results.
The A’s kicked off the game with promise. Their first three batters reached base against Giants' starter JT Brubaker.
Max Muncy, competing for the starting spot at third base, had a prime opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs. Unfortunately, he grounded into a double play, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Andy Ibáñez doubled to left, bringing in the second and final run for the A’s.
On the mound, J.T. Ginn delivered an impressive debut.
With a two-run cushion, he struck out the side in the first inning, including the notoriously hard-to-strike-out Luis Arraez. Ginn followed up with a clean second inning, inducing three groundouts.
His performance raises the question: could Ginn be a pivotal bullpen asset this season, or will he secure a spot in the starting rotation?
The third inning saw a shift in momentum. The A’s had a chance to extend their lead, but Muncy was thrown out at home, and Henry Bolte grounded out with the bases loaded.
In the bottom half, the Giants capitalized on A’s prospect Gage Jump, stringing together three singles. Jump managed to escape with a double play, but the Giants were closing in.
The Giants tied it in the fourth and then chipped away, scoring in each inning from the fifth to the eighth against a mix of A’s relievers. The A’s offense struggled against the Giants' minor league pitchers, only threatening again in the eighth inning with two baserunners, but failing to capitalize. The A’s ended the game with ten hits, but only two were for extra bases.
Ginn’s standout performance was a bright spot, and the A’s will be looking for more from him and their young pitchers to claw back into playoff contention. Gage Jump and Braden Nett, despite allowing runs, showed potential worth monitoring.
Next up, the A’s face the Milwaukee Brewers, both teams searching for their first spring win. Mason Barnett will start, with relievers Justin Sterner and Hogan Harris following. Can the A’s offense find its groove, or will it be another low-scoring affair?
In other notes, Nick Kurtz demonstrated patience with two walks as the leadoff hitter. Andy Ibáñez impressed with a walk and a double.
Darell Hernaiz, ready for the WBC, had two hits and played solid defense. Henry Bolte's two strikeouts highlight his contact struggles.
Max Muncy’s erratic defense at third raises questions about his fit. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, with two hits, continues to show promise, though his power remains a question mark.