OAKLAND -- Watch out, but the Athletics are red hot.
Homers by Tyler Nevin and Abraham Toro backed Ross Stripling and the dominant A's bullpen in a 4-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, giving Oakland its first series sweep of the 2024 MLB season and its fourth consecutive victory.
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The A's sent veteran right-hander Ross Stripling to the mound against Pirates righty Quinn Priester (L, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K). Stripling not only pitched his best outing of the season, but he secured his first win in the Green and Gold.
Here are three observations from the 15-17 A's win over the 14-18 Pirates:
Stripling gets on the board
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After allowing a concerning 43 hits over his first six starts with Oakland, Stripling had been searching for his first A’s win and signature start at the Coliseum. He finally got them both Wednesday.
The 34-year-old threw a gem against the Pirates, allowing just three hits and zero runs through six innings of work.
Stripling needed just 79 pitches and two strikeouts to set the table for lefty T.J. McFarland and Oakland’s shut-down bullpen in the seventh inning, and the rest was history. Stripling furthered his innings pitched to 40.1 and lowered his ERA from 4.98 to 4.24.
Just a season ago, A's manager Mark Kotsay had to navigate a rotation of an MLB-record 24 different starters. He certainly could get used to Stripling’s outings like this one against the Pirates.
Nevin still streakin’
Tyler Nevin entered with a career-best eight-game hitting streak and kept it rolling.
After flying out to right field in the first, Nevin bounced back during his second at-bat by hitting a two-out solo home run in the third. The shot to left-center was Nevin’s fourth of the season and came on a 1-2 count against Priester.
The 26-year-old third baseman has excelled during his first 25 games with Oakland, slashing .325/.375/.500 with 26 hits, 10 RBI and, of course, the impressive hitting streak.
Many were concerned when fan favorite outfielder Esteury Ruiz was demoted in favor of Nevin on April 1, but the decision so far appears wise. While Nevin has flourished, Ruiz has performed well after an 11-game stint in Triple-A Las Vegas, boasting an improved .333 OBP in the big leagues this season.
Relying on the long ball
The A’s dig go-balls.
Oakland entered having scored an MLB-best 51.7 percent of its runs on homers. That tune didn’t wane, as the A’s tacked on two solo homers responsible for 50 percent of their runs.
Second baseman Abraham Toro homered to center in the second inning for his third of the year, before Nevin blasted his in the third.
Catcher Shea Langeliers leads Oakland with six home runs and is trailed by Brent Rooker (5), Nevin (4) and Toro (3), respectively.