Is the Chris Smith magic over? Will he never win as a starter? Quite possibly, unfortunately.
Tim Beckham led off the game with a triple, and immediately scored on a Manny Machado groundout. 1-0 Orioles.
The A’s retaliated with a run of their own in the bottom of the first. Rajai Davis singled to lead off, then stole second and was able to advance to third on an errant throw. He scored on a Jed Lowrie sac fly, and probably touched the plate but he might have lucked out that the O’s didn’t care to review it. Tied up at 1.
Trey Mancini doubled to start the second, but Smith escaped the inning with nothing else but a walk.
A’s went down easy in the bottom half.
Smith looked like he might have it in him to bounce back. He retire Beckham, Machado, and Jonathon Schoop to constitute the top of the third.
Dustin Garneau, Davis, and Semien were retired in order in the bottom half.
Matt Chapman came out of the game between innings, with Healy replacing him at third and Matt Olson coming in the game at first. Chapman is apparently ill. Adam Jones and Trey Mancini went back-to-back to regain the lead. Smith threw two nearly identical pitches in a row, and was taken deep both times. As Mark Mulder pointed out, Smith has to hit his location given that he lacks the “stuff” to get batters. 3-1 Orioles. He escaped the inning with nothing else but a Wellington Castillo double.
Ever-reliable, Lowrie doubled to start the bottom of the fourth inning. Khris Davis, Healy, Chad Pinder, and Olson combined to strand him at third base.
Smith again retired the trio of Beckham, Machado, and Schoop for the top of the fifth.
Canha and Semien walked in the bottom half, but were unable to score.
Things got ugly in the sixth.
Mancini went yard for his second homer of the game and Mark Trumbo immediately followed with one of his own (brownie points to whoever knows the last time a team went back-to-back twice in one game). 5-1 Orioles.
The A’s on NBC Twitter account gave up on the game right about then:
Healy reached on an error in the bottom of the sixth inning, but everyone else was an easy out.
Liam Hendriks finally replaced Smith in the top of the seventh, and didn’t make matters any better. After Joey Rickard lined out, Beckam doubled. Machado grounded out, but Schoop got on base and advanced Beckham thanks to a high throw from Marcus Semien that drew Olson off the bag. Jones followed with a double, scoring Beckham and Schoop. 7-1 Orioles.
Canha struck out, Garneau flied out, and Rajai struck out in the bottom half.
Daniel Coulombe came out for the 8th. He retired everyone but our old friend Craig Gentry, who was stranded at first.
The side-armer Darren O’Day came in to relieve Miley. Semien singled to start the bottom half. Jed “Doubles Machine” Lowrie doubled Semien home for his 35th of the year. KD walked. 7-2 Orioles. Healy put up a bit of a fight after getting called out on some questionable strikes.
Ryan dull retired the O’s in order for the top of the ninth.
The A’s put up a little fight in the bottom of the ninth against Brad Brach. After Olson struck out, Canha singled. Garneau doubled to advance Canha to third. Matt Joyce pinch-hit for Rajai Davis to try to do something, but struck out. Semien walked on very close pitch. Buck Showalter sent Zach Britton in to get the job done, and he retired Lowrie with an assist from Joey Rickard in right field.
Final: 7-2 Orioles.
It’s hard to win when the other team hits four home runs.
\We’ll do this again tomorrow at 7:05.
