The Athletics offense picked up where it left off yesterday, taking advantage of the dry, hot Arizona air to bash four home runs in a 12-1 rout over the Kansas City Royals. This afternoon showed why the A’s could be a dangerous team this season: multiple hitters throughout the lineup can change a game with one swing, provided the pitching keeps them within striking distance.
Left-hander Jacob Lopez made his second start of the spring and looked sharp. Facing a Royals lineup missing most of its regulars, Lopez cruised through four scoreless, hitless innings, while striking out seven. He looks healthy and close to ready for the season, although it would be nice to see him face more MLB batters in his next Cactus League outing. If Lopez carries this form into the regular season, he could raise the ceiling of the A’s rotation.
The relievers who followed Lopez pitched well, with Tyler Ferguson the lone exception after allowing the R0yals’ only two hits and lone run. Offseason acquisition Scott Barlow struck out four of the five batters he faced. Later in the game, non-roster invitees Wander Suero and Joel Kuhnel each tossed a scoreless inning. Both are likely headed to Triple-A to start the year, but either could be promoted if the team needs bullpen depth.
Shea Langeliers was not only guiding the pitching staff behind the plate, but providing the fireworks at the plate as well. Langeliers faced Kansas City’s pitcher Ryan Berget three times and each time the result was the same: a solo home run. He now has six home runs this spring, the most of any hitter across the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues.
Reports circulated this offseason about the A’s showing interest in an extension with both Langeliers and Nick Kurtz, though neither player has reached an agreement yet. Given the lack of minor league catching prospects in the organization, it would make sense for A’s general manager David Forst to keep those conversations going in Langeliers’ case.
Kurtz also went deep in the fourth inning, hitting a solo shot immediately ahead of Langeliers as the A’s went back-to-back. Center fielder Henry Bolte contributed earlier with an RBI single in the second.
The A’s jumped out to a 5-0 lead, a score that would not change until the seventh inning, when the Royals finally got on the scoreboard. Having limited the Royals to one run, the A’s responded with two runs in the seventh and five in the eighth to put this game firmly out of reach.
Third baseman Tommy White and shortstop Leo De Vries both contributed once again, this time off the bench. White is now batting .500 this spring after collecting two more hits and two RBIs. De Vries is not far behind, as the 19-year-old is batting .400 after singling and later hitting a two-run double. Having turned 19 in October, De Vries appears on track to make his MLB debut well before his 21st birthday. If he continues playing this well, De Vries could force his way into the conversation this summer, which will cause an infield logjam that the A’s will have to deal with when the time comes.
Here’s how the box score looked today:
The Athletics will aim to keep the bats rolling tomorrow against the Cleveland Guardians. Right-hander Jack Perkins will toe the rubber for the A’s, looking to improve on his last outing as he vies for a spot in the team’s rotation or bullpen. The Guardians will counter with arguably their best pitcher, right-hander Tanner Bibee. It should be another fun Cactus League matchup in sunny Arizona between two teams looking to exceed expectations this season.
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