Kotsay: A’s have to ‘turn the page’ after loss to Yankees originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
Athletics starting pitcher James Kaprielian had a rough night against the New York Yankees on Thursday at the Oakland Coliseum, as the A’s could not carry over any momentum from Wednesday’s extra-innings win over the Miami Marlins.
Kaprielian breezed through the first inning with no issue, only to then work his way into a jam in the second. The 28-year-old loaded the bases with just one out.
On a 2-2 count, Kaprielian’s four-seam fastball, which appeared to be a strike, was called a ball. Then, on the next pitch, Yankees shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa would get a hit to open the scoring.
“From the get-go, it just looked like he was battling himself,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reporters postgame.
“The at-bat Kiner he made a really good pitch; it was balled. Could have changed the momentum in that inning. Unfortunately, Kiner-Falefa gets that hit, and the momentum just kept going, so he grinded.”
The A’s starter couldn’t get his outing back on track after the controversial no-strike call, eventually giving up eight earned runs in 2 1/3 innings pitched.
Despite the missed call in the at-bat against Kiner-Falefa, the A’s starter hurt himself by walking six Yankees batters, putting himself in difficult situations that led to eight runs being scored between the second and third innings combined.
With the A’s giving up 13 runs on 20 hits, there’s not much Oakland can take away from the game, which is why Kotsay wants his team to forget what happened in the blowout loss and look to bounce back on Friday.
“I would just turn the page on this game. A lot of things happened tonight that just were interesting,” Kotsay added. ” … So some weird things tonight. I just turned the page. We got to show up tomorrow and play.”
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The A’s will send JP Sears (5-0, 1.93 ERA) to the mound, whom the A’s acquired from the Yankees in the trade that sent Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino to the Bronx. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole (9-6, 3.41 ERA) will take the mound for New York as they attempt to get their second win of the series.