Their most recent victory, against the Minnesota Twins, was won in dramatic fashion. By all accounts, they should not have won. But when things are going your way, almost everything goes your way.

The A’s and the Twins had taken things to extra innings, and then Minnesota took a 12-11 lead in the top of the 10th. Fast-forward to the bottom of the 10th, and Ramon Laureano is at the plate with two outs, bases loaded, behind the count at 1-2, and his team down by one.

Laureano then hit a sharp grounder down the third base line. This wasn’t an easy play for Minnesota third baseman Luis Arraez to make, but he was able to scoop up the ball and throw it… wildly off target.

Arraez’s throw went beyond the first baseman’s hands, and Oakland was able to score two runs to win the game, extending their win streak to 11 games.

If this dramatic ending is any indication of how things have been going for the A’s lately, it’ll be quite interesting to see how long this win-streak will go on. In the meantime, we’ll just enjoy the ride with them.

The post Oakland A’s Win Their 11th Straight After Rocky Start appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s, despite not playing on Monday, were mathematically ensured of the division crown after the second-place Houston Astros fell 6-1 at home to the Seattle Mariners. Houston’s loss dropped them to the .500 mark and 6.5 games behind Oakland, making the Athletics the first team to clinch first place in a division in the Majors.

Oakland has been a team that has surprised many by displacing the Astros from the top of the division, as the 2017 World Series champions were the favorite heading into the season after winning the division in each of the past three seasons.

The Athletics have been led by one of baseball’s best pitching staffs which has combined to post an excellent 3.64 ERA on the season and prop up the team’s relatively average offensive output. With baseball’s best bullpen by ERA, Oakland will be a threat to advance in the playoffs if their bats can produce enough offense to keep their heads above water.

The A’s will either be the league’s 2nd or 3rd seed in the upcoming playoffs, which are set to begin next week.

The post Athletics Clinch First AL West Title in 7 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s, the owners of a 22-12 record and a team that has the looks of a potential World Series contender, looked to upgrade one of the only weak points of its team by acquiring the veteran lefty.

Oakland will send two players to be named later as well as international slot money in exchange for the Tennessee native and cash considerations to help pay his salary.

Minor, a 2009 first round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves out of Vanderbilt University, has been a quality starter for Texas over the last three seasons after joining the club before the 2018 campaign after spending a year with the Kansas City Royals as a reliever.

He pitched to the tune of a 14-10 record with a 3.59 ERA last season, putting up numbers that he hadn’t achieved since 2013 with the Braves.

Minor has struggled so far this year, putting up a 5.60 ERA, but showed promise on Friday, pitching 6 shutout innings against one of baseball’s most potent offenses in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 33-year-old pitcher is expected to make his Oakland debut at some point this week.

The post A’s Bolster Rotation with Trade for Rangers LHP Mike Minor appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Mike Fiers, the Oakland A’s veteran righty, tossed nine innings without allowing a hit against Cincinnati. That, in and of itself, is a rare feat.

When you consider the circumstances, the story gets even more improbable.

The game between the Athletics and Reds took place at the Oakland Coliseum, a derelict and aging stadium. Some of the lights in the stadium wouldn’t turn on, so a delay lasting 98 minutes delayed the first pitch.

The game that was supposed to begin at 7:07 PM local time instead began at 8:45 PM.

Two hours and 25 minutes later, at 11.15 PM, Fiers and his teammates celebrated after he tossed nine no-hit innings.

Fiers totaled 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in his masterful outing. Not many could’ve expected a performance like this going into the game, however, as Fiers was the owner of a 6.81 ERA after his first eight start of the year.

Fiers was also helped by an amazing catch by Ramón Laureano in the sixth inning, who robbed Joey Votto of a home run.

The no-hitter was the second of Fiers’ career. He also completed the impressive feat in the 2015 season as a member of the Houston Astros.

The post Oakland A’s Pitcher Mike Fiers Throws Second Career No-Hitter appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Their most recent victory, against the Minnesota Twins, was won in dramatic fashion. By all accounts, they should not have won. But when things are going your way, almost everything goes your way.

The A’s and the Twins had taken things to extra innings, and then Minnesota took a 12-11 lead in the top of the 10th. Fast-forward to the bottom of the 10th, and Ramon Laureano is at the plate with two outs, bases loaded, behind the count at 1-2, and his team down by one.

Laureano then hit a sharp grounder down the third base line. This wasn’t an easy play for Minnesota third baseman Luis Arraez to make, but he was able to scoop up the ball and throw it… wildly off target.

Arraez’s throw went beyond the first baseman’s hands, and Oakland was able to score two runs to win the game, extending their win streak to 11 games.

If this dramatic ending is any indication of how things have been going for the A’s lately, it’ll be quite interesting to see how long this win-streak will go on. In the meantime, we’ll just enjoy the ride with them.

The post Oakland A’s Win Their 11th Straight After Rocky Start appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s, despite not playing on Monday, were mathematically ensured of the division crown after the second-place Houston Astros fell 6-1 at home to the Seattle Mariners. Houston’s loss dropped them to the .500 mark and 6.5 games behind Oakland, making the Athletics the first team to clinch first place in a division in the Majors.

Oakland has been a team that has surprised many by displacing the Astros from the top of the division, as the 2017 World Series champions were the favorite heading into the season after winning the division in each of the past three seasons.

The Athletics have been led by one of baseball’s best pitching staffs which has combined to post an excellent 3.64 ERA on the season and prop up the team’s relatively average offensive output. With baseball’s best bullpen by ERA, Oakland will be a threat to advance in the playoffs if their bats can produce enough offense to keep their heads above water.

The A’s will either be the league’s 2nd or 3rd seed in the upcoming playoffs, which are set to begin next week.

The post Athletics Clinch First AL West Title in 7 Years appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The A’s, the owners of a 22-12 record and a team that has the looks of a potential World Series contender, looked to upgrade one of the only weak points of its team by acquiring the veteran lefty.

Oakland will send two players to be named later as well as international slot money in exchange for the Tennessee native and cash considerations to help pay his salary.

Minor, a 2009 first round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves out of Vanderbilt University, has been a quality starter for Texas over the last three seasons after joining the club before the 2018 campaign after spending a year with the Kansas City Royals as a reliever.

He pitched to the tune of a 14-10 record with a 3.59 ERA last season, putting up numbers that he hadn’t achieved since 2013 with the Braves.

Minor has struggled so far this year, putting up a 5.60 ERA, but showed promise on Friday, pitching 6 shutout innings against one of baseball’s most potent offenses in the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 33-year-old pitcher is expected to make his Oakland debut at some point this week.

The post A’s Bolster Rotation with Trade for Rangers LHP Mike Minor appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Mike Fiers, the Oakland A’s veteran righty, tossed nine innings without allowing a hit against Cincinnati. That, in and of itself, is a rare feat.

When you consider the circumstances, the story gets even more improbable.

The game between the Athletics and Reds took place at the Oakland Coliseum, a derelict and aging stadium. Some of the lights in the stadium wouldn’t turn on, so a delay lasting 98 minutes delayed the first pitch.

The game that was supposed to begin at 7:07 PM local time instead began at 8:45 PM.

Two hours and 25 minutes later, at 11.15 PM, Fiers and his teammates celebrated after he tossed nine no-hit innings.

Fiers totaled 6 strikeouts and 2 walks in his masterful outing. Not many could’ve expected a performance like this going into the game, however, as Fiers was the owner of a 6.81 ERA after his first eight start of the year.

Fiers was also helped by an amazing catch by Ramón Laureano in the sixth inning, who robbed Joey Votto of a home run.

The no-hitter was the second of Fiers’ career. He also completed the impressive feat in the 2015 season as a member of the Houston Astros.

The post Oakland A’s Pitcher Mike Fiers Throws Second Career No-Hitter appeared first on yoursportspot.com.