A's Fall to Angels 6-1 as Greinke Goes Seven Strong Innings

After winning nine in a row, the A's have now dropped the first two games of a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels.

Tonight, it was superb pitching by Zack Greinke coupled with some clutch two-out hitting by the Angels' offense.

Greinke allowed just a run on four hits in seven innings pitched to earn the win.

Jarrod Parker pitched reasonably for the A's, allowing two runs in seven innings, but the bullpen could not come through and keep Oakland in the game.

With the A's down 2-0 in the seventh, Brandon Moss launched a monster shot to left field to spoil the shutout, and instill a glimmer of hope that a comeback was possible.

But the Angels would have none of it. They would score twice in the eighth on RBI hits by Erick Aybar and Alberto Callaspo off Sean Doolittle, and twice more in the ninth on a double by Kendrys Morales that was misjudged by Stephen Drew.

With their loss, the A's have fallen into a dead tie for the lead in the AL Wild Card with the Baltimore Orioles.

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A's Battle Zack Greinke at the Coliseum: Preview, Lineups

The A's will look to start another win streak after their nine-game streak was snapped by the Angels yesterday.

Jarrod Parker (9-7, 3.72 ERA) will battle Zack Greinke (3-2. 4.82 ERA), who has really struggled since coming to the Angels - a 7.20 ERA.

Parker is also looking for a solid performance after a shaky start against the Indians last week.

Roster Moves

Reliever Jim Miller was called up today from Stockton. He is 2-1 with a 2.02 ERA this season.

Miscellaneous 

Josh Reddick is the AL Player of the Week. Reddick hit .387 with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and six runs scored in seven games.

Lineup - A's vs. Angels. 7:05 PM

1. Crisp CF
2. Smith DH
3. Reddick RF
4. Cespedes LF
5. Moss 1B
6. Donaldson 3B
7. Drew SS
8. Kottaras C
9. Pennington 2B

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Greinke and Impotent Royals

Playing in front of a national TV audience against the playoff contending Minnesota Twins Saturday in Minneapolis, the Kansas City Royals showed you why Zack Greinke is the American League Cy Young award winner for 2009.

Greinke himself didn't necessarily show you why he's the best pitcher in the AL, however, and one bad inning (the bottom of the sixth) may have cost Kansas City's ace the Cy Young in question. Twins starter Nick Blackburn took a perfect game into the fifth against the impotent Royal offense, but Mike Jacobs and Alberto Callaspo led off the fifth with consecutive singles. Any legitimate major-league lineup would score at least those two runs in a similar situation, but KC has no legitimate major-league lineup.

Mark Teahen bunted the runners over to second and third like a true pro, but Miguel Olivo grounded Blackburn's first pitch -- a fastball in front of his neck -- weakly to shortstop for out number two. Blackburn -- who yields a .323 batting average with the bases empty yet .234 with runners in scoring position -- coaxed an inning-ending pop-up out of Alex Gordon to preserve the scoreless tie.

(Continue to Sport Imitates Life)

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Greinke for President

KANSAS CITY--Zack Greinke made his final home start of the 2009 season Sunday at Kauffman Stadium, and it has been quite some time since sports fans in Kansas City have rallied around a cause like this.

The Chiefs have made just two playoff appearances in the last decade (and lost in the first round both times), while the Royals have just two winning seasons in the last 17. There are no NBA or NHL teams for the small-market Kansas Citian to pass the rest of his or her time with.

(Continue to Sport Imitates Life)

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Memo to Royals: Trade Greinke

One of my best friends lives in Kansas City. He's an aspiring sportswriter who bleeds Royal blue, so he might consider what I'm about to say as blasphemous. Yet what I have to say needs to be said: The Royals should trade Zack Greinke.

Now, that's a hard idea to throw at somebody who calls Greinke the best pitcher in baseball, but the game's best pitcher can fetch a fistful of great prospects for the game's worst. And, let's face it, the Royals need talent.

I sat at Progressive Field last Friday night and watched Greinke pitch against the Indians, and as he's done all season, he crafted a masterpiece. Greinke went seven innings and allowed one run, lowering his league-best ERA to 2.19.

(Continue to Justice Is Served)

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