The Athletics will split up Saturday, with one squad headed to Las Vegas, after an 11-6 loss to the Rockies on Friday at Hohokam Stadium.
Oakland did enough offensively to make the afternoon interesting. The A’s finished with 12 hits, got three RBIs off the bench from Colby Thomas and saw Drew Swift deliver in his first spring at-bat. The problem was the early hole. Colorado scored three in the first, and the A’s spent the rest of the day trying to climb out of it.
A’s answer, then keep pushing
The A’s got on the board in the first when Shea Langeliers doubled and Max Muncy followed with a two-out RBI single to center.
They kept creating chances from there. Cade Marlowe singled in the third, homered in the sixth and reached three times. Euribiel Angeles added two hits after entering later in the game, and Luke Mann chipped in a single and scored during Oakland’s seventh-inning push.
That seventh was the A’s best stretch. Swift, making his spring debut, lined an RBI single to left in his first at-bat. Then Thomas drilled a two-run double to left, scoring Angeles and Swift and cutting the deficit to 8-5.
Oakland added one more in the ninth when Angeles singled again, Swift walked and Thomas drove in another run with a line single to center.
The swings were there, but the hole was too deep
The A’s actually out-hit Colorado 12-11 and went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position. However, the early damage stuck. JT Ginn took the loss after allowing four runs in three innings, and the Rockies got four homers that proved too much to overcome.
Still, Oakland’s offense gave this one more life than the final margin suggests.
Up next
Now the spring map shifts. The A’s split up Saturday, and the louder stop is Las Vegas.
One squad faces the Cubs at 12:05 p.m. PT. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas group plays the Angels at 1:05 p.m. PT at Las Vegas Ballpark in Downtown Summerlin as part of Big League Weekend.
It will be the A’s fifth trip to Las Vegas Ballpark for the event and their 11th appearance in the valley. Before first pitch, fans can get the day started at the Big League Weekend Bash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Dining Arroyo in Downtown Summerlin, with alumni appearances, Stomper photos and fan activities.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
