The Athletics have spent the past week chasing balance. One night, the pitching bends. The next, the bats go quiet.
Tuesday brought the second version. The A’s managed three hits in a 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, dropping the series opener and extending their losing streak to three games. They have also lost five of their last seven.
The streak stops
The night turned early for Zack Gelof.
Gelof flew out to right to open the game, then left in the second inning after injuring his right hand on a slide into second base. The injury was confirmed as a right hand laceration and contusion.
As a result, Gelof’s hitting streak ended at 24 games. It was a hard stop for one of the steadiest stretches of the A’s season.
Jeff McNeil replaced him at second base and went 0-for-3.
Ray keeps A’s quiet
Robbie Ray controlled the game after the injury delay.
Ray allowed one unearned run on two hits over eight innings. He walked four, struck out six and kept the Athletics from building sustained pressure.
The A’s only run came in the third. Colby Thomas reached on a fielding error by Jung Hoo Lee and scored on Max Muncy’s single to left.
However, the inning ended quickly after Muncy was picked off and caught stealing.
Giants do enough
San Francisco gave Ray an early lead in the second against Aaron Civale.
Lee hit a solo homer to right-center, his fifth of the season. Then Willy Adames doubled, and Matt Chapman singled him home.
Civale limited the damage from there. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth by striking out Daniel Susac, keeping the A’s within one run.
Still, Civale took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over four innings. He struck out five and walked none.
One more run, no answer
The Giants added insurance in the seventh.
Bryce Eldridge walked, Casey Schmitt singled and Rafael Devers drove in Eldridge with a single off José Suarez. Mason Barnett was charged with the run.
The A’s had one final chance in the ninth against Caleb Kilian. Tyler Soderstrom singled, Jacob Wilson reached on a forceout and Lawrence Butler walked.
However, Kilian struck out Henry Bolte to end it.
The Athletics finished 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position and left six on base. San Francisco went 2-for-9 and left nine.
Up next
The Athletics continue the three-game series Wednesday at Oracle Park. First pitch is 6:45 p.m. PDT.
Gage Jump gets the ball for the A’s. The rookie left-hander enters at 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA and 26 strikeouts.
Across from him, San Francisco turns to right-hander Tyler Mahle, who enters at 1-7 with a 6.04 ERA and 57 strikeouts.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, 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.
