PHILADELPHIA — The A’s positioned outfielder Skye Bolt on the injured record Sunday earlier than the ultimate matchup of a three-game opening sequence in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Bolt, 28, suffered a proper indirect pressure throughout batting observe Saturday. Left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek was activated from Triple-A Las Vegas and arrived in time for Sunday’s recreation.
“We all know Adam, and he comes again to us with the best mindset,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay stated pregame. “He’s prepared, he’s ready and we all know what he can do. He’s going to exit and carry out.”
Kolarek, 33, his sixth season within the majors, was traded to Oakland earlier than final yr. He struggled in 12 early appearances, permitting eight earned runs in 9 innings earlier than being despatched all the way down to Triple-A for the remainder of the season.
“I simply acquired off to a sluggish begin,” Kolarek stated. “In years previous, I felt like I used to be sort of used extra usually. I simply by no means acquired to some extent the place I used to be in rhythm.”
With this yr’s spring coaching shortened by the lockout, Kolarek made just one outing in major-league camp. The A’s determined to ship him again to Las Vegas to proceed ramping as much as begin the season, permitting some extra inexperienced pitchers to affix the bullpen for Opening Day as Kolarek waited for a chance.
“I completely understood that,” Kolarek stated. “Lots of different guys had been introduced in that the group needed to see. I had an important dialog with Kots, simply staying optimistic and realizing that I’m going to contribute sooner or later.
“The truth that I’m right here already is only a bonus.”
Oakland on the lookout for success in opposition to Eflin
Phillies beginning pitchers have discovered success in opposition to Oakland’s lineup within the first two video games of the season. The A’s wish to change that as they attempt to keep away from a sweep of their opening sequence.
Aaron Nola cruised by six innings on Friday earlier than Seth Brown hit a three-run dwelling run off him within the seventh. Kyle Gibson struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless on Saturday.
With right-hander Zach Eflin taking the mound for Philadelphia on Sunday, Oakland is hoping for higher leads to the early innings.
“We simply should preserve grinding out at-bats, placing good at-bats collectively,” A’s leadoff batter Tony Kemp stated. “You need to give credit score to these pitchers over there. They’ve been placing the ball the place they wish to to date. However we’ve battled late in video games, so we simply should preserve at it.”
The A’s will goal for high quality plate appearances early to drive Eflin’s pitch depend up. They’ll additionally search to do injury in opposition to errors up within the zone from the sinkerballer..
”Anytime you’re going through a sinker-slider man, the problem is getting him up within the zone and on the lookout for elevation,” Kotsay stated. “I believe that’s sort of the mindset.”
Benefiting from pitches Eflin leaves within the hitting zone will probably be key for the A’s offense as Oakland’s personal beginning pitcher Daulton Jefferies faces an explosive Phillies lineup.