Reds pitching shuts down A’s bats 3-0 to avoid sweep

BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER

The Cincinnati Reds rode Derek Dietrich’s two run first inning home run, and Tanner Roark threw six shutout innings to salvage the final game of their three game series with the A’s by a 3-0 score Thursday afternoon at the Oakland Coliseum.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Cincinnati’s Eugenio Suarez (7) is greeted by Derek Dietrich at home plate following his third inning home run Thursday afternoon at the Coliseum. The Reds beat the A’s 3-0 to salvage the final game of their three game series.

Dietrich belted a Chris Bassitt pitch over the right field wall following a Eugenio Suarez double for his tenth homer of the season to give Cincinnati all the runs they would need. Suarez would blast a solo shot to deep left in the third, his 11th, for the final margin.

Roark (3-1, 3.27) combined with three Reds relievers to limit Oakland to six hits as they suffered their second shutout loss of the year. It was his second straight strong start following a 6 2/3 inning effort against San Francisco last Saturday in which he allowed only two runs on four hits while striking out seven.

Still, Bassitt (1-1, 2.55)) continued to give the A’s rotation a boost, settling down after the shaky start to only allow one more run while throwing 7 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts. The only other bright sign for Oakland were two hits off the bat of Matt Olson in just his third game back after missing 34 with an injury.

©DANIEL GLUSKOTER Oakland’s Chris Bassitt delivers a pitch during the A’s 3-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Thursday afternoon. Bassitt settled down after a shaky start to pitch a career high 7 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts.

The A’s return to action Friday night for the first of a three game series against the Indians. Frankie Montas (4-2, 2.75) takes the mound against Cleveland’s Cody Anderson in the opener. Action for the Reds will move across the bay as Cincinnati opens a weekend series against the Giants.

GAME NOTES:

Khris Davis was held out of Thursday’s game due to continuing issues from a left hip contusion. A’s manager Bob Melvin is hopeful that Davis will be able to return to the lineup tomorrow night.

Bassitt’s 7 2/3 innings pitched was the longest outing of his major league career.

About Daniel Gluskoter

Daniel Gluskoter is the Martinez Tribune's national music and sports editor and a Bay Area photojournalist who's work has been featured in Rolling Stone, Time Magazine and Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2008 Presidential campaign as a correspondent for United Press International and has travelled worldwide covering events ranging from numerous Super Bowls and Olympics to Live Aid and the Grammys.

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