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.
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.
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.