Casilla blows it again but A’s blaze back to beat Royals
What was rounding into an ugly tale about Santiago Casilla’s propensity for denying Chris Smith his first-ever win as a starter did a U-turn into an A’s comeback story Tuesday night at the Coliseum.
After a hideous top of the eighth in which Oakland relievers allowed three homers, the A’s s responded with six runs in the bottom of the inning and screeched away with a 10-8 victory over the Royals.
The A’s opened the inning with four consecutive hits of Joakim Soria — a double by Jed Lowrie, a single by Khris Davis (hit No. 499 of his career), an RBI single by Ryon Healy and an RBI single by Matt Olson, cutting Kansas City’s lead to two.
Matt Chapman and pinch-hitter Chad Pinder struck out, however, and left-hander Mike Minor walked pinch-hitter Rajai Davis to load the bases.
With the A’s up by a run entering the eighth, Casilla walked Alex Gordon — batting under .200 — to start the inning, then gave up a two-run homer to No. 9 batter Drew Butera, Butera’s first homer since May 18.
Closer Blake Treinen took over and gave up a two-run homer by Eric Hosmer and a solo blast by Mike Moustakas.
Over the past 28 games, Oakland relievers have blown eight saves and allowed 14 homers in 992/3 innings.
Melky Cabrera added an RBI single, making it four batters, no outs and three runs in.
Smith said he finally threw one fastball where he wanted - and from there, he was outstanding, allowing only one more single the rest of the way, and he exited to a warm round of applause with one out in the sixth.
Oakland hit three homers, too, just not all in one inning ala K.C. Joyce hit his fourth leadoff shot of the season; leading off the second, Olson hit his fourth home run in five games; and Davis crunched a two-run blast in the third, his 33rd homer of the season and his 85th and 86th RBIs.