Game 24: Oakland 7, Houston 4

Sean Manaea debuts, Alonso provides walk-off home run

This was one of the games you place an asterisk next to after the season. It began with the highly anticipated debut of A’s #1 pitching prospect Sean Manaea, with two dozen family members of the “Throwin’ Samoan” making themselves known. It was a return to the Oakland Coliseum on a gorgeous spring night after a long road trip. And then, down two runs in the eighth, the A’s rallied for two in the 8th and three in the 9th to even the club’s record at 12–12.

Yonder Alonso stepped into the hero’s role for the first time in an A’s uniform. Acquired in December along with Marc Rzepczynski for Drew Pomeranz (who struck out 10 in a start for the Padres this week), he has a reputation for being a rock-solid .280 hitter with limited power (like Billy Butler) but an wizard defensively. His average bottomed out a .091 on April 15, but six hits in the last seven games are evidence that he is coming around.

After a Stephen Vogt lead-off double in the ninth, Mark Canha sacrificed pinch runner Tyler Ladendorf to third. (It was Canha’s first career sacrfice bunt.) Coco Crisp worked the count to 3–1 off of former teammate Pat Neshek, and then received an intentional walk, setting the scene for Alonso. He slammed a low inside fastball well into the right field bleachers to set off “Celebration” and earn the first pie of the year.

Earlier in the night, Manaea scattered four hits and three walks, exiting in the sixth. Sean Doolittle allowed two inherited runners to score, ending Manaea’s chances of earning a win. He, Dull, Rzepczynski and Ryan Madson combined for four scoreless innings.

Also of note:

• Crisp homered, singled and walked and continues to look like his 2013 self.
• Billy Burns walked to start the game-tying rally in the eighth. He stole his seventh base of the year, and went to third on an errant throw, scoring on a Jed Lowrie sacrifice fly.
• He then made the best defensive play of the night. When Carlos Gomez crushed a ball inches from a home run in straightaway left in the ninth, and the carom rolled 2/3 of the way back to the infield, Burns motored from right center to back up Coco and fire a strike to Chris Coghlan to thwart a would-be triple.
• The defensive trio of Crisp (LF), Burns (CF) and Reddick (RF) is stellar; With Alonso at first and Khris Davis suited to DH, Mark Canha and Billy Butler are the odd men out.
• Sam Fuld is undergoing shoulder surgery and is out for the year.
• Manaea became the 14th pitcher to appear this year for the A’s. Jesse Hahn has been called up (along with Andrew Triggs) to replace the injured Bassitt and will become #15 on Saturday.
• Catcher Matt McBride was sent back down without appearing in a game. Apparently, his callup was triggered in part by an out clause that allowed him to become a free agent on May 1. He was set to go to Japan but has now been added to the 40-man roster.