Astros, Evan Gattis blast A’s again; Jake Smolinski pitches for Oakland
Whatever or whoever the A’s throw at the Astros, the results seem to be getting uglier and uglier.
Paul Blackburn, making his second start of the season after an outstanding season debut last week, crumbled against Houston on Wednesday, allowing eight runs and retiring just four batters in the A’s 13-5 loss. By the end of the night, outfielder Jake Smolinski was pitching; he allowed two runs, on a homer by Jake Marisnick, before getting three quick outs.
It was Smolinski’s first time pitching in 11 years, since he was in high school.
“They came out swinging,” Smolinski said. “I just wanted to throw strikes and get out of there as fast as I could.