Not a shock: Sonny Gray to start for A’s on Opening Night
After Sonny Gray’s first Cactus League start Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin made a less-than-startling announcement:
Gray made the All-Star team last year and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting.
Even with a little less to his repertoire than usual, Gray pitched well, allowing three hits, a walk and a run while striking out four.
In the third, a single by Avisail Garcia scored Todd Frazier, but Garcia was thrown out on a strike ’em-out, throw ’em-out double play and Gray got Travis Ishikawa to ground out.
The A’s announced that Section 129 at the Coliseum will become the “Sonny Siders” section for select Gray starts throughout the season; an Opening Night ticket special for the section will include a T-shirt and a cheer card.
Gray struck out former A’s infielder Brett Lawrie twice.
Outfielder Sam Fuld and minor-league first baseman Matt Olson look so much alike facially that pitching coach Curt Young walked in one day, took one look at Olson sitting at a card table, and said, “Hi, Sam!”
Melvin said Stephen Vogt (elbow) was scheduled to throw to bases Wednesday, the final step before getting a start at catcher. …
The A’s will donate 800 jerseys to the Oakland Cal Ripken-Babe Ruth Baseball League on Saturday morning at the Coliseum to begin baseball season.
The team has partnered with Black Bear Diner to give away more than 5,000 jersey and hats to youth leagues in the East Bay, helped by a posthumous donation by longtime season-ticket holder Elizabeth “Lisa” Ruchenski.
Josh Reddick hit a two-run triple in the second inning. …
Third-base prospect Matt Chapman, having a very impressive camp, hit his second homer of the spring, a two-run blast in the ninth.
Andrew Lambo hit his second homer, a solo shot in the fifth. …
Sam Fuld, hitless in his first seven at-bats of the spring, had three hits. …
Stephen Vogt beat the shift with a bunt in the third inning.
Melvin said the coaching staff is working on bunting with all the players who get shifted, and he hopes scouts take note. …
Left-hander Felix Doubront, who allowed five hits and two runs in his first outing but gave up only one hit and struck out six in three innings Wednesday.