The A's Gave Up 24 Hits In One Game and Still Came Out Ahead In Vegas

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk baseball for a sec? Because what just happened with the Athletics is WILD. We're talking a 23-9 loss on Sunday, giving up TWENTY-FOUR hits and six homers! You'd think that would totally sink a team's week, right? But somehow, the A's actually had a positive stretch, taking four of six games during their "homestand" in Las Vegas. Yeah, you read that right. Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions.

Vegas Highs and West Sac Lows (Literally)

The A's were playing in Las Vegas, their future ballpark, for two series, winning two of three against both the Brewers and Rockies. That's a 4-2 run! Then came Sunday's disaster against Colorado, a 23-9 beatdown that erased some good vibes as they headed back to their current spot in West Sacramento. Giving up 24 hits in one game is rough. Manager Mark Kotsay admitted the thin air in Vegas makes pitching tough. They needed a grind, and they got it from J.T. Ginn, their pitcher for Monday. Ginn, 4-3 with a 3.15 ERA, last won 7-5 against the Brewers, giving up five runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. Not his sharpest, but it was their first Vegas win. Before that, Ginn was dealing, posting a 1.49 ERA over six starts. So, he's got the stuff. And don't forget the bats: Tyler Soderstrom had two hits, including his 12th home run, and has reached base in 21 straight games. Fifteen hits in that wild loss means the offense is there!

Pittsburgh's Ace Can't Catch a Break

Now, let's pivot to the Pirates, who roll into West Sac after losing seven of their last nine games, including dropping two of three in Miami. What's crazy is their ace, Paul Skenes, racked up 10 strikeouts in his Sunday start, but they still lost 4-2 to the Marlins! That's not a fluke, folks. The Pirates have now lost SIX straight games where Skenes has pitched. SIX! Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly is trying to diagnose it, saying, "It hasn't been one thing, just we haven't put together a complete game with him out there." He says Skenes has been "consistent every time out there." You gotta feel for a pitcher when he's dealing but the team can't back him up. Pittsburgh sends right-hander Jared Jones to the mound for Monday. Jones, 1-0 with a 4.73 ERA in three starts, is strategically placed by Kelly between Skenes and Mitch Keller to keep the bullpen fresh. Kelly stressed Jones isn't going to be "unleashed," but rather "managed as we go." Sounds like they're trying to play chess, but for Skenes, it's just loss after loss. So, what's Monday night bringing? Can Ginn bounce back from the team's Sunday meltdown and show that 1.49 ERA form? Can Jones give the Pirates some relief and maybe turn around their losing streak? Or will the A's bats keep rolling after those 15 hits? This series is a real test for both squads to find some consistency early in the season. Let's see how it plays out!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.