Athletics Fall to Angels Again in 9-7 Defeat as Losing Streak Continues
Outfielders have had issues tracking fly balls at times at Sutter Health Park, particularly in the corners. Athletics right fielder Colby Thomas made an early case for catch of the year against the elements in Sunday’s 9-7 defeat to the Angels.
Thomas timed a leap at the short wall in right perfectly and robbed Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who has had his share of highlight-reel plays this season, of a home run with a sensational catch after chasing down a deep drive to right field before landing on top of the wall and crashing hard back down to the ground.
The grab that ended the top of the first inning was met by a fist pump from A’s starter Jack Perkins and a standing ovation from the crowd in West Sacramento as Thomas headed back to the home bench. Moments later Thomas was seen in the dugout clutching a tablet with teammates gathered around him smiling watching his fantastic highlight.
“I was like, ‘He’s going to catch this’ when I saw him jump in the air,” Perkins said. “But then to actually see him come down with it and actually see his body almost fall over the wall, I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ That was crazy. Great play to retain the momentum on our side.”
A play that was surely worth seeing again and again. Thomas tracked the fly ball that was hit off Adell’s bat at 96.5 mph. Statcast estimates the ball would have been a homer at 14 of the other 29 ballparks in the Majors.
“I honestly didn’t know the wall was right there,” Thomas added. I knew I was on the track, but I didn’t think I was going to hit the wall. “We’ve had some sketchy plays out in the outfield as of late, especially myself. … It felt pretty fantastic to get one back and make a good play on Perkins.’
Thomas’ robbery occurred soon after the A’s had a pregame outfielders meeting with outfield coach Ryan Christenson. The discussion was prompted by what A’s manager Mark Kotsay felt had been poor outfield play over the last week.
“We know we’ve got to get better in that area,” Kotsay added. “For Colby to go out and make that play in the first inning, it shows they took the conversation to heart.
Thomas seemed to energize the A’s attack, as they scored seven runs on nine batters in a three-run bottom of the first. Zack Gelof, back after missing a game, had two hits, extending his hitting streak to 24 games, the longest in the majors. He’s now tied with Miguel Tejada (2002), Carney Lansford (1984) and Ferris Fain (1952) for the second-longest hit streak by an A’s player in the Integration Era (since 1947). Only Jason Giambi (25 games in 1997) has a longer streak.
Nick Kurtz extended his on-base streak to 22 games with a two-hit day, including a gorgeous two-run homer to center in the seventh for his 19th homer of the year. The 437-foot no-doubter was his 55th homer of the season, tying Bob Johnson for the most home runs in the first two seasons of a career in A’s history. It was also his 31st career home run at Sutter Health Park, tying Mac Williamson for the most home runs, Majors and Minors, at the ballpark since at least 2005.
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