Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

A’s blown away at Cashman

Erik Hanson had more to be thankful for than earning the win in the Toronto Blue Jays' 9-6 season-opening victory over the Oakland Athletics.

"I'm very glad it's my only start here," Hanson said, referring to cozy Cashman Field. "My last start here was in 1988 (with Calgary) and I know how the PCL is -- it's a really tough league to pitch in."

The lesson Hanson took with him after making a "handful" of starts in Cashman Field in 1987 and 1988?

"The idea is not to give up as many runs as you score," he said. "We kept them out of field-goal position and ended up winning by a field goal."

Monday night, Hanson braved gusting winds and limited the A's to three runs on four hits -- and allowed only one home run -- in seven innings while walking four and striking out three.

"It was not ideal conditions, but the end result was what we were looking for," Hanson said. "Tonight, the ball carried significantly better than just about anywhere but Coors Field (in Denver). With the wind blowing straight out and the light air, just about anything hit in the air was trouble."

Fortunately for Hanson, he kept the ball on the ground for much of his stint, allowing only the home run and one fly-ball out through six innings.

Toronto second baseman Domingo Cedeno hit the first of five home runs in the game, a solo shot to right in the first inning, that staked Hanson to a 1-0 lead.

The A's answered in the bottom of the second with a two-run shot to right by catcher Terry Steinbach that gave Oakland a brief 2-1 lead.

"Steinbach hit a good pitch on the outside corner, he just got it up in the jet stream," Hanson said. "But primarily most of my fastballs were in."

Oakland starter Carlos Reyes, who bypassed the Pacific Coast League and Cashman Field on his way to the majors, appeared to be more bothered than Hanson by the wind. Reyes was tagged for three home runs, including two in the fifth inning, as the Blue Jays opened a 6-2 lead.

"There were a couple pitches I got up, and in this park you just can't do that," Reyes said. "But I can't use that as an excuse. I got some pitches in the wrong spots and I didn't even have time to turn around, they were hit so hard.

"I will learn from this; this park wasn't the problem, I'll just make better pitches next time."

A's manager Art Howe said Reyes' undoing was the fifth inning, when he constantly was pitching behind in the count. He gave up a one-out solo homer to Toronto shortstop Alex Gonzalez, an infield single to Otis Nixon, a two-out walk to Joe Carter and a three-run homer to John Olerud.

"I think in the fifth inning (Reyes) started to get behind the hitters consistently and that killed him," Howe said. "In the beginning, he pitched aggressively and came after people and he was much more effective."

Howe joined Hanson in chalking up the home runs to the winds that gusted up to 35 mph at times.

"The wind definitely had an effect on this game," Howe said. "I don't know if there was a legitimate home run hit tonight, to be honest with you. But both teams hit in it, so it didn't matter."

After the Blue Jays had extended their lead to 6-2 in the fifth, the A's got a run back in the sixth on a leadoff walk by Ernie Young, a double down the right-field line by Brent Gates and a run-scoring ground out by Jason Giambi.

Toronto added to its lead in the eighth with a run-scoring ground out by Gonzalez and a two-run triple by Carter.

The A's capped the scoring in the bottom half of the eighth after Toronto reliever Tony Castillo walked the first two batters he faced after replacing Hanson. Geronimo Berroa then launched a three-run home run to left field to make the score 9-6.

Castillo settled down and retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the inning without further damage and Blue Jays reliever Mike Timlin pitched a perfect ninth inning for the save.

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