The Sports Xchange
Jul 1, 2017
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Mike Foltynewicz had a no-hitter through eight innings but settled for a one-hit gem Friday night, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum.
A's rookie Matt Olson led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a solo home run to deep right against Foltynewicz for Oakland's first hit of the game. Olson's blast, on a 3-2 pitch, ended Foltynewicz's no-hit bid and night and cut Atlanta's lead to 3-1.
Jed Lowrie greeted former A's reliever Jim Johnson with a double to left, but Johnson struck out the next three batters he faced for his 17th save of the season.
Foltynewicz (6-5) struck out eight, walked four and threw a career-high 119 pitches. He extended his winning streak to three games.
Entering the game, Foltynewicz hadn't pitched more than seven innings in an outing this season. He matched his career high of eight innings set May 14, 2016, in a 5-0 victory at Kauffman Stadium.
A's right-hander Sonny Gray (3-4) allowed one run and two hits in a season-high eight innings. He struck out four, walked one and threw 98 pitches.
The Braves grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third on doubles by Johan Camargo and Dansby Swanson. They extended their lead to 3-0 in the ninth, scoring twice off reliever Sean Doolittle. Swanson worked a leadoff walk and Ender Inciarte bunted into a forceout, but he stole second and scored on Brandon Phillips' single to right.
Phillips took second on the throw home and scored from third on Matt Kemp's one-out single.
Foltynewicz retired the first 12 batters he faced in order before issuing a leadoff walk to Khris Davis in the fifth. He retired the next three A's hitters in order. Foltynewicz issued two walks in the sixth but also struck out two, and the A's didn't get a runner past second base.
Foltynewicz kept the A's off-balance with a mixture of mid-to-high 90s heat and sharp breaking balls.
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Camargo sent a leadoff double off the right-center field wall for Atlanta's first hit off Gray.
Camargo moved to third on Jace Peterson's groundout and scored when Swanson doubled to left field.
The A's didn't have a baserunner against Foltynewicz until Davis led off the fifth inning with a walk. But Foltynewicz struck out Ryon Healy before retiring Bruce Maxwell on a fly ball to center and Rajai Davis on a line drive to left.
NOTES: A's RHP Paul Blackburn will be called up from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday and start against Atlanta in his major-league debut. Blackburn will start in place of RHP Jharel Cotton (right thumb blister). According to A's manager Bob Melvin, Cotton's start will be pushed back a couple days and he's not expected to go on the DL. ... Braves 1B Matt Adams was out of the lineup with a left foot contusion and remained day-to-day. Adams left Thursday's game against San Diego after fouling a ball off his left foot in the second inning. He was still limping before Friday's game. "He wasn't moving around too good," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. ... Braves C Tyler Flowers (left forearm contusion) returned to the starting lineup after missing one game. He left Wednesday's game against San Diego in the sixth inning after being hit by a pitch. ... A's 1B Yonder Alonso (right knee contusion) was out of the lineup for the second straight game. He left Wednesday's game against Houston after fouling a ball off his knee in the eighth inning. ... A's rookie 3B Matt Chapman (left knee cellulitis) fielded ground balls and took batting practice for the first time since going on the disabled list June 19. He'll go through a pregame workout again Saturday, and if all goes well, he could go on a rehab assignment Sunday, Melvin said.