In the initial stages Sunday, Kendall Graveman’s outing had all the hallmarks of the A’s recent blah starting pitching: lots of good contact against him, early runs, high pitch count.
Graveman, Oakland’s most experienced starter, never allowed things to get out of hand, though, and his young teammates backed him with a five-run fourth inning in a 9-3 victory over the Orioles that gave Graveman his first win since April 8. Rookies Matt Chapman and Matt Olson both homered Sunday; Olson, called up Tuesday, has hit blasts in three consecutive games.
Matt Joyce also homered Sunday, making it a Matt Pack day rather than a Bat Pack day.