OAKLAND —The A’s managed to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation against one of baseball’s most lethal strikeout pitchers. Unfortunately, moral victories don’t count in the standings.
The Washington Nationals’ offense made sure the A’s left the Oakland Coliseum with plenty of shame Friday night, racking up 20 hits in a 13-3 win. As a result, the A’s now hold the worst record in the American League (23-31).
After getting fanned 17 times on Thursday to set an Oakland record for most strikeouts in a four-game series (59), the A’s bats found a way to make contact against Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg, who was coming off a seven-inning, 15-strikeout performance against the San Diego Padres.