Chris Bassitt’s pitch count neared its ceiling Monday during a troublesome fourth inning where outs proved elusive. The A’s swingman turned replacement starter was aiming for roughly 70 pitches, but two straight hits to start the inning prompted a mound visit and some outside concern that Bassitt's effectiveness had reached its end.
A's manager Bob Melvin didn’t hold that belief.
“I still felt good about him,” Melvin said. “I still felt like four innings and 70 pitches was a good mark. The velocity was still there. The movement was still there. And he’s a real competitor and wanted to finish that inning.