Jharel Cotton, Chad Pinder exit A’s game with injuries

CHICAGO - The A’s were down two players before the end of their series opener at Chicago on Friday night.

Starting pitcher Jharel Cotton, who allowed only three hits in his five-plus innings, departed with one on and no outs in the sixth because of a blister on his right thumb.

Shortstop Chad Pinder, who has proven to be a valuable utility player in recent weeks, came out after a strange play at the end of the fifth when he tried to make a play on a bouncer up the middle by Yolmer Sanchez. The ball knocked off his glove and while Pinder looked around as if angry with himself for failing to get to the ball, Sanchez tried to take second, but Jed Lowrie raced to the bag and Pinder made the flip…