MESA, Arizona — After falling behind 9-0 to the Chicago White Sox on Monday, the A’s rallied to for a 9-9 tie behind the work of players on the distant fringes of the roster. In the boisterous dugout during the ninth inning, one player could be heard hailing the “back-field goonies” — a reference to where the team’s youngest minor leaguers practice.
“We always send a message that this is your time to shine,” A’s Manager Bob Melvin said of the youngsters. “I’ll tell you what, the game picked up in the second half when these guys got in there.