Fiers goes 1 2/3 innings in Wild Card Game 3
OAKLAND -- Mike Fiers had to sit on the bench at Yankee Stadium for the 2018 American League Wild Card Game and watch the A’s get eliminated from the postseason without pitching, despite putting up numbers many felt were worthy of starting that game.
Then came 2019, when the A’s made it back to the AL Wild Card Game, this time in Oakland against the Rays. Fiers finished the regular season leading the team with wins and posting great numbers at the Coliseum, but he was passed up for the starting assignment, yet again having to watch an A’s elimination from the bench.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Sept. 29 | CWS 4, OAK 1 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Sept. 30 | OAK 5, CWS 3 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 1 | OAK 6, CWS 4 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: Third time’s the charm?
Facing a White Sox club that feasts on left-handers -- now 15-0 this year against southpaws after defeating Jesús Luzardo in Game 1 -- the A’s turned to the right-handed Fiers in a winner-take-all Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series on Thursday at the Coliseum.
“It was a fun call for me to finally reward him,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
Fiers wasn't in the game for long, however. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed a leadoff home run to Luis Robert in the second, then later loaded the bases with a two-out walk to Yasmani Grandal that ended his outing. Oakland turned to righty Yusmeiro Petit, who got José Abreu to ground out to end the inning.
For the A’s, a streak of futility in winner-take-all postseason contests is on the line. The A’s have lost nine straight winner-take-all games dating back to Game 5 of the 2000 AL Division Series against the Yankees, the longest streak in Major League Baseball history.
Why throw Fiers? Aside from being a right-hander, he also had good history against Chicago. In eight previous career starts against the White Sox, Fiers was 4-0 with a 1.58 ERA, holding them scoreless over his previous 14 2/3 innings.
“A lot went into it,” Melvin said of the decision to start Fiers. “Their numbers against lefties. Mike has had some good games against these guys, albeit not exactly the same lineup.”
Frankie Montas, another right-handed starter, entered the game in relief to begin the fourth inning. The hard-throwing righty struggled towards the end of the season, but he shined in his final start of the regular season on Sunday with 13 strikeouts and two unearned runs over seven innings against the Mariners.
“It’s one day short for him,” Melvin said. “He’s the guy that probably has the most resilient arm. On his bullpen day the day after his starts, he’s always throwing the hardest of any of our guys."
With the White Sox also starting a right-hander in rookie Dane Dunning, the A’s decided to balance their order between lefties and righties, expecting to see Chicago's bullpen early. And that was the case, as Dunning exited after recording only two outs and turning it over to lefty Garrett Crochet.
Khris Davis, a right-handed bat, earned his way into Thursday’s lineup after blasting a solo shot in Game 2.
“It’s nice to see KD showing up with his best work right now,” Melvin said. “It bothers me when I can’t put him in there. I have a great relationship with him, I love the man. He’s got a really determined look in his eye.”