Stripling caps sweep of Pirates with 1st personal win since '22

OAKLAND -- Ross Stripling waited a long time for this moment.

The last time he earned a win in a Major League game, Stripling was pitching down the stretch for a playoff-bound Blue Jays club. That was Oct. 1, 2022, the final week of the regular season. Stripling tossed six scoreless innings that day against the Red Sox and was in line to pitch Game 3 of the American League Wild Card Series.

“This is a totally selfish thing to remember,” Stripling recalled. “But I needed one more out to get my ERA under 3.00 on the year, and I didn’t go back for the seventh. I finished that season with a 3.01 ERA. … I was lined up to start my first playoff game ever, which was going to be cool. But we lost the first two to the Mariners and it didn’t get there.”

Things have changed quite a bit for Stripling since then. The following season, he signed a two-year, $25 million deal with the Giants. Going 0-5 with a 5.36 ERA in 22 games over a 2023 season that saw him battle a few different back injuries, Stripling was traded to the A’s this offseason for Minor League outfielder Jonah Cox and cash considerations.

Off the field, Stripling and his wife, Shelby, have welcomed a second son, Brodie, into the world since that last win.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Stripling said.

After going winless in 28 consecutive games and 578 days later, Stripling finally found himself back in the win column. His six scoreless innings on Wednesday set the A’s up for a 4-0 victory over the Pirates at the Coliseum, securing Oakland its first series sweep of 2024.

Pitcher wins do not carry the significance they once did. Stripling couldn’t even tell you how many career wins he holds to his name if you asked him. But given the time that has passed in between, this one carries a bit more weight.

“First win since 2022, and it feels that way,” Stripling said. “You certainly are aware when you’ve gone almost two seasons without a win.”

Stripling’s strike-throwing ability enticed the A’s to trade for him, and that was evident on Wednesday. He pounded the zone with 58 of 79 pitches going for strikes and did not issue a walk for a second consecutive outing, limiting Pittsburgh to three hits with two strikeouts.

“Even though he was not getting wins, he’s been keeping us in games,” said A’s second baseman Abraham Toro, who got the A’s on the board in the second with a solo home run to center. “He throws a lot of strikes. He’s a true professional.”

Wins and losses aside, Stripling’s A’s tenure is off to a decent start with a 4.24 ERA through seven starts. The value the 34-year-old righty brings inside the clubhouse, however, is just as important to a young rebuilding squad that has now won six of its last seven games.

“I’m happy to be a part of [this team] and considered one of the leaders,” Stripling said. “I love the guys over here. … I’m starting to see some edge with a team that was expected to take a step forward and I’m happy to be here and help some of these kids along. You can see big careers ahead for a lot of them.”

One of those burgeoning stars is flamethrowing rookie Mason Miller, who in a non-save situation closed out the game with a strikeout in a perfect ninth. He headlines an A’s bullpen that continues to excel. On Wednesday, five A’s relievers combined for three scoreless innings to extend the bullpen’s scoreless streak to 27 1/3 innings, which is now tied for the fourth-longest bullpen scoreless streak in Oakland history.

“The guys in the bullpen have been outstanding,” Stripling said. “Whoever comes in is getting the job done by stranding runners and throwing up zeroes. As a rotation, we’ve done a good job. We’re also confident that when we turn it over to the bullpen, they’re going to give us a chance to win.”

The A’s remain competitive with a grasp of third place in the AL West and a record of 15-17. Their homestand continues with seven more games against the Marlins and Rangers.

“The joke was, ‘The league is messing around and [letting] the A’s get hot,'" Stripling said. "… Coming home and sweeping Pittsburgh, we feel like this is a good part of our schedule to take care of some wins.”