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Cactus League record: 5-2-1.
Trevor Cahill's second start wasn't as plain sailing as the first, particularly in an opening inning which could have been an awful lot worse if it weren't for Oakland running into two outs on the basepaths. He allowed four hits, a walk, threw a wild pitch, and catcher Oscar Hernandez committed an error. But this all led only to a single run, as Hernandez also threw out a base-runner, and another Athletic player was thrown out at home, trying to score from second on an infield hit. However, I do credit Cahill for rebounding from this wobbly start, to retire Oakland in order next time up.
Vidal Nuno followed him, and his day was even worse. Five hits in three innings, all of them for extra bases, with a home-run and four doubles, and four earned runs allowed, will have done little to improve his chances of an Opening Day rotation spot. Archie Bradley was next up: while he allowed one hit and one run over 2.1 innings (the latter coming after he left the game), he walked two and hit a third batter, striking out one. A double-play with the bases-loaded in the sixth helped a lot. The final pitcher used was Matt Reynolds, making his first appearance for us since 2013. He looked wobbly too, starting RBI double, walk, before getting his own GIDP to tidy things up.
On offense, it was mostly the Jake Lamb show, as he dropped a couple of solo bombs on Barry Zito and Eric O'Flaherty. However, his rival for the third-base job also got in on the action, Yasmany Tomas cranking his first home-run as a Diamondback, an opposite field solo effort, off Sonny Gray. Nick Buss and Cody Ross each had a pair of hits, while Tomas added a walk to his home-run, but the Diamondbacks struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-10. Danny Worth also had an error.
Something to keep an eye on: Hernandez left the game, feeling something in his wrist after taking a swing: tests are scheduled. Wonder what are the regulations about Rule 5 picks going on the DL? So, we sit at 0-2 against the A's, but undefeated against everyone else. Tomorrow, Robbie Ray takes the mound for the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields, as we welcome the Angels.