The Oakland Athletics were shut out by the Los Angeles Angels by the score of 2-0 on Tueday night.  In a pitchers duel where both teams only combined for seven hits, it was the Angels who were lucky enough to score two runs off three of those hits.

Greg Smith tossed all eight innings for the A’s and should have had a better decision then a loss as he held the Angels offense to only three hits.  Smith threw a wild pitch and then infield fielders choice scored the second run for the Angels.

The only hitters in the lineup to record hits against the Angels were Kurt Suzuki, Mark Ellis, Ryan Sweeney, and Donnie Murphy who all had one hit each.  It just wasn’t the A’s night at the plate as they were shut down by Joe Saunders all night long.

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Frank Thomas was back with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday as they pounded the Minnesota Twins 11-2.  As the A’s put up 11 runs and 15 hits, Thomas went 0-3 with two walks.  The A’s chased Twins starter Francisco Liriano out of the game before the end of the first inning as they put up six quick runs on the Twins starter.

Donnie Murphy led the A’s by going 3-5 and picking up four RBI.  Murphy had solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings.  Kurt Suzuki, Emil Brown, and Mike Sweeney all had two RBI each in the game.  Chris Denorfia chipped in with one RBI.

Greg Smith picked up his second in of the season as he tossed seven innings for the A’s.  Smith gave up seven hits but only two runs in the game.  A very good quality start for Smith as he pitched great.  Andrew Brown and Joey Devine pitched the last two innings and gave up one hit each.

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The Oakland Athletics improved their current road trip record to 6-1 with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night.  Greg Smith outdueled Mark Buehrle as the two teams played in some chilly weather in Chicago.

Smith pitched seven inning of six hit baseball and only allowed one earned run.  He also picked off two base runners in the game.  He says he like to shut down the opposing teams running game and has really worked hard on his pickoff move.

Santiago Casilla, Alan Embree, and Huston Street pitched the final two scoreless inning.  Street picked up his fourth save of the season.

Kurt Suzuki led the A’s at the plate as he went 4-4 with one RBI.  Emil Brown also contributed with one RBI.

I always hope for more then two runs being scored, but on Monday night those two runs were enough to defeat the White Sox.  The A’s record now stands at 9-5.

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Pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Greg Smith have been optioned to Triple-A Sacramento by the Oakland Atheltics.  Both young pitchers are highly regarded in the Athletics minor leagues, and both will be on the big league roster this year or next year I’m pretty sure.

Instead of having them sit on the bench or out in the bullpen, they will be getting their full innings down in the minor leagues.  Look for one of the two to be called up the first time the Athletics call up a starting pitcher.  My guess would be on Smith over Gonzalez right now.

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