Straily Strong in Debut – A’s Walk Off Winners Again

Straily allowed one earned run, in six innings of work, and his major league debut.

Oakland’s Daniel Straily‘s turned in a strong performance in his major league debut against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Still, the A’s needed 15 innings to claim their 13th walkoff win of the season.

Jemile Weeks led off the bottom of the 15th with a triple and later scored on a Coco Crisp sacrifice fly and the A’s beat the Jays 5-4.

Straily was called up from the minor leagues on Thursday, and pitched six innings, allowed five hits, and one earned run.

Straily struck out five and left the game with a lead. Straily had averaged 11.39 strikeouts per nine innings in the minor leagues.   Grant Balfour pitched two scoreless innings of relief, while striking out three and turned the game over to Ryan Cook in the ninth.

That’s when Toronto catcher Jeff Mathis launched a three run homer to tie the game. After striking out Kelly Johnson and Yunel Escobar to start the ninth, allowed hits to Rajai Davis and David Cooper, setting up the game-tying homer by Mathis.

It was the sixth blown save of the season for Cook. the game would stay scoreless until the 15th. The Mathis homer spoiled any chance that Straily had at a victory.

Oakland has now won 10 straight one run games. Jonny Gomes and Chris Carter each homered for the A’s.  Yoenis Cespedes had two hits but had to leave the game with a wrist injury.

Oakland Athletics News –   Cespedes is day to day with a sprained right wrist. He’s not expected to play Saturday.  Before the game the A’s placed OF/DH Seth Smith on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. A’s acquired RHP Pat Neshek from the Orioles for cash considerations.