OAKLAND, Calif. – A.J. Burnett moved up the career strikeout list. At the moment, that’s the furthest thing from his mind.
Burnett matched his season high with six walks in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 8-6 loss to the Oakland Athletics in 10 innings on Sunday.
“I’d rather give up 20 base hits and 20 runs than give them free passes around the bases,” Burnett said. “Constantly putting them on base not only gives them the upper hand but deflates your offense as well.”
Burnett allowed six runs and three hits in 4 1-3 innings. He struck out three, moving him past Charlie Hough for 43rd on the career list with 2,363. Sandy Koufax is next at 2,396.
“I didn’t get anything done today, man,” Burnett said. “I didn’t make any pitches from the get-go. It’s embarrassing.”
Philadelphia still had a chance to win before Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer for Oakland in the 10th.
Nate Freiman singled with one out against Miguel Gonzalez (0-1) before Donaldson hit a towering drive into the left-field bleachers for his 28th homer.
“He’s a tough customer in big at-bats,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He embraces it.”
Sean Doolittle (2-4) pitched two innings for the victory, striking out four. It was the closer’s longest outing since he recorded four outs at Seattle on July 13.
Marlon Byrd drove in three runs for the Phillies, who have lost six of eight and fell to 7-13 in interleague games.
A’s starter Scott Kazmir was charged with six runs and 11 hits in 5 1-3 innings. Since Aug. 3, Kazmir has an ERA of 6.67. It was at 2.37 through July.
Byrd drove in Philadelphia’s first three runs, one in the first and two in the second, each with a double. Freddy Galvis, Carlos Ruiz and Ben Revere also drove in runs for the Phillies.
Burnett made his 12th career start against the A’s, and his first in over three years. He is 5-4 with a 4.32 ERA against Oakland.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: OF Domonic Brown, who hurt his right wrist on Thursday and was scratched from Friday’s lineup, hopes to return when the Phillies open a series in Miami on Tuesday. … INF Jimmy Rollins (strained left hamstring) was hoping to return to action in his hometown of Oakland but now hopes just to make another appearance this season. Manager Ryne Sandberg would not say one way or the other about Rollins’ status for the rest of the year.
UP NEXT
Phillies: Following an off day Monday, LHP Cole Hamels (9-7, 2.47 ERA) gets the nod in Tuesday’s series opener at Miami. He’s starting his fifth game against the Marlins this year and will be looking for his first win. He is 9-13 with a 3.19 ERA against the Marlins for his career.
BY THE NUMBERS
Burnett was in line for his 18th loss, the most by a Phillies pitcher since Hall of Famer Steve Carlton went 13-20 in 1973, when he left the game. Galvis hit an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on Revere’s single, tying it at 6. … Philadelphia’s Darin Ruf opened the eighth with a double and went to third on Cody Asche’s sacrifice. He was stranded there. . Phillies LF Grady Sizemore went 0 for 4 and is now hitless in 15 straight at-bats. . The Phillies’ bullpen has a 2.42 ERA since Aug. 5. . The Phillies are 9-7 against the Marlins, but just 2-4 in Miami.
Leave a Reply