A’s looking for rookies to step up again in rematch vs. Guardians

The Athletics are being energized by the rookies on the roster as they enter Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians at West Sacramento, Calif.

The Athletics have won six of their past eight games, including a 5-1 victory against Cleveland on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series.

Slugger Nick Kurtz homered for the fifth time in six games, defensive wizard Denzel Clarke made another dazzling play in center field and Jacob Wilson delivered an RBI single for his 102nd hit, two behind leader Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.

Kurtz batted cleanup for the second time in 38 major league games and hit a two-run homer in the first inning. He has gone deep in nine of his last 15 appearances.

“He comes ready to play every day,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “That energy, that focus, it’s a relaxed confidence right now and it’s fun to watch.”

Clarke, who played in his 25th game on Friday, made three superb catches earlier this season — topped by one where he climbed the wall and reached up to grab the ball and twisted around like a gymnast.

His catch on Friday came with one on and one out in the ninth. Carlos Santana ripped a sinking liner and Clarke charged forward and made a diving grab just before the ball hit the grass.

“That guy is going to save us a lot of runs,” said Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who pitched 7 1/3 innings to win Friday’s game. “It’s unbelievable the ability to get that ball. I don’t think most people realize how hard that is. I’d love to have the catch probability on that.”

Told the catch probability was 5 percent, Kurtz added, “Let’s see another center fielder catch that ball.”

Lawrence Butler, who had three hits and an RBI, has had a good view of Clarke’s gems from right field.

“It’s getting to the point now where we’re expecting him to catch the ball,” Butler said of Clarke. “If he doesn’t make those catches, we ask him if he’s OK. It’s every week. He’s unreal.”

Wilson has been a season-long star and leads American League shortstops in balloting to start the All-Star Game. His .358 batting average ranks second behind Judge (.371).

Cleveland continues to struggle and is 2-5 on a nine-game West Coast road trip, scoring 14 runs. The Guardians have lost 10 of their past 14 games.

Angel Martinez homered for the lone Cleveland run on Friday.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said the homer by Kurtz — off Tanner Bibee — and some shaky defensive play in the second inning (third baseman Jose Ramirez made two errors) were the problem areas.

“The first inning was about one pitch,” Vogt said. “(Brent) Rooker gets the single up the middle and (Bibee) pulls a sinker middle in to Kurtz. … We gave them five outs in the second inning, that’s why they got that run.”

Guardians right-hander Carlos Ortiz (3-8, 4.64 ERA) will make the start on Saturday. He has lost his past two outings and six of his last seven decisions.

Ortiz gave up six runs and five hits while losing to the Seattle Mariners last Sunday. He matched a season high with five walks.

Ortiz, 26, made two relief appearances with a 3.00 ERA against the A’s when he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Right-hander Mitch Spence (2-1, 3.50) will make his fourth straight start for the Athletics. He went 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA in the first three.

Spence received a no-decision against the Houston Astros on Monday when he gave up one run and seven hits over five innings.

Spence, 27, has a 6.23 ERA in two career relief outings against Cleveland.

–Field Level Media