Jacob Wilson is just 62 games into his major league career but he’s already earned the reputation as a supreme contact hitter.
The Athletics’ shortstop showed off his skills with the tying and winning singles in the series opener against the Seattle Mariners. The teams meet in the middle contest of the three-game series on Tuesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Wilson went 3-for-6 with three RBIs in Monday’s 7-6, 11-inning victory over Seattle. He kept the Athletics alive with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th before destroying some questionable Mariners’ strategy in the 11th by stroking the game-winning single.
The Athletics had a runner on third with one out when Seattle manager Dan Wilson ordered intentional walks to Shea Langeliers and JJ Bleday.
That brought Jacob Wilson to the plate. The rising player who has struck out just six times this season delivered the winning hit on a 0-2 pitch to raise his batting average to .341, fourth-best in the majors.
“Wilson puts the ball on the ground and we were hoping to get it on the ground but he put it on the ground and was able to get it through,” the Mariners manager said. “That’s on me and that’s a tough way to lose.”
The winning hit was the second of the season for Jacob Wilson and the third of his career.
Jacob Wilson, 23, was the sixth overall pick of the 2023 draft, and he’s quickly living up to his billing.
He’s played in just 79 minor league games — the final seven coming on a rehab stint last August after injuring his left hamstring in his big league debut on July 19.
Now, he is the symbol of a possible better era for the Athletics after 307 losses over the past three seasons.
The Athletics have won 10 of their past 13 games. A victory Tuesday would place the club in a virtual tie with the Mariners atop the American League West.
“They’ve been hot,” Jacob Wilson said of the Mariners. “They’ve been a great team for the first couple of weeks. It’s nice to get the first (win). We’ll try to get the next two and go out there and play our baseball.”
Seattle has lost back-to-back games after winning its previous six contests.
Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena (right hamstring) didn’t play Monday after being injured on Sunday in a loss to the Texas Rangers. Arozarena is expected to play Tuesday.
“We were giving him a day to rest the hamstring,” Dan Wilson said. “That was the decision there.”
Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs (4-3, 4.98 ERA) looks to follow up a strong effort as he allowed two hits in six scoreless innings while defeating the Rangers on Thursday.
It was the second time Springs tossed six shutout frames this season. The other was against the Mariners in his first start of the season on March 28. Springs gave up three hits, one walk and struck out a season-high nine.
Springs, 32, is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 appearances (three starts) against Seattle.
Right-hander Emerson Hancock (1-1, 6.62) will make his fifth start of the season for the Mariners.
Hancock received a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels last Wednesday when he allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings.
Hancock, 25, got a no-decision in his lone career outing against the Athletics last Sept. 28. He gave up three runs and five hits over 5 1/3 innings and served up homers to Brent Rooker and Tyler Soderstrom in a game Seattle wound up winning 7-6 in 10 innings.
–Field Level Media
