Jacob Wilson set his eyes on the field at Dodger Stadium more times than he could remember while growing up less than an hour’s drive away. And yet he never imagined this.
In his first game played at the major league ballpark closest to his hometown of Thousand Oaks, Calif., the 23-year-old Athletics rookie delivered the first multi-homer game of his career Tuesday and had four hits.
In the process, the son of former major-leaguer Jack Wilson set the bar high heading into Wednesday night’s middle game of a three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I’ve been here many times,” Wilson said after the A’s earned a convincing 11-1 victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday. “You know, you’re growing up 45 (minutes) an hour away, we’ve been here a lot, especially with my dad playing, then coming back here right after his career and seeing a couple of teammates and coaches. And being able to come out here and get that first win (of the series) is pretty awesome.”
The younger Wilson has 16 multi-hit games this season. His .363 batting average is second in the American League to Aaron Judge’s .410 mark. And his nine strikeouts are easily the lowest total among the 19 major leaguers batting at least .300.
While left-hander Jeffrey Springs was the benefactor of double-digit run support Tuesday, A’s right-hander Gunnar Hoglund (1-0, 2.38 ERA) hopes for more of the same.
Hoglund is set to take the mound Wednesday for his third career start. He is having a promising beginning to his career, giving up one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of his debut May 2 to earn the win in a 6-1 victory over the Miami Marlins.
He followed that last Wednesday by allowing two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings of a no-decision in his team’s 6-5 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
The Dodgers will have their best pitcher on the mound Wednesday in right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (4-3, 1.80 ERA).
With three starters on the injured list, including right-hander Roki Sasaki, who was shut down Tuesday due to a right shoulder impingement, the Dodgers hope to get as much as possible out of Yamamoto in order to preserve the bullpen.
Sasaki’s injury has manager Dave Roberts planning on a bullpen game Thursday. On Saturday, left-hander Clayton Kershaw will make his season debut after offseason surgeries on his left big toe and left knee.
On top of the pitching concerns, the Dodgers’ offense was virtually nonexistent against Springs, who gave up a run on six hits in seven innings. Los Angeles did get three doubles from Michael Conforto and three hits from Will Smith, but otherwise there was no continuity throughout the lineup.
Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combined to go 0-for-9 with two walks.
“I thought this was, as far as collectively, as forgettable a compilation of team offense as we’ve seen in quite some time,” Roberts said. “Outside of Will and Michael, there wasn’t much else. We’ll respond (Wednesday). We’ve got Yamamoto going. We’ve got all the guys in the bullpen ready to go. So (Tuesday) is one I just want to turn the page on.”
–Field Level Media
