Ginn leads way as A's pitchers run scoreless streak to 26 innings

NEW YORK -- What could have been viewed as a spot start for J.T. Ginn on Friday night at Citi Field was revealed as more of an audition for the Athletics' starting rotation by manager Mark Kotsay.

“I think, for the present and future, Ginn is the guy that we’d love to have in that spot,” Kotsay said two hours before first pitch. “Hopefully, he takes ownership of it and doesn’t look back.”

The A’s have a vacant rotation slot after Luis Morales was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday, and while one start is not enough to automatically move Ginn into that role, he could quickly become a mainstay with more performances like this.

On a limited workload as he transitioned from the bullpen, Ginn made the most of his opportunity and set the tone for the A’s in a 4-0 victory by blanking the Mets over four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts.

“J.T. did a great job,” Kotsay said. “He’s thrown the ball well out of the bullpen. Tonight was a night to get him out there and build him up. By all means, great first one for him out there. Hopefully, we’ll build off this one.”

Quick outs were the name of the game for Ginn. He retired the side on 14 pitches in the first inning and cruised throughout, with his only hit allowed coming on a bunt single by Jared Young in the fourth before finishing the inning and his outing at 68 pitches.

“I think I was just getting ahead early and just trying to stay aggressive in the zone as much as I could,” Ginn said. “I got some quick outs early on and just tried to roll with it as much as I could.”

While teammate Jeff McNeil generated the buzz playing in his first game back at Citi Field since getting traded from the Mets to the A’s this past offseason, Ginn’s outing was his own homecoming of sorts. The 26-year-old right-hander was drafted by the Mets in 2020 and spent his first professional season in New York’s system before getting dealt to the A’s in a 2022 trade for Chris Bassitt.

Over that first season, Ginn was teammates in the Minors with Brett Baty, Ronny Mauricio and Francisco Alvarez, all of whom were in the Mets’ starting lineup on Friday and went hitless against him.

“Alvarez was my catcher my first full year in High-A,” Ginn said. “It’s always good to see those guys. Saying what’s up to them and catching up is good.”

Ginn has jumped between starting and relieving for the A’s over the past couple of years. However long he remains in the rotation this time around will be performance-based. Top prospects such as Gage Jump and Kade Morris are at Triple-A and only one call away from entering this rotation picture, but Ginn has bought himself at least one more start, which will likely come next Wednesday against the Rangers at Sutter Health Park.

“It felt good to go out there and do my job today,” Ginn said. “Whatever role they need me to do, I’m ready to get the ball and go.”

Following Ginn, an A’s bullpen that played a key role in taking two of three from the Yankees earlier this week continued its strong run. It began with Mark Leiter Jr., who bounced back from a blown save in Tuesday’s loss to the Yankees with a scoreless fifth. Jack Perkins, recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday, proceeded with 2 1/3 scoreless frames and handed it off to Scott Barlow, who finished the eighth with a strikeout of Bo Bichette to preserve a one-run lead. Finally, Elvis Alvarado came on with an extra cushion and ended it with a scoreless ninth.

The identity of this young A’s squad is that of a club that relies heavily on its high-powered offense. This week, however, has mostly been about the pitching. Including Friday night, A’s pitchers have now combined for 26 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the second inning of Wednesday’s win over the Yankees.

“Awesome job again tonight,” Kotsay said. “For Mark Leiter to get back out there, he came off the mound feeling good. Perkins, this guy filled this role last year really successfully. One time through the order was the goal tonight, and he did a really nice job of it. Barlow with a big strikeout, that was probably the game-saver there.”