Parker roughed up by Giants; A's rally for win
Right-hander gives up six runs on five hits over 1 1/3 innings
PHOENIX -- A split-squad Giants club spoiled Jarrod Parker's spring debut by scoring six runs off the right-hander in just 1 1/3 innings, but the A's rallied for a 7-6 victory at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday.
Parker, the A's leading Opening Day candidate, struck out two in his first inning of work, but also hit leadoff man Gary Brown and surrendered a two-run double to Hector Sanchez. He then walked Javier Herrera to lead off the second, and back-to-back singles off the bats of catcher Guillermo Quiroz and Brown paved the way for Brandon Crawford's two-run triple.
That was Parker's last batter, but Crawford would come around to score on Brandon Belt's ensuing double against Minor Leaguer Ryan Dull.
Lefty Sean Doolittle had an easier time with San Francisco's lineup, striking out two in a perfect third inning in his spring debut.
The Giants, meanwhile, got two clean innings from lefty starter Edwin Escobar. San Francisco's pitching prospect fanned one in his debut.
The A's didn't get on the board until the fourth inning, when Sam Fuld led off with a triple and scored on Jed Lowrie's sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Stephen Vogt collected his second hit, an RBI single that plated Daric Barton, who led off with a double.
Jake Elmore, acquired by the A's on Thursday, made his debut in the green and gold, and singled in his first at-bat and scored a run.
Oakland's Derek Norris hit a two-run homer in the eighth to tie the game at 6, before Heath Hembree's wild pitch allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth.
Up next: The A's are slated to get their first look at their division foes on Saturday, welcoming the Rangers to Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a 12:05 p.m. PT contest, live on Gameday Audio. Right-hander Sonny Gray will make his Cactus League debut, and he'll be joined on the field by more than a few big names, including Coco Crisp, Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes and Norris.
Should incoming thunderstorms wipe out the game, which is very possible, Gray would pitch Sunday against the Angels on the road.