Joyce hits second HR in as many games

Rosales draws tiebreaking walk in 8th to lift Oakland

February 27th, 2017

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk from Giants rookie left-hander that broke an eighth-inning tie Monday and lifted the Oakland A's past San Francisco, 5-4.
The A's scored twice in each of the first two innings to grab a 4-0 lead. Matt Joyce, who has homered in both games he has played, connected this time with one out off Giants starter Jeff Samardzija. A two-out walk that Samardzija issued to also made a difference, since it set up 's RBI single.
"Man, I wish it was the regular season," Joyce said. "It's one of those things, both times were 1-2 counts, both were heaters in, and just really trying to shorten things up with the two strikes and kind of dropped the hands, dropped the barrel in there and squared them up pretty good. I feel great right now."
Asked if he was concerned about yielding a home run, Samardzija, who allowed 24 long balls last year, replied, "No."

's two-run double in the second inning gave the A's a comfortable cushion that two members of their projected starting rotation helped protect. walked and allowed 's double with two outs in the first inning but slipped a called third strike past . followed with a pair of shutout innings.
Then the Giants gradually pulled even. Belt homered in the fourth before San Francisco surged for three seventh-inning runs against on 's pinch-hit RBI single and 's bases-loaded, two-run single. Arroyo is ranked as the Giants' No. 2 prospect by MLBPipeline.com.

Suarez courted trouble in the eighth by issuing three walks, including Rosales', while allowing a pair of hits.
The Giants (3-1) absorbed their initial Cactus League defeat while the A's (1-2) won their first spring game.
WHAT'S NEXT
Athletics:
The A's will have several noteworthy names on the mound in a home matchup against the Indians on Tuesday. Right-hander , pegged as the club's No. 4 starter, gets the start in the 12:05 p.m. PT affair. Fifth-starter candidate is also scheduled to pitch in the game, as is Oakland's 2016 first-round Draft pick, lefty . Listen to an exclusive audio webcast live at athletics.com.
Giants: San Francisco will oppose its first National League West rival in Cactus League play with Tuesday's 12:10 p.m. PT encounter against San Diego at Peoria. Ace left-hander 's scheduled to start for the Giants (watch live on MLB.TV).
Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV.