WEST SACRAMENTO -- Max Muncy, in the lineup after all, made a difficult catch while running from third base into short left field near the foul line. Jacob Wilson contributed a diving grab at shortstop and twisting throw to first to throw out a runner. Denzel Clarke joined the party with his latest act of reaching over the wall to turn a home run into a long flyout in center.
Jeffrey Springs, who silenced the Rangers’ bats in his own way Tuesday night, allowing one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings to provide the arm that went with his teammates’ gloves in the 2-1 victory for the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Wilson’s two-run single in the third inning gave the A’s the lead for good.
It was the latest Springs standout performance, two starts after the Astros could manage only one run and two hits in his six innings and one outing after he threw seven shutout innings against the Yankees.
Muncy batting fifth and in his usual spot at third base meant a good start for the A’s after the scare the night before, when he left the series opener early with a bruised left hand, the result of being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. The 2021 first-round pick said afterward that the injury could force him to miss Tuesday, but Muncy “woke up this morning, got in and got some treatment, and felt pretty good,” manager Mark Kotsay said, and continued to join left fielder Tyler Soderstrom as the only Athletic to start every game.
Muncy had reason to feel particularly relieved that what he considered a minor injury after the game Monday, despite the outside of the hand already swelling, turned out to be even more uneventful than first thought – being hit in the other hand a year ago caused a fracture that cost him 52 games.
“Any time as a player and you have injuries, especially to your hands that are essential for you to hit with, I’m sure there’s flashbacks,” Kotsay said. “I’m sure there’s thoughts immediately of, ‘How much time am I going to miss? Is it broken?’
“I’m sure that’s all of what played into him not going down to first base once he got hit. Those are the thoughts that immediately come to your mind. For Max, it’s a great sign that there’s just some general soreness to the hand and that he’s back in there today.”