Kotsay remains high on A's offense despite loss to Giants

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The Athletics fought until the end on Saturday but fell 7-3 to the Giants in the first of two Bay Bridge Series games at the Oakland Coliseum. 

After scoring eight runs against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, the A's could not take advantage of their opportunities when the team had runners in scoring position against the Giants.

The A's did make the game interesting, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough. However, manager Mark Kotsay does like what he sees from his lineup despite the loss.

"This offense has been performing pretty well," Kotsay told reporters. "I think we had 10 hits today, so just a little bit too little, too late."

Meanwhile, the A's couldn't figure out Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodón, who only gave up one earned run in his 5 1/3 innings of work while also receiving run support from his teammates. Then the A's did themselves no favors by stranding eight runners. 

The A's can look at the runners left on base as one of the reasons for the loss. It was a close game until San Francisco broke it open with four runs in the top of the sixth inning. 

Through eight innings, the A's only had one run but tacked on two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning via a Skye Bolt home run. 

Despite praising his offense, Kotsay acknowledges that his squad needs to come up with hits when runners are on base, specifically when there are two outs, if they want to build off their successful July

"Well, hitting with runners in scoring position, it's a difficult task," Kotsay said to reporters. 

"We've had games where we've left more than more runners on base than eight, and you got to get a big hit, especially with those two outs and guys on base. So we just weren't able to come through today."

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The A's will go for the Bay Bridge Series split as Kotsay will send out right-hander Adrián Martínez on Sunday afternoon. As for the Giants, manager Gabe Kapler will lean on their ace Logan Webb to get them the two-game sweep. A win by San Francisco will earn them the Tom Pellack Memorial Bridge Trophy.

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