Elvis Alvarado strikes out two for save vs. Astros

Despite throwing 36 pitches in a four-out save Saturday, Harris was sent back out for the ninth today. He allowed a single and a walk, but he got the save after Ceddanne Rafaela lined out to center to end the game. Harris will almost certainly be down Monday, which could lead to a save chance for Elvis Alvarado.

Harris was summoned with two outs and two runners on in the eighth inning with a four-run lead. He struck out the final batter to preserve the lead, then returned for the ninth after the A’s added an insurance run. Harris gave up a run on a double and a single, then loaded the bases before retiring the final batter to preserve the win with his 10th save of the season.

Brought in with a 4-3 lead, Harris walked Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart to open the eighth, rallied for two outs and then threw two wild pitches to score two runs while issuing a third walk (though, to be fair, the second wild pitch looked more like a passed ball). He was pulled at that point. Harris has earned the Athletics’ only three saves over the last month, bringing his season total to nine, but this won’t help his cause. He’s now walked 32 in 49 2/3 innings this season, though he has a decent 3.62 ERA anyway.

Harris entered the game with two outs and two runners on in the top of the eighth inning. He allowed an inherited runner to score on a single before ending the frame on a strikeout. The A’s would give him a needed insurance run before returning for the ninth. Harris gave up a two-run homer to Connor Wong before closing it out for his ninth save.

Harris allowed a single and a walk in the frame, but he struck out the other three batters he faced. It’s his first save since June 12. He’d taken two blown saves since, though neither was a ninth-inning opportunity. The A’s as a team had recorded just one save over the last five weeks, that being picked up by Mason Barnett on June 25. Barnett, though, is back in Triple-A now. Harris and Elvis Alvarado are probably the co-favorites for saves on the roster.

After coming into a 1-0 game, Alvarado gave up homers to Rafael Devers and Victor Bericoto in the ninth. It’s his first blown save and third loss. The other biggest threat for saves in the A’s pen, Hogan Harris, worked a scoreless seventh tonight, so he’s looking a little better at the moment. Still, no A’s reliever seems particularly trustworthy in shallow leagues.

After the Angels tied the game with a three-run home run in the eighth, Alvarado was called on with one on and two out in the eighth inning and got a strikeout to end the inning. He got a fly out to start the ninth inning, but then a single and a two-run home run by Zach Neto put the Angels up for good. These are just the second and third earned runs Alvarado has allowed in 10 innings in June. He remains the favorite for saves with the Athletics.

Alvarado struck out Kyle Karros and Brett Sullivan before getting Sterlin Thompson to ground out to end the game. He’s earned both of his saves in the eight days since the A’s recalled him from Triple-A. He should remain in the mix going forward, but Hogan Harris, who notched a save Friday, still seems like the best bet in the A’s pen for now.

Harris retired Troy Johnston to end the eighth and then struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth to lower his ERA to 2.67. Harris is the favorite for saves in the Athletics pen right now, but because he is the team’s best left-handed reliever, he will pitch earlier in games at times.

Alvarado retired Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang to become the eighth A’s reliever to earn a save this season. He’s pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts since being recalled from Las Vegas five days ago. Alvarado made the A’s out of spring training, only to be sent down with an 8.78 ERA after 10 appearances. Consider him part of the saves mix now, but if we were going to roster an A’s reliever, Hogan Harris is still the one we’d choose.