Hogan Harris takes blown save, gets win in ninth

Harris did issue a walk to Randy Arozarena, but he was able to get through the outing without a run allowed to get his 15th save and see his ERA dip to 3.38.

Harris was back in the closer’s role tonight after Elvis Alvarado earned the Athletics’ previous two saves. Curiously, Alvarado went entirely unused, even though he hasn’t pitched since Saturday. It’s hard to recommend either A’s reliever right now, based on how they’re being used.

Harris fanned Jose Altuve and Christian Walker in the one-run game. He has four saves, two blown saves that turned into losses and one hold in his nine appearances this month.

After the A’s took a one-run lead in the top of the eighth, Hogan Harris faced the heart of the Astros order before handing it over to Alvarado in the ninth. The 27-year-old right-hander struck out two in a clean inning of work to secure his third save of the season. Still, Harris is expected to be in line for most save chances in Sacramento.

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.