Happy Jackie Robinson Day. Finally, the Oakland Athletics did something right. After raking in triple-A, Esteury Ruiz was called back to the major league squad. In exchange, J.D. Davis was sent to the injured list with a right adductor strain. But, who cares? Ruiz was back where he belonged.
Though he didn’t start, he made an impact when he was brought upon to pinch-hit.
In his first at bat back after being wrongfully banished to Triple-A, Esteury Ruiz just hit this home from 107 mph and 406 feet.
— Karl Buscheck (@KarlBuscheck) April 16, 2024
Officially out in all 30 MLB parks.
A bomb. And absolute BOMBpic.twitter.com/Vra98zPML3
As you can see by the score, you would think that home run did not matter to the final result. It, indeed, did not. The St. Louis Cardinals scored a run in the first inning and two runs in the sixth and ended up winning 3-1 against the Green & Gold.
Former Athletic Sonny Gray (W, 2-0) pitched six solid innings, striking out six batters and allowing just four hits Third baseman Nolan Arenado went 2-4 and brought in a run on his single in the first. Catcher Willson Contreras also went 2-4 with an RBI and scored a run of his own.
Contreras extends the lead! #ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/XIQxUAiANS
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 16, 2024
St. Louis only allowed the run that Ruiz homered, and Ryan Heisley (S, 6) only needed to throw ten pitches for the save.
Oakland’s starter Ross Stripling (L, 0-4) kept them in the game, pitching 5 2/3 innings with three earned runs and six hits. But, the offense only had five hits on the night and couldn’t give any run support to their pitching staff.
Up Next
The A’s will look to get back in the win column, sending JP Sears to the mound (1-1, 5.17 ERA) for game two. As for the Cardinals, it will be Lance Lynn (0-0, 2.63 ERA) on the bump.
But, two things. One: Esteury Ruiz better remain on the major league team for the rest of the season. He’s improved mightily in triple-A, and we saw his power flash before our eyes on Monday.
Two: rest in peace to Ken Holtzman, who won three World Series with the A’s. He was 78 years old.
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Featured Image: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
