Rusty A's heat up bats to bash Brewers

A's rack up 23 hits and score 23 runs with all 10 players getting at least 1 hit

Most of the A's hadn't played in roughly a month, but facing them was no vacation for the Brewers. The A's struggled early but rapped out 23 hits in a 23-4 victory Sunday.

The A's had missed the last three weeks with two holidays and a rainout and showed some rust, getting one first time through the order (1-for-9) then finished at a torrid 23-for-40 pace scoring crooked numbers in their final six innings.

An error and a walk set the table for Clinton Yeager to drive in the A's first run with a sharp single and Brodie Nissen followed with two-run double over the left fielder's head. Nissen scored on a single by Billy Dodson to make the lead 4-1 in the bottom of the third.

"I was a little worried when we struck out five times in the first two innings, but out pitching kept us in it and then those guys really started hitting the cover off the ball," manager Ryan Metcalfe said.

The hits just kept coming, including back to back doubles to the wall by Mike Mastro' and Jon Breidinger, followed by an RBI single by Keith Lederer in a three-run fifth that extended the A's lead to 9-2. Kevin Kennedy gave the A's five strong innings on the mound, allowing two runs, while striking out seven and walking none in the victory.

The A's also played solid defense with strong plays by Yeager and Nissen, twice combining to nail runners at the plate with strong throws by Yeager to Nissen who applied the tags. Billy Dodson (3-for-5) also turned a highlight reel double play, leaping to catch a soft liner with his bare hand and then firing to second to get the A's out of bases loaded jam in the eighth. Nissen also turned a double play to get the A's out of the third, snaring a sharp grounder at third, stepping on the bag the throwing out the runner at first. He also survived a collision at the plate.

"Nissen showed what kind of a warrior he is today," said Metcalfe. "He took some lumps but he never stopped hustling and making plays on offense (2-for-5, 4 runs, 3 RBI) and defense."

See Highlights of Brodie's busy day at the plate here

Yeager also ha his best game of the season, going 4-for-6 with three runs and three RBI. The bottom of the A's order also hit well with Rene Torres (3-for-5) and Brent Everett (2-for-3) each scoring three runs. Dodson and Mastro' also got three hits and scored three times. Breidinger led the A's with 4 RBIs.
 

Utility man Brent Everett tags out a Brewer at second base as Billy Dodson looks on. Everett continued his hot start to the season going 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.

Clinton Yeager was a hitting machine picking up 4 hits in 6 trips, scoring 3 times and driving in 3.

Kevin Metcalfe kept the run parade going against the weary Brewers. He scored twice.

Yeager - MVP