It's only fitting the A's opened the 2019 MLB regular season in a slugfest.
Oakland flexed its muscles to three home runs Wednesday morning in Tokyo, though the final result wasn't what the team hoped for. Despite out-hitting the Mariners, the A's lost 9-7 in Game 1 of the Opening Series.
The mini Home Run Derby started with A's right fielder Stephen Piscotty. After 27 long balls in 2018, Piscotty is the owner of the first MLB home run in 2019, a solo shot that gave the A's an early 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The first home run of the 2019 season belongs to Stephen Piscotty! #MLB開幕戦 pic.twitter.com/hHTYOZOjba— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2019
The A's took a 2-0 lead on Mariners starter Marco Gonzales in the second inning, but a five-run third gave Seattle the lead. And then, it was Khris Davis time.
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The A's slugger knocked his first homer of the season in the third inning, a two-run shot to center field to cut the deficit to one run.
The home run 👑 is back. #KHRUSHED #MLB開幕戦 pic.twitter.com/TODj1BrMuZ— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) March 20, 2019
As he did so often last season, A's third baseman Matt Chapman put on a show with both his bat and glove.
Chapman, the Platinum Glove winner last year, showed off his arm on a Dee Gordon bunt, and three innings later crushed a three-run homer to right field, pulling the A's within two runs in the seventh.
We'd usually give a play like this five stars, but since it happened at the Tokyo Dome, it deserves six. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️#MLB開幕戦 pic.twitter.com/gFMcXyIVdd— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) March 20, 2019
Is it possible to have a breakout season after you just had a breakout season? 🤯
Asking for a Chap. #MLB開幕戦 #RootedInOakland pic.twitter.com/jjdsTgIoHq— Oakland Athletics 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) March 20, 2019
Mike Fiers took the loss. The A's starting pitcher only lasted three innings and allowed five earned runs.
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At least the A's are making games exciting. Even all the way in Tokyo.
