Rookie right-hander Joe Boyle still has a grip on the fifth and final spot in the Oakland A’s rotation despite losing his command during Monday’s 6-5 spring training win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 6-foot-7 Boyle only allowed one run in three innings by relying on an upper 90s fastball — on that occasionally reached triple digits — to offset a wild streak that produced five walks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.
Boyle, who seemingly is still ahead of fellow fifth-starter hopefuls Mitch Spence and Kyle Muller, struck out two and gave up just one hit as hitters continued to struggle against him. Boyle’s only hit permitted was an infield single to speedy star Corbin Carroll. The 24-year-old has now given up just four hits in 11 1/3 innings. Batters are hitting a cumulative .108 against Boyle, which is the lowest average against any major league pitcher this spring.
To illustrate Boyle’s performance may not just be a spring fling: He took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels in the last of his three big league starts last season.
Top A’s prospect Mason Miller, another hard-throwing right-hander, also seems unhittable in the Cactus League while looking like a fit as the team’s closer. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning and has now thrown four shutout innings while giving up one hit, no walks and striking out seven while his fastball has reached speeds of 102 mph.
Oakland’s offense was paced again by emerging star Zack Gelof, who went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, including his third home run, a 417-foot blast to left off Arizona starter Ryne Nelson.
Miguel Andujar further strengthened his hold on a starting spot in Oakland’s lineup by doubling in a pair of runs. Andujar’s 12 RBIs this spring is second only to Dodgers star Freddie Freeman’s 14.
Two other things became more clear after Oakland’s 17th spring training game: 22-year-old Darell Hernaiz, the A’s No. 9 prospect, is on track to open as their starting shortstop and 27-year-old former Pirates utilityman Hoy Park is going to be hard to keep off the 26-man roster.
Hernaiz had a pair of hits to improve his average to .286 and also started a pair of double plays. (His odds of starting at short are aided by Nick Allen’s back issues). Park helped himself in his bid for a bench spot by lifting his slash line to .348/.360/.565 with a pair of hits.
