It was a rough week to check back in. The Athletics went 0 and 4, dropping a game to the Detroit Tigers to open things up, then getting swept in three games by the Chicago White Sox. The scores tell the story: 1-4 to the Tigers, then 1-14, 0-1, and 1-9 against the White Sox. That last stretch was ugly, especially that 1-14 loss. Combined with the loss before you left, the Athletics are now riding a nine game losing streak, and they've gone 1 and 9 over their last ten games.
That skid cost them ground in the American League West. They were 5.5 games back on July 8 and now sit 8 games back, still in fourth place. The Texas Rangers took over first place by going 3 and 1 this week, pushing past the Seattle Mariners, who slid some themselves going 1 and 3. The Houston Astros also picked up ground on the Athletics, going 1 and 2. The run differential took a hit too, falling from -81 to -106 over these four games.
It wasn't all bad at the plate. Jacob Wilson (SS) was locked in, going 7 for 15 over the four games, a .467 average. Tyler Soderstrom (LF) hit a home run and drove in a run on July 10, and Shea Langeliers (C) did the same on July 12. Small bright spots in a tough stretch.
The league paused for the All-Star Game on July 14, so there's been no action the last three days. The Athletics are back at Sutter Health Park on Friday, July 17 at 6:40 PM PDT, hosting the Washington Nationals for a three game series. A fresh start after a hard week.