PHOENIX (AP) - Jed Lowrie’s bases-clearing double in a four-run fourth inning propelled the Oakland A’s to a 10-5 win over the Colorado Rockies on Thursday night.
Home runs by Wilin Rosario in the second inning and Tim Wheeler in the fourth, both off right-hander A.J. Griffin, enabled the Rockies to take a 5-3 lead at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Griffin led the major leagues in home runs allowed with 36 in 2013.
Oakland manager Bob Melvin is 1-1 after his first experience with replay challenges. He challenged a call at first base in the second inning after Coco Crisp was ruled out on the back end of what was initially ruled a double play. The replay showed that Crisp was safe at first and the call was overturned.
Melvin challenged another close call at first base in the bottom of the eighth, but this time the replay confirmed that Daniel Robertson was out.
STARTING TIME
Rockies: Right-hander Tyler Chatwood made his second start and third appearance overall.
He pitched three innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, walked three and struck out two.
Chatwood began the 2013 season with Triple-A Colorado Springs, but later joined the big club’s rotation, making 20 starts and posting an 8-5 record with a 3.15 ERA in 111 1-3 innings.
A’s: Griffin, who was 14-10 in 32 starts in his first full season in 2013, had an up-and-down effort.
He gave up five runs on nine hits, walked none and struck out two. He also hit the first batter he faced in the game, Brandon Barnes.
Griffin said his pitch location was inconsistent, but was encouraged that he was able to make some adjustments, including against Rosario after he homered.
“He jumped on it,” Rosario said of homer. “I was trying to get ahead. But I adjusted the next time (and struck Rosario out).
“Overall, my location is getting better. I made people mis-hit the ball. More of my pitches were down in the zone. A good example of that was that I got a double play (in the third inning). That usually tells you the ball is down.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki did not play Thursday night and is listed as day-to-day after being hit in the calf by a pitch on Wednesday.
A’s: First baseman Daric Barton has a strained hamstring. He took batting practice Thursday and should play in one of two split-squad games on Saturday, Melvin said.
BARNES MAKING A MOVE
Brandon Barnes is making it difficult for Rockies manager Walt Weiss to determine his opening day outfield spots. Barnes had three hits against Oakland, raising his spring average to .414 (12 for 29). He led off and played center field.
CRISP HEATS UP
A’s center fielder Coco Crisp is starting to heat up at the plate and on the basepaths.
The veteran had a pair of hits, drove in two runs, scored three times, walked once and stole his first base of the spring.
BUSY TIME FOR ROCKIES
After the game Thursday night, the Rockies play split-squad, day-night games on Friday. They face the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Ariz., then host to the Seattle Mariners at night at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale.
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