The Athletics sent Nick Kurtz to the top of the order Wednesday night and gave Henry Bolte his big league debut in center field as they played the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle game of the series. Bolte batted fifth, Brent Rooker followed him in left field and Shea Langeliers served as the designated hitter.
The lineup also included Colby Thomas at fourth, Michael Stefanic at second base for his first big league appearance of the year, Jonah Heim making his second start with the Athletics, Zack Gelof at third and Darell Hernaiz at shortstop. Tyler Soderstrom and Lawrence Butler were on the bench against left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who was making his ninth start for St. Louis.
The Athletics came in at 21-20 and were trying to avoid slipping back to.500 after a two-game losing streak. They also entered the night one game behind the Mariners in the AL West, with Seattle riding a two-game winning streak.
Ginn took the ball after his last start, when he worked eight innings of one-run baseball against the Phillies. The right-hander had given the Athletics exactly what they needed in that outing, and they were asking for more against a Cardinals lineup facing him for the first time this season. Liberatore brought his own history into the matchup, having shut down the Athletics in his lone start against them last year when he allowed no runs on four hits and worked into the sixth inning.
Wednesday’s game also underscored how often the Athletics are leaning on new faces while trying to stay in the race. Bolte’s debut, Stefanic’s first appearance of the year and Heim’s second start all came on a night when the club was juggling matchups against a left-handed starter and trying to keep pace in a tight division. If the Athletics can turn that kind of lineup churn into production, they can keep pressure on Seattle. If not, the margin that has them a game back can disappear quickly.
