Genoa grad Bassitt makes emergency start for A's

OAKLAND, Calif. – Genoa High School graduate Chris Bassitt was in Nashville early Tuesday morning when he learned he was going to pitch on short rest in Oakland that night. Hours later, he was on his way up from the minors.

Bassitt gave the Athletics a solid outing in a pinch, but it wasn't enough as the Colorado Rockies edged Oakland 2-1 for their first interleague victory this season.

AL ERA leader Sonny Gray was scratched from his scheduled start for the A's because of illness.

"I felt OK," Bassitt said. "Short rest is never good for anybody. I'm used to throwing a side on the fourth day, so I told myself, all right, this will be a really extended side."

Four days after throwing five shutout innings in a no-decision against Triple-A Oklahoma City, Bassitt nearly repeated his effort in his A's debut. He pitched five innings, giving up a run and five hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

"I don't know that we could ask for much more," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "He threw strikes, got outs, mixed his pitches, and used different velocities with his two-seamer and four-seamer."

The 26-year-old has pitched in six games for the A's this season, mostly in relief.

Colorado broke through when Charlie Blackmon's two-out single in the fifth drove in Ben Paulsen on a pitch Bassitt termed "a terrible curveball."

"He's way too good of a hitter to make that mistake," Bassitt said. "It was a bad pitch and he made me pay for it."

Bassitt said he didn't have much feel and just wanted to throw strikes and hope for the best.

"As long as I don't walk guys, I like my chances," he said. "I'm just worried about whenever they call me, I want to be ready to help this team win."

Wilin Rosario singled for the Rockies in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch by Fernando Rodriguez.

Bassitt (0-1) retired his first 10 batters and didn't allow a baserunner until Troy Tulowitzki flared a single to left that landed just in front of a charging Mark Canha.