MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 21: Manager David Bell #25 of the Cincinnati Reds looks on against the Minnesota Twins on June 21, 2021 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
Athletics’ catcher Daniel Susac walks off against Reds with 9th inning homer
The Oakland Athletics walked it off against the Reds with a 3 run homer in the 9th inning
Oakland Athletics’ catching prospect Daniel Susac hit two home runs on the day, including a three run homer in the bottom of the 9th inning to walk it off against the Cincinnati Reds. The A’s piled it on in a late comeback, scoring six unanswered runs in the final three innings.
Pitching prospect Mason Miller had his first real blowup of the spring, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and a walk. He was pulled after getting just 2 outs in the 6th inning. Michael Kelly gave up another run in the 6th, and Kyle Muller allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the 7th, giving the Reds a 6-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th.
Susac mashed a two run homer in the bottom of the 7th to cut the lead to 6-4. The A’s scored again in the 8th on an RBI groundout from Jonny Butler.
Susac got another opportunity in the 9th, with men on first and second, and he knocked an Andrew Moore pitch deep into left field to seal the comeback win. The young catcher hadn’t hit a home run all spring, though he’d gotten very limited playing time prior to this afternoon.
Susac has appeared in just 6 games, recording 7 plate appearances and a single run scored. He won’t be an option for the Athletics at the start of the year. Either Carlos Perez or Kyle McCann will work as Shea Langeliers’ backup.
Susac earned a late summer promotion to Double-A Midland last year but has just 13 games of experience above High-A. If things break right for him, he could end the year in Triple-A but likely won’t make his major league debut until 2025 at the earliest.
Starter Alex Wood had a solid outing, going 3 innings and giving up just a single run on two hits, a walk, and 4 strikeouts. Wood is scheduled to start next Thursday night’s affair against the Guardians and will likely not pitch again during spring training.
