Amid 'rollercoaster' season, Basso earns 1st MLB win

CHICAGO -- Brady Basso threw a sharp curveball to Lenyn Sosa in the first inning on Friday, a 1-2 offering that dove below the strike zone. Sosa whiffed on the pitch, which landed in the dirt just behind home plate.

That strikeout got Basso out of a two-on, two-out jam, as part of the lefty’s solid outing that helped the A’s beat the White Sox, 2-0, in Friday’s series opener at Guaranteed Rate Field. Basso, Oakland's No. 28 prospect, threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out two while scattering five hits and one walk, paving the way for his first career Major League win.

That Basso’s parents and wife, Sarah, were at Friday’s game only made the achievement more sweet.

“It's been a dream come true,” Basso said. “I couldn't be happier to have them out here watching me.”

Friday’s outing capped off quite a unique week for Basso. He made his first career big league start on Sept. 7, when he threw six scoreless innings against the Tigers in Oakland. The A’s optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas on Sept. 8, as they needed more coverage in their bullpen.

But when Osvaldo Bido went on the 15-day IL on Tuesday (right wrist flexor tendinitis), Basso was recalled from Las Vegas. As much as the week was a bit of a whirlwind for him, Basso knows it’s his job to be ready when called upon.

“It’s a rollercoaster, but that's kind of part of it,” Basso said. “It’s been awesome to be able to get the opportunity to come back and play with these guys. It's a great group.”

Basso leaned on a five-pitch mix on Friday. He threw his four-seam fastball most (43%), ahead of his cutter (21%), curveball (18%), changeup (16%) and sinker (3%). Manager Mark Kotsay was impressed by the rookie’s command. Basso threw 77 pitches, including 50 strikes.

“He keeps hitters off balance with the change of speeds, and he's done a nice job with that,” Kotsay said. “He keeps the ball out of the middle of the plate and pitched to the outer third tonight against that right-handed lineup. You saw some fly balls to right field. That's when you knew he was locating the ball well.”

Basso’s ability to change speeds seemed to play to his advantage against the White Sox lineup on Friday. Long term, the ability is a tried and true formula to success in the Majors.

“It’s going to play to his advantage,” Kotsay said. “You think about one of the better lefties in the game, who was a teammate of mine, Tom Glavine. He used his changeup so effectively, used the outer edge so effectively. And I think Brady has some similarities to that. Brady does have the cutter that he can crowd righties with, which is a good pitch for him to expand off of.”

Basso is in line to potentially make a few more starts down the stretch. So far, he’s made the most of his opportunities. He has not allowed a run in two starts, and he’s surrendered just eight hits in 11 1/3 innings.

In his first three outings in the Majors this season, Basso posted a 5.40 ERA over just 3 1/3 innings of relief. He has recorded a 4.55 ERA over 93 innings in 22 appearances (18 starts) this season between Double-A Midland and Las Vegas.

“I think [I’m] just commanding the baseball better,” Basso said. “Early on, I got in trouble leaving balls over the plate, and those get hit at Triple-A and in the big leagues. I've been able to keep it on the edges a little bit better and command it, and that helps a ton.”

Basso also shouted out the defense behind him on Friday. Shortstop Jacob Wilson made an acrobatic play in the fourth, charging a Sosa grounder to bare hand it and throw him out.

The A’s gave Basso the lead in the fourth, when Daz Cameron hit a two-out single and scored on Zack Gelof’s ensuing RBI double. Oakland added another run in the fifth, when Brent Rooker’s RBI single scored Tyler Nevin.

Rooker extended his on-base streak to 23 games with the hit. Lawrence Butler also extended his hitting streak to 21 games in the fifth as part of the offense backing Basso.

“It's not easy being able to come up and down,” Wilson said. “Start, go down, come back up and start. Being able to watch him, these last two outings have been phenomenal for him. For us to go out there and get the win tonight for him, I’m pretty happy for him.”