The Athletics turned Hohokam Stadium into their personal launching pad Saturday afternoon, belting four home runs in a dominant 12-4 spring training victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Joey Meneses drove in four runs with a grand slam, while Shea Langeliers, Austin Wynns, and prospect Tommy White also went deep as Sacramento's offense exploded for 11 hits in the convincing win.
Ginn Sets Early Tone on the Mound
Right-hander J.T. Ginn earned the victory with three shutout innings to start the game, allowing just one hit while striking out two and walking two. The 25-year-old threw 44 pitches and looked sharp in his bid to crack the Athletics' rotation, keeping Cincinnati scoreless through the first three frames while his offense built a commanding lead.
"Ginn gave us exactly what we needed early," said one Athletics coach after the game. "He commanded the strike zone and let our defense work behind him."
Offensive Explosion Breaks Game Open
The Athletics jumped on Reds starter Andrew Abbott early and often. After scoring two runs in the first inning, Sacramento broke the game wide open with a four-run third inning that included Meneses' grand slam. The veteran first baseman went 1-for-2 with four RBIs and showed the kind of power stroke that could make him a valuable contributor this season.
Langeliers continued his strong spring with a two-run performance, going 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs. The catcher also scored twice, building on what's been an impressive spring training campaign. Wynns added his own three-RBI performance with a solo home run, while prospect Tommy White launched his first spring training homer.
Reds Mount Brief Comeback
Cincinnati scratched across three runs in the sixth inning and added another in the seventh to cut the deficit to 7-4, with Nathaniel Lowe's three-run homer providing most of the damage. Dane Myers also homered for the Reds, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the eighth inning when the Athletics tacked on five more runs to put the game away.
Pitching Depth on Display
After Ginn's strong start, the Athletics got solid work from Gage Jump, who threw two shutout innings with three strikeouts. Jump allowed just one hit and threw 29 pitches, continuing to make his case for a bullpen spot. The only blemish came from Nick Anderson, who surrendered three runs in the sixth inning, and Geoff Hartlieb, who allowed a solo homer in the seventh.
The Reds, meanwhile, struggled mightily on the mound after Abbott was knocked out in the third inning. Hunter Parks gave up two runs in just one-third of an inning, and the bullpen couldn't stem the tide as the Athletics continued to pile on runs.
What's Next
This offensive outburst is exactly what the Athletics needed to see as they continue to evaluate their roster construction. The combination of veterans like Meneses and Langeliers producing alongside prospects like White and Jacob Wilson (who added an RBI single) shows the depth this organization is building.
The clean defensive performance—zero errors compared to two for Cincinnati—also demonstrates the kind of fundamental baseball that will be crucial during the regular season. As spring training continues, performances like Ginn's three shutout innings and the offensive explosion will give manager Mark Kotsay plenty to consider as he finalizes his roster.
The Athletics will look to carry this momentum into their next spring training contest as they continue preparing for what promises to be a pivotal season in Sacramento.