OAKLAND -- The A's may not have been able to match their Nashville Triple-A farm team for pitching heroics Tuesday night, but they came awfully close.
Four Oakland pitchers, led by starter Zach Neal, combined to limit the Baltimore Orioles to just three hits as the A's eked out a 2-1 victory before 13,573 at the Coliseum. In short, it was one of the best pitching nights of the year as Neal and relievers Liam Hendriks, John Axford and Ryan Madson faced just four batters over the minimum.In the organizational report, however, it'll wind up second fiddle. Jharel Cotton, one of three pitching prospects the A's acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers for Josh Reddick and Rich Hill, came within an out of throwing just the fourth perfect game in the 114-year history of the Pacific Coast League for the Sounds.