MESA, Ariz. — The A’s shortened spring training means pitchers competing for a spot in the rotation must take advantage of every opportunity they get.
Aaron Brooks punted away his first opportunity. He made up for it in his second.
What started out shaky turned into the longest outing of the spring by an A’s pitcher. Brooks snuck out of a bases-loaded jam in the first and completed four shutout innings in Friday’s 6-3 win over the Rockies, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts on the day.
Brooks was in danger of allowing things to get out of control after hitting a batter and walking another consecutively in that first inning.