CHICAGO - The A’s were down two players before the end of their series opener at Chicago on Friday night.
Starting pitcher Jharel Cotton, who allowed only three hits in his five-plus innings, departed with one on and no outs in the sixth because of a blister on his right thumb.
Shortstop Chad Pinder, who has proven to be a valuable utility player in recent weeks, came out after a strange play at the end of the fifth when he tried to make a play on a bouncer up the middle by Yolmer Sanchez.