SAN FRANCISCO – The A’s new set-up men haven’t drawn a whole lot of attention to themselves this spring.
So automatic have John Axford and Ryan Madson been in exhibitions that their work often goes unnoticed. Only a look at the box score shows their excellence.
Both veterans, signed to free agent contracts in the offseason, were sharp in firing scoreless innings in the A’s 3-0 loss to the Giants in the second game of the Bay Bridge Series. Axford hasn’t allowed a run in any of his nine outings; Madson is unscored upon in all eight of his appearances.