The Oakland A’s and Los Angeles Dodgers played a televised Cactus League night game Friday, featuring a matchup of two lefty starting pitchers, and the result was exactly the opposite of what the casual viewer might have expected.
The A’s hammered perennial Cy Young candidate Clayton Kershaw, while under-the-radar southpaw Cole Irvin carried a no-hitter into the 6th inning against the star-studded defending world champion lineup, adding up to an overwhelming 11-0 shutout victory by the green and gold.
Maybe the A’s fifth starter competition isn’t quite over yet. Irvin, acquired in January for cash considerations, is the least-heralded of the three remaining candidates, after top prospects Daulton Jefferies and A.