PHOENIX-
Even though Chad Gaudin will be a reliever for Oakland this season, the Athletics wanted to see how he would fare as a starter.
Gaudin allowed one hit and struck out four in three scoreless innings Monday and the Oakland Athletics beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3.
While Gaudin will mostly pitch in the seventh and eighth innings, the A’s now know he could make a rare start if needed.
“We’re very pleased with his versatility,” manager Bob Geren said. “As the season progressed last year, Chad took on more late-game responsibility.”
Mike Piazza hit an opposite-field double and Eric Chavez homered to right to give Oakland a 3-0 lead in the first. Nick Swisher added his fifth homer of the spring and Milton Bradley also went deep.
By using all relievers in the game, the A’s stretched out those pitchers in case they decide to keep lefty Jay Marshall on the roster instead of a true long man. Marshall allowed one run in two innings against the Rockies.
The Athletics optioned right-handed pitcher Jason Windsor to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, a day after a subpar outing against the Seattle Mariners.
That narrows the competition for the fifth starter to three lefties—Joe Kennedy, Brad Halsey and Lenny DiNardo.
Kennedy has struggled to a 20.48 ERA this spring in four starts, Halsey (0-3, 7.94 ERA) has an option left and start the season in the minors. DiNardo has pitched best of the three (3.00 ERA in 12 innings) but has not made a start this spring.
Justin Duchscherer pitched a perfect eighth inning in his second outing of the spring after being sidelined with right triceps tendinitis.
“I knew I needed four or five appearances to get my mechanics down,” Duchscherer said. “It feels good to know I’ll be ready opening day.”
Rockies starter Jason Hirsh was roughed up for six runs on six hits in six innings. He walked one and didn’t strike out a batter.
A’s outfielder Bobby Kielty, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee March 2, participated in outfield and baserunning drills before the game and went 0-for-2 as the designated hitter in the game.
Kielty is scheduled to play DH again Tuesday and play in the outfield Wednesday.
Notes:@ Oakland RHP Joe Blanton pitched six innings against the Cubs Triple-A Iowa lineup. Blanton allowed seven hits and two runs, only one earned, walking nobody while striking out five. Blanton is set to start Saturday against the Giants in San Francisco. … Oakland has hit 11 home runs in its past six games, after hitting just 10 in their first 20 contests. … Rockies C Yorvit Torrealba left the game with a sprained right ankle after stepping awkwardly on first base running out a grounder.
