OAKLAND, Calif. — Add flesh-invading insects to the long list of things that make O.co Coliseum easily the worst baseball venue in the big leagues.
Saturday, while sitting on a visiting clubhouse couch before batting practice, Dellin Betances was stung or bitten on his valuable right elbow by what he thought was a mosquito.
“It swelled up and was pretty disgusting,’’ Betances said Sunday.
Betances reaction to the bite/sting was serious enough the A’s doctor was summoned.
“He gave me some pills and put some cream on it,’’ said Betances, who stated he could have pitched if needed Saturday night when the Yankees lost, 5-1.
Joe Girardi indicated after Saturday’s game he wanted to stay away from Betances who recorded four outs in Friday night’s 7-0 win. Betances wasn’t needed Sunday when the A’s blasted the Yankees, 10-5.
Betances has developed into one of the premier relievers in baseball, averaging 15.13 strikeouts per nine innings. Of his last 84 outs, 49 have been strikeouts. In 28 games he is 4-0 with a 1.63 ERA and 65 Ks in 38²/₃ innings.
A year ago, the decrepit Coliseum experienced three separate sewage problems in the dugouts and clubhouse. Early this year a plumbing problem developed in the A’s coaches’ room.
Saturday night the left field lights never came on, and when it got dark, play was halted for 38 minutes. Had the delay lasted a few minutes longer the game would have been suspended and picked up Sunday.