2nd game of series not any prettier

Some games just weren't meant for a snappy quote.
    The A's followed their lackluster game one performance with one startlingly similar in the second game of their two game series with the Hays Larks Wednesday at Cavalier Field.
    And after the game that ended with a 13-4 Larks win, no one from the losing team seemed to have much to say.
    Head coach Phil Stephenson said in the middle of the game that his only comment would be the exact same as it was after Tuesday night's game, noting that the starting pitcher (Eric Holmes Wednesday) did not have a particularly good outing (one full inning with eight Larks crossing home plate qualifies) and the A's bats did not help the cause out either.
    After Tuesday night's nine run loss to Hays, Stephenson said that if the team wanted to win games in the Jayhawk League, they would have to put up more than the paltry two runs. They doubled that output Wednesday, but the Larks bats pounded relentlessly at the A's pitching in the early innings for 13 runs.
    All assistant coach James Hoffman could muster was one choice saying that may be better left to the imagination, and center fielder and lead-off hitter Cameron Monger simply said "I'm not going to say anything."
    After a game that spoke for itself, perhaps the A's best strategy is to put Wednesday's behind them.
    Holmes started the game in an eerily similar manner to Blake Thomas' performance the night before. Holmes gave up four after an RBI single by Hays second baseman Eric Roof and a three-run bomb by designated hitter Kevin Hennessey.
    Thomas started Tuesday's game by giving up five in the first.
    After the A's got two runs back in the bottom of the first from an Oscar Sigala sacrifice and an Adam Hamilton RBI single, Holmes came back in the top of the second and gave up four more.
    Home runs from Roof and Larks' third baseman Clayton Karst stretched the lead to 8-2 before Stephenson could relieve Holmes of duty in favor of reliever Tyler Bevard. Thomas gave up seven in the first two innings of Tuesday's game.
    But the A's battled back again in the bottom of the second and scored twice more, only to be shut out the rest of the game. Hays added five long-term insurance runs in the fourth inning off a double, a single, a bases-loaded walk, a wild pitch and a balk all given up by Bevard.
    There was a curious moment at the beginning of Wednesday night's first inning. Larks shortstop Mike Brownstein was ejected after seeing only one pitch when he appeared to argue a called first strike. Globe photographer Evan Benson, who was taking pictures along the first base line, though, overheard Brownstein question the home plate umpire for talking during the delivery.
    The A's have today off but travel to Derby Friday for a weekend series with the Twins, who are currently in second in the Jayhawk League standings. Drew Mannen will get the start Friday for the A's.