No easy answers for Fister's early-inning struggles

Doug Fister has a first inning problem. On that, everyone can agree.

What Fister should be doing to correct it is where it gets slightly complicated.

For the fifth time in his last five starts, Fister allowed the opposition to get on the scoreboard in the first. But unlike recent starts in which he allowed a run or two then settled into a groove, Fister flopped Wednesday night, shelled for four runs. And it didn’t stop there, as he was hit around for two more in the third before leaving after four in a 7-3 loss to the Oakland A’s.

In 12 starts this year, Fister’s ERA in the first inning is 9.75. For innings two through nine in all of his other appearances, it’s a combined 2.97.

“One thing I’d like to sit and talk to him about,’’ said John Farrell, “is his routine (pre-game). He warms up earlier than most guys and then there’s a little bit of a gap in time between the end of his warmups and the first pitch. To me, that’s the only common thread that I can see here, where maybe a little bit of an expanded time frame forces him to go out and re-establish his release point.

“I know that’s customary for him, that’s what he’s typically done. But when you see the consistency of the first inning (leading) to some traffic and some baserunners, I’d like to talk to him and see if there’s a way to adjust that.’’

But while Fister acknowledged that his first inning has been an issue, he dismissed any suggestion that the problems are the result of his preparation or pre-game routine.

“I really have no idea (why the first inning has been a problem),’’ Fister said. “I go out there with the same mentality, same approach – first inning, last inning, it doesn’t matter. It’s one of those things where I need to start kicking myself in the shin and being ready in the bullpen, get made from the get-go. I’ve got to figure that out myself.

“I don’t think (the timing of the warm-ups is the problem). It’s something I need to figure out. I can’t continue to let this happen.’’

Whatever the reason, it was clearly not Fister’s night. Nor did he closely resemble the pitcher who had fashioned a 1.50 ERA in his last four outings. Instead, he gave up one hard-hit ball after another, and had yielded six runs after the first three innings.

There was a triple to Jed Lowrie and a two-run homer by Matt Olson in the first inning. Lowrie added a run-scoring double in the third, which further expanded the early lead.

“There’s not a whole lot to be said,’’ concluded Fister. “You can kind of sum it up in a few words – just not enough. If you go through each hit or walk I gave up, (the pitches) weren’t quite down enough, not quite in enough…It’s frustrating, but unfortunately, it’s quite the letdown for tonight.’’

For Wednesday night, anyway, he blamed a mechanical issue that prohibited him from getting the good sinking action on his two-seam fastball. And the A’s, who are a good low-ball hitting team, took full advantage.

“They’ve got a dangerous lineup and when I don’t do what I’m supposed to do, they put balls where we  aren’t and put runs on the board. Gotta give them credit.’’

All the while, attempting to figure out what’s going on the first inning of his starts.