This one will be pretty image-intensive, so dial-up users beware. Also note, as before, the horizontal images are shrunk a little given the way the SBN coding puts them in, but you can click on the image for the full-size version or see it on my site.

As everyone knows, the A's used three big solo homers to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and take three of the four against Seattle. Greg Smith worked six strong innings, Brad Ziegler got into and out of trouble to keep his scoreless innings streak intact, the A's limited the Mariners to single runs in the eighth and ninth when things could have been worse, then Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki came up big to send it to extras before Emil Brown delivered his first walk-off homer in the Majors. 3-2, A's win. Quite a finish on a very typical, beautiful July afternoon in Oakland.

After seeing some of the distance problems I ran into based on where I sat at the Phillies game recently, this time I picked a spot a few rows behind the first base dugout since Smith was starting. I hurried over to the other side to catch Ziggy's inning, then went back and forth a couple more times by the end of the game. Along with changing a setting or two on the camera to get some finer shots to begin with, I have to say I'm extremely happy with this set of photos. Most of them came out very, very clear. They're compressed a bit to load faster online, but I don't think that takes away from them here.

Enough of me writing. On to the stuff!

The whole gallery is here:

7/10/08: Seattle Mariners at Oakland A's

I'll bet Kurt Suzuki thought he'd have the whole day off before going to his signing appearance after the game. He got a little more of that in after batting practice.

Greg Smith took the hill for the A's. For some reason I like seeing this particular spot in his delivery every time it's captured.

Smith's pitch count was kept low, otherwise he probably would have thrown another inning. He still shut Seattle down for 6.

R.A. Dickey got into trouble in the first but the A's couldn't take advantage of it. He'd go on to mix his knuckler and fastball up to stymie the A's over 7 innings.

The other Suzuki, Ichiro also got the day off to start out. That would later change.

Before Ryan Sweeney dislocated his pinky, he came in for a catch.

"With the power of The Force...oh, nevermind."  Sweeney took third on an error by Dickey and there was nothing Adrian Beltre could do about it.

Sweeney picked up another hit before the injury.

Carlos Gonzalez at the point of contact.

And a healthy cut later on.

This guy took the hill to start the seventh. The name is Brad Ziegler. Perhaps you've heard of him once or twice before.

For really the first time as an Athletic, Ziggy actually looked human.

Not only did Brad give up a hit, he walked two batters.

Although he loaded the bases, it was with two out and he was able to coax a grounder to get out of the jam.  It's a testament to his early success that at no point did the bullpen get up while he was in trouble during the scoreless game.

Scoreless streak: 19 innings.

Santiago Casilla wasn't as fortunate, coughing up a run on 2 hits (and an intentional walk) while recording just one out.

Good thing Jerry Blevins kept the Mariners from doing any further damage.

Alan Embree had a stressful ninth as the Mariners tacked on an insurance run.

Jack Cust had a classic "Three True Outcomes" day - 2 walks and 2 strikeouts, but he cut the deficit in half leading off the ninth with a shot to right.

Cal's Brandon Morrow still had a run to play with and he had yet to blow a save this season since taking over for the injured J.J. Putz.

Then Kurt Suzuki stepped up to hit for Rob Bowen with two away and said "We ain't done yet!"

Donnie Murphy decided he didn't want to wait for the game to be over to show everyone how good he was at Limbo.

Murphy walked but Jack Hannahan went down swinging. Huston Street came on to work the next two innings, throwing a total of 14 pitches.

Street mixed in a few grounders handled by Hannahan and Murphy along with a running, leaping catch by Emil Brown in left.

Brown then decided that wasn't all he'd do for the day, taking a 1-2 offering from Cesar Jimenez out to the left field corner in a hurry.

"NOW we're done!"

That is, as they say, "Game."

Carlos Gonzalez is among the very happy players.  Am I the only one that gets this visual of him as a fish leaping out of the water?

Dallas Braden had to make sure Brown got another round of congratulations.

Again, many more here:

7/10/08: Seattle Mariners at Oakland A's

Thanks as always for looking!