The offense was on tonight, the pitching was on tonight.
The A's exploded for 8 runs in the second inning. With Scott Feldman pitching, Yoenis Cespedes led off the 2nd with a walk, Seth Smith hit a single, and Brandon Inge cleared the bases with a three-run HR just over the left field wall. With still no outs, Kila Ka'aihue hit a single, followed by a single from Kurt Suzuki, and Cliff Pennington delivered with an RBI double to drive in Ka'aihue. With Pennington at 2nd base, Jemile Weeks drove him in with yet another RBI single followed by a ground out from Collin Cowgill that sent Weeks to second base. Josh Reddick then hit a ball to Rangers pitcher Scott Feldman, who then misplayed the ball as Jemile Weeks was halfway towards 3rd base when Feldman threw the ball to Beltre, who then threw it back to second basemen Elvis Andrus, but Weeks was able to get under the tag and return safely to 2nd. With still only one out, Yoenis Cespedes struck out swinging, but Seth Smith kept the inning alive with an RBI single to bring in Weeks. Scott Feldman was then taken out of the game as he lasted only 1.2 innings, giving up 7 hits, 1 B and 8 earned runs and was replaced by Robbie Ross.
Yet the inning kept going as Brandon Inge got his second hit of the inning, an RBI single, before Robbie was able to get Ka'aihue to ground out to end the A's 8 run second inning.
Fast forward to the 5th inning and the Rangers have not hits. In the bottom of the inning the A's put up two runs on a triple, followed by a two-run home run from Kila Ka'aihue, his 4th of the year.
Fast forward to the top of the 8th inning and Jarrod Parker has no hit the Rangers for 7 innings. Michael Young is up to bat and on an 0-1 count he lines a single straight up the middle to center field for the Rangers first hit of the game. Nelson Cruz then flew out and David Murphy grounded into a double play to end Parkers' magnificent 8 inning, 1 hit and 3 walk gem.
The A's were then able to put up two more runs as center fielder Craig Gentry was put in to pitch the 8th for the inning. Pennington and Cowgill both had singles and Josh Reddick took a walk to load the bases as Yoenis Cespedes followed with a 2 RBI double.
Jim Miller was then put in to pitch the 9th for the A's and he gives up a home run to Mike Napoli to blow shutout. Miller walked Mitch Moreland and got Ian Kinsler to pop up before giving up a single to Elvis Andrus which was followed by a fly out from Josh Hamilton and he then struck out Adrian Beltre with men on first and second.
Phew. How about that for a recap. No no-no, but a heck of a win today. The offense was there, the pitching was there. Enjoy these games, guys!
In a game where the A's scored 12 runs, Seth Smith had 4 hits, a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, Brandon Inge had 2 hits, a single and a three-run home run, Jarrod Parker was the man of the night.