The A's look for a baker's dozen against the Mariners. They send Barry Zito to the mound with a 12-8 record and a 3.73 ERA to take on Jarrod Washburn with a 6-11 record and a 4.26 ERA.
There are mysteries in this world that can't be explained...appearances by the Virgin Mary on tortillas, the popularity and subsequent disappearance of Clay Aiken and the A's mastery over the Mariners in 2006. The A's have won their share of games this year, but you can say that if they'd just split these games with Seattle, they wouldn't be in first place. Let's just hope it continues.
The A's send out this lineup to try and take out Washburn:
Kendall
Kielty
Bradley
Thomas
Chavez
Payton
Swisher
Scutaro
Ellis
Look for Scutaro, Ellis and Kielty to be a good part of the offense as they've all had good success against Washburn in the past.
The Mariners send out this lineup against Zito:
Suzuki
Lopez
Beltre
Ibanez
Perez
Johjima
Broussard
Betancourt
Bloomquist
Johjima is the Mariners hitter to watch out for if you're Zito. In limited ABs against the A's lefty, Johjima has an OPS over 1.200. The A's luck out in missing Sexson tonight as he has also done well against Zito.
The A's may have a chance to gain a game on the Angels as they're currently losing 5-2 in the bottom of the eighth against the Yankees.
LET'S GO A'S!!!!!!!
