Fresh off a thrilling 4-3 win over the host Yomiuri Giants, Bobby Crosby and the A's return to the Tokyo Dome this evening to take on Lew Ford and the Hanshin Tigers. Justin Duchscherer gets the start for the Green and Gold. Game time: 8:05pm Pacific. You can catch the action on MLB TV once again.
Lineup:
Buck - RF
Ellis - 2B
Cust - DH
Brown - LF
Crosby - SS
Barton - 1B
Suzuki - C
Hannahan - 3B
Denorfia - CF
So far, the U.S. teams are 2-0 versus their Japanese counterparts as the Red Sox beat Hanshin 6-5 late Friday evening on the strength of a Big Papi solo shot, a J.D. Drew three-run shot and an RBI single from Kevin Youkilis.
The big story for the A's so far in this Japan trip continues to be the offensive output of Bobby Crosby. He went 2-for-3 with his 4th homer of the exhibition season last evening, showing some impressive and encouraging opposite-field power. Jack Hannahan followed Crosby in the 4th inning with his own solo shot, crushing a hanging slider into the cheap seats in right-center. Dana Eveland pitched effectively for 5 innings, striking out 3, walking two and giving up 2 runs. With the exception of Rule Fiver Fernando Hernandez, the bullpen shut down the Giants as Santiago Casilla, Andrew Brown and Huston Street each pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Duchscherer will look to be economical this evening as he'll be operating with an 80-pitch pitch count.
Look out for: Jeff Fiorentino wearing a pink kimono in the dugout. Susan Slusser reports that elderly-yet-still mischievous Alan Embree stole Jeff's clothes after the game last night in retaliation for Jeff harassing him at a party on Friday.
