Wow! It seems like it has been a very long time since the A's won the first two games of a series and were in line for a sweep, but here we are!
After winning both of their previous games via the walk-off hit (yes, even the unorthodox infield single last night counts as a hit), this afternoon the A's turn to Justin Duchscherer in an attempt to steal the whole series, and remain 3 1/2 games behind the can't-lose Angels, who are playing some T-ball team from Seattle again today.
I say that with complete understanding of the frustration that Mariners' fans are feeling about their season to date, and I imagine it's the same for the fans of Detroit, who have had to watch maybe the best lineup in baseball struggle game after game after game through the first sixty.
I firmly believe that the only thing keeping the A's from a similar fate so far has been their unbelievable, amazing, out-of-this-world pitching, which has been covering for the offense most of this year, and battling even harder recently after the loss of Thomas and the Sweeneys. A symptom of deep offensive trouble (for both teams!): Last night's game in which twenty-two walks were issued and eleven innings were played, and the final score went into the books as a paltry 5-4.
However, there is something to be said for scoring just enough to win, and it's hard to argue with this week's results. It's also hard not to look on the bright side of the Cust/Ellis/Buck homers on Sunday, a Barton homer Monday, and a Chavez homer last night. If any of those power surges can be repeated on a semi-regular basis, things might get interesting in the AL West head-to-head match-up this weekend.
But the A's need to win again today, and they're going to have to beat yet another LHP, as streaky Nate Robertson faces off against Duchscherer.
LET'S GO OAK-LAND!!!!
