For the first three innings, it looked like more of the same for the A’s tonight as they tried to stop their five-game skid. The A’s were getting men on base, but they were finding interesting ways to get out on the basepaths; most notably Suzuki falling for the Little League "man on first and third; fake a throw to second, catch the runner at third" play.
Meanwhile, Brett Anderson danced with trouble through the early innings, allowing two runners to reach base in just about every inning, but he was able to escape every jam, holding the Tigers scoreless through five innings. Anderson started the sixth, and put the customary two batters on, but he was pulled for Wuertz, who allowed the Tigers’ only run to score. Anderson’s line would read 5+ innings, with four walks and seven strikeouts. Wuertz struck out four batters of his own (just about everyone he faced); Ziegler replaced him in the eighth for a nifty 1, 2, 3 inning, adding two strikeouts, and Springer pitched the ninth, striking out one to bring the total to fourteen strikeouts for Anderson and the bullpen, who was fantastic from top to bottom. And this was on top of the thirteen strikeouts last night.
The A’s broke through against Porchello in the fourth on a single by Holliday, a walk by Giambi, an RBI double by Suzuki, and an infield single by Sweeney (who would go 3-4 in the game). Even though the 2-0 lead would be enough for Anderson, the A’s added on in the next three innings on a two-run homerun by none other than Mark Ellis, a groundout by Holliday, a solo homerun by Sweeney, and a Tigers’ error.
When all was said and done, the A’s took this one easily 7-1, and looked great from the third inning on. This was the team we were promised; some power, fundamentals, great pitching, and a solid bullpen. The A’s break their 5-game losing streak, and win a game. It’s all we can ask for right now.
In other, long-term news, Josh Outman will have elbow surgery tomorrow. No one is calling the surgery anything other than some "elbow" work, but his likely recovery time will be 18 months, so you do the math.
The A’s play the Tigers again tomorrow night; we’ll see you here!
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