Considering today's match-up and the starting lineup, the A's were able to pull out an impressive 3-1 series win by beating Mark Buehrle--someone they have traditionally hit well--on the way to their third win in a row, shutting out the White Sox for the second time this week.
Brett Anderson, playing a nifty game of 'whatever you can do, I can do better', bested both Mazzaro and Outman with his seven inning, six hit, zero walks, four strikeout shutout today, and the A's are on a roll. This week showcased the pitching that everyone dreamed of during the offseason, and with Holliday being Holliday and Giambi being Babe Ruth, the A's were unbeatable today. Not only did they have Anderson dealing on the mound, but they also had the offense behind him.
It was a great pitcher's duel through the first few innings today; with the A's managing to scrape together a single run on a double by Holliday (2 for 3 with a walk) and a sac fly by Suzuki in the fourth for a 1-0 lead, and Anderson held onto it through the fifth. He would get some help in the sixth. After a leadoff walk by O-Cab and a sac bunt by Kennedy, the White Sox chose to walk Holliday intentionally to face Giambi. That was a mistake. So was the pitch. Giambi hit it out for a 3-run homerun, and the A's suddenly held a 4-0 lead.
Wuertz pitched the eighth, preserving the shutout, and A's added to the lead in the ninth on a homerun by Cunningham and a sac fly by O-Cab.Casilla, in his new 7-run mop-up role, finished the game, and the series.
Great win by the A's, and another great pitching performance. They now head home to play Baltimore. Tomorrow's game starts at 7:05.
