Rajai Davis started the bottom of the 1st by striking out against Jeremy Sowers, and if Sowers knew how to "sell high" he would have called it a day right there and then. Mark Ellis followed with a HR, then Kurt Suzuki followed that with a double and the next four batters singled. By the time Sowers exited with nobody out in the 2nd, he had allowed 9 hits and a walk, and would be charged with 6 runs.
Leading Oakland's 16-hit attack were Suzuki (single, double, HR), along with Nomar Garciaparra, Bobby Crosby, Daric Barton, Matt Carson, and Cliff Pennington (2 hits a piece).
Did he say Matt Carson? That's right -- Carson got his first big league hit today, shortly before getting his second one. And on the same day, Brad Kilby earned his first major league win. That's because Gio Gonzalez, on his 24th birthday, could not get through a 4th inning that featured a key error by Crosby but also Gioesque wildness and an inability to pitch through adversity. Just another day at the office for the A's bullpen, though: 5.1 IP, 1 run.
Six in a row for the A's, who are over .500 since the All-Star Break and sizzling in September. Don't fall in love in September? Why not -- I have nothing better to do.
