It was unclear whether Andrew Bailey would be available tonight, after throwing 33 pitches in a heroic effort to save yesterday's win. When the game went into the 11th tied 4-4, thanks to a 2-run HR by Kevin Kouzmanoff (7th) and solo HR by Rajai Davis (8th), Bailey got the call.
He was following A's relievers who had been perfectly brilliant and brilliantly perfect: Bowers, Ross, and Breslow retired all 11 they faced, including 4 straight K'd by Breslow. Bailey surrendered a leadoff double to Justin Morneau -- a well-struck but catchable drive that turned Gabe Gross around -- then one out later a ball poked inside 1B by Delmon Young to bring home the decisive run.
As thin as the bullpen is right now, the A's needed to take advantage of the chances to win in the bottom of the 9th and bottom of the 10th. Jack Cust almost got it done, with a drive to the right-center field wall, but it turned into one of umpteen outs scorched off an A's bat into a Twin glove.
Dallas Braden was up in the zone far too much tonight, coughing up 4 runs in 6.1 IP and remaining winless since his May 9th perfect game. Ross looked great, which could be important, and Breslow was downright electric. Bailey, though, was human, and those footsteps you hear belong to the Angels -- now just 1/2 game back of Oakland.
