Suzuki Strengthens All-Star Bid as A's De-Wing Angels 10-1

I gotta say...I wasn't expecting that!

The Angels had their ace going. We had a pitcher that opened the season as the reserve reserve SP. They were in first place riding a six game win streak. We were way down in third. Oh, and Eric Patterson led off.

And yet, the A's banged out a season-high 18 hits, including two home runs from Kurt Suzuki and Jack Cust. Ryan Sweeney increased his season average to .324 by going 3 for 5, Eric Patterson went 3 for 5 (in the cheapest way possible, but 3 for 5 it was), and oh, before I forget, Kurt Suzuki had three additional hits to go with his three-run shot for a monster 4 RBI 4 hit day.

Vin Mazzaro was more than effective, scattering five hits over five innings. He managed to stay out of trouble until the fifth inning, where his one mistake, a hanging curve to Michael Ryan, was sent crashing off of the wall for a double with no outs. The Mazzaro of old likely wouldn't have done this, but today Vin quickly got three outs in a row, allowing only one run to score.

Jered Weaver, on the other hand, was just bad enough to give Angels fans fits, but not bad enough to take his team out of the game. That was his bullpen's doing, as the A's piled on 7 runs in the final two innings to turn a slim lead into a slug-fest.

The A's charge into tomorrow's game with momentum as Joe Saunders faces Mr. Perfect, Dallas Braden.