A's Reduce Boston to Using Outfielders As Pitchers

Well, it's usually a good sign for your team in the game when the other team has to resort to throwing an outfielder as a pitcher in the ninth inning. Granted, Darnell McDonald was throwing 90, but still; he's an outfielder, and this game was over. The A's racked up 16 hits en route to 15 runs, and easily took the opener of the series, adding on to their incredible run of offense. Remember when they were lucky to score a run a night?

In a new twist, the A's actually didn't score the first run tonight; Boston got to Gio in the very first inning for the first run of the game. The A's, of course, would storm back in the second with RBI singles from DeJesus and Pennington to take a 2-1 lead. They would break the game open in the fourth with a homerun from Sizemore, a double by Matsui, and a homerun by Willingham to make it 8-1. Normally, I wouldn't be too concerned about a comeback when a team is seven runs down, but hey, I lived through yesterday's game with you.

Boston hit back-to-back homeruns off Gio in the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-3, and Gio would allow one more run in the fifth to make it 8-4. Gio would give up the four earned runs in his 5.2 innings. The A's would add another run on a Pennington double in the seventh, and would add four more in the eighth. BRANDON ALLEN would double to bring in a run, DeJesus would bring in two, and Suzuki would single in the A's 13th run. The A's would add two more in the ninth as Willingham doubled off the right fielder. 

Meanwhile, Fuentes, Balfour, Breslow and Blevins would shut the Red Sox down for the rest of game, following Gio's departure. The only run allowed by the bullpen was in the ninth, against Blevins.

So, we're off to a great start so far. Let's try to cram in two more wins tomorrow; I believe the first game is at 9AM tomorrow.

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!