Game #153: Olson Homers Again as A’s Win Fifth Straight

You know, it’s really too bad that the season is coming to an end, because this A’s baseball? I could watch another season easily. Between Matt Olson’s daily home run, Kendall Graveman’s seven-inning win, and Blake Treinen’s never-a-doubt save (haha!), tonight’s 4-1 win had all the makings of a solid opening in the series as the A’s begin to put the nails into the coffin of the Rangers 2017 season even as the A’s build on their own 2018 campaign.

Kendall Graveman’s last start was abbreviated due to the rain delay in Philadelphia, but he got his 7 innings in today with his 101 pitches; allowing six hits and just one run. The eighth inning set-up was handled neatly by Chris Hatcher, and Treinen earned his thirteenth save of the year.

Meanwhile, the A’s made their four runs count; half of them were scored on yet another home run by the amazing Matt Olson, his 24th, in his first at-bat, with Khris Davis on base after his walk.

The Rangers got one back in the third on a solo home run by Shin-Soo Choo, but later in the inning, after Marcus Semien reached on an error and promptly stole second base, Jed Lowrie singled him in for the A’s third run. A Semien double and a Matt Joyce single plated the A’s fourth and final run in the fifth, and that was more than enough for the A’s stellar pitching staff tonight. The A’s never trailed, and despite two on and two out in the ninth against Treinen, it never felt like they could lose this game. This was a solid win from the get-go, the A’s fifth in a row; the team hitting their stride just as the season is closing.

At least baseball is fun again.

Relive all the game thread action here.

Make good choices tonight and join us tomorrow for Game 2; 6:05PM, Sean Manaea on the mound.