Game #160: A’s Drop (now) Meaningless Game to Angels

So as we close the book on Fridays of the regular season, we can relive the moments that made our time together so special. Although we started the season 0-4 for Fridays, we took our first win against Houston, and then evened the record at 4-4 by winning almost every Friday in May (about the only times they won, am I right?). We had a winning record of 8-7 after June, but the A’s lost every single Friday night game they played in July, for an 8-11 record. Of course, the ironic part of all of this is that the A’s won nearly every single other game in July, just not the Friday nights. They won almost every Friday game they played in August, rebounding their record to 12-12. And except for tonight, the A’s won out in September, as well, completing our record of 15-13 for the season. Thanks for being along for the ride, and if next week turns into Game 1 of the ALDS, we’ll have all of your action right here.

*** Click here to revisit tonight’s Game Thread! ***

The A’s kept meaningful baseball into our lives for 159 of 162 games this season, including an entire not-yet-played playoff season, which, honestly, can’t come soon enough for everyone. Contrast this to the previous four seasons, and it’s pretty amazing that this weekend of games doesn’t count; not because the A’s have been eliminated, but rather because they have eliminated everyone else.

Lou Trivino, for unknown reasons (rumor has it that he’s not the starter for the Wild Card playoff), started the game tonight and pitched a single perfect inning to start the game. He was replaced by Mike Fiers in the second, who didn’t fare so well. A single, a HBP, a flyout, a double-steal, and RBI ground-out, and a two-run home run put the Angels in front 3-0, a lead they would increase to 8-0. Seven of the Angels hits and six full earned runs would fall on Fiers’ line, not a great way to end his last start of the season. The bullpen effort of Dull, Bassitt, Brooks, and Pagan was perfect, but Kiekhefer allowed two more. Down 8-0, the A’s, stymied by either their own offense or with help from the umpiring crew, were unable to score in any inning but the eighth (A-th), where they hung a 5-spot on the Angels. Because that is literally the highlight for the A’s tonight, let’s review:

The inning started with back-to-back singles by Canha and Chapman. The funny thing about Chapman’s single is that he reached third on the play after scoring Canha, thanks to a throwing error by the right fielder. Lowrie grounded out to score Chapman for the A’s second run, and after Davis struck out, Olson and Piscotty both walked and moved to second and third on a wild pitch. Another error allowed Laureano to reach base and scored the A’s third run, and a Marcus Semien double brought home two more.

That was legitimately the highlight of the A’s tonight. Five hits, five runs.

But you know what? It’s a meaningless game. The A’s are tuning up for the playoffs, which start Wednesday with the Wild Card Game in New York; A’s vs. Yankees 5:05PM.

We’ll be here tomorrow with the penultimate game of the 2018 baseball season; A’s vs. Angels, 6:00PM, Trevor Cahill vs. Tyler Skaggs.