Athletics Nation - Game #15: A's at AngelsAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2014-04-16T23:33:23-07:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/53869912014-04-16T23:33:23-07:002014-04-16T23:33:23-07:00Game #15: A's throw away lead against the Angels
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<figcaption>Harry How</figcaption>
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<p>The A's flush away a 4-1 lead, lose painfully in the 12th inning. And we didn't even use Jim Johnson this time.</p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>It’s really hard to see a positive side to games like these sometimes. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>Like, I pride myself on being an optimist. I was on #teambarton before it was cool, and after it stopped being cool again. I stuck with <span>Dan Straily</span> and <span>Jarrod Parker</span> through their awful stretches last year. I just knew that <span>Chris Young</span> was a genius pick-up, and he would lead us to a world championship. But after games like this? We’re 10-5, we have one of the best records in the MLB, our rotation is incredible, our offense is really good, and we just won 2 of 3. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>But god, don’t you just get the feeling that we suck now?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>I’m spoiled, I know. But we blew a 3 run lead, lost in 12 innings, and the entire offense (<span>Brandon Moss</span>, <span>Jed Lowrie</span>, and <span>Alberto Callaspo</span> excluded) just looked exhausted. After the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Angels</a> started to come back in the 7th inning, they played with more energy and conviction than us. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>The Angels played with more energy and conviction than us. What the hell? Do you know how much that hurts to type?</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>This game was essentially two halves. The first half was a pattern we’ve already gotten used to: excellent starting pitching and some timely extra base hits leave us with a lead. Brandon Moss hit a big home run. Callaspo continues to hit like a madman. Lowrie hit doubles. That’s how we’ve won around eight of our ten games so far. It’s a good pattern. It’s something I’d like to enjoy more in the future. </span></p>
<p class="p1">But then the bottom fell out.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>The second half was a horror movie in slow motion. The shutdown pen came in and did the opposite of shutdown. Open up. Every inning seemed to include an infuriating defensive miscue, followed by a borderline miraculous play to save us from giving up a billion runs. Every time you think the A's are going to tack on some runs, nope, groundouts. Groundouts groundouts groundouts groundouts groundouts groundouts groundouts groundouts. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">O</span>ne of the Angels relief pitchers only needed 6 pitches to finish an inning, because groundouts.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>The fact that we were still leading in the ninth inning was ridiculous, but I was perfectly fine with ridiculous. But Gregerson looked tired, and <span>Mike Trout</span> is good, and he yet again scored a run basically only using his legs.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>Dumb Mike Trout. Being good and stuff.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>In the extra innings, the horror movie continued. The A’s left several thousand men on base, because groundouts. The Angels left several thousand more men on base, because the baseball gods are cruel and want us to suffer. By the end of the game, it was almost a relief that Iannetta hit the homer. I just wanted it to end.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>Good news: the A’s are a very good team. Possibly the best in the American League. We’ve had some RISP problems, but that will come and go unless you have the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> black magic. The bullpen: still very good. The offense: still very good. The rotation: still borderline elite. This is our first loss that wasn’t a result of <span>Felix Hernandez</span> or <span>Jim Johnson</span>.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>But I’m going to go ahead and sulk for a while because I’m sleep deprived and sad.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><span> </span>I hate Mike Trout. And groundouts.</span></p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/4/16/5623554/post-game-15-as-4-angels-5Duncan Morrow2014-04-16T22:44:18-07:002014-04-16T22:44:18-07:00Game Thread #15: A's at Angels (4)
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<p><span>Another wild, extra inning game for Oakland. In the bottom of the 11th, both bullpens very close to being exhausted. We're in serious danger of a position player pitching. Which would be bad, because our position players look totally exhausted too. Just a sloppy game that's probably going 17 innings. But free baseball!!!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span>RUNZ THREAD</span></p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/4/16/5623458/game-thread-15-as-at-angels-4Duncan Morrow2014-04-16T21:51:17-07:002014-04-16T21:51:17-07:00Game Thread #15: A's at Angels (3)
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<p>Moss is the player of the game, no question. Home run and game-saving catch. Let's see if the A's can add on/hang on.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/4/16/5623372/game-15-as-at-angels-3Duncan Morrow2014-04-16T20:31:43-07:002014-04-16T20:31:43-07:00Game Thread #15: A's at Angels (2)
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<p>It's 4-1, after Callaspo doubled in Donaldson, and Moss does Moss things (against a lefty!). Milone's cutting through the Angels like soft tossing, lefty butter -- only one K, but several thousand pop-ups.</p>
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<p>TIME FOR MORE RUNZ</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2014/4/16/5623162/game-thread-15-as-at-angels-2Duncan Morrow