Game 140 – September 13
2 – Royals
3 – Oakland
10 Innings
WP – Jay Howell (5-6)
LP – Al Holland (3-6)
2-2 in the 10th and Holland could not get out lefty Dwayne Murphy. With Dusty Baker on first, Murphy doubled to right and Baker chugged around to score.
Black pitched well, 7 and 2/3rds innings, striking out 5 and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. The offense came in quiet against Chris Codiroli. 5 hits in 8 innings, all singles.
Game 141 – September 14
3 – Royals
2 – Oakland
WP – Charlie Leibrandt (15-10)
LP – Jim Clancy (3-4)
SV – Dan Quisenberry (28)
The heart of the Athletics lineup (2-5) of Mike Davis, Dusty Baker, Dwayne Murphy, and David Kingman, all have over 20 home runs, and 60 RBI's. Leibrandt was able to hold them to only 1 hit until the 9th inning when with 2 outs, Baker walked and Murphy hit a 2-run shot.
Hoping to squelch a 2-out rally, Quisenberry came in for the final out.
The offense was still relatively quiet, but tallied 3 runs in the 2nd on RBI doubles by White and Royster that sandwiched a Jim Sundberg RBI groundout.
Game 142 – September 15
4 – Royals
5 – Oakland
11 Innings
WP – Steve Ontiveros (3-1)
LP – Larry Gura (2-7)
Went into the 9th with a 3-1 lead and things unraveled. Quisenberry got Kingman to flyout, but Bruce Bochte singled. Quisenberry left the game.
Farr came in to face the bottom of the order, but singles by Carney Lansford, Mike Heath, and Alfredo Griffin plated Bochte and Lansford to tie the game.
In the top of the 10th, we had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs. Cooper flied out to left. I sent the runner, speedy Butch Davis, who was thrown out at home. Frank White flied out and the rally was snuffed.
Holland entered in the 10th and kept the A's at bay, striking out Baker and Murphy, and getting Kingman to pop out.
But he too had to leave the game with an injury.
In the top of the 11th, Wathan walked, and Motley and Collins singled to load the bases. Wilson struck out, and then Balboni skied it to right. Deep enough for Wathan to score.
My next best bullpen option was Larry Gura. Bochte singled, Lansford walked, Heath sacrificed them to 2nd and 3rd. Then, rather then walk the bases loaded I pitched to 9th place hitter Donnie Hill who tripled and plated Botche and Lansford for the winning run.
Both Holland and Quisenberry have back stiffness, which shouldn't affect their throwing. Although both will be unavailable for game 2 of the double header.
Game 143 – September 15
0 – Royals
1 – Oakland
WP – Robert Stocker (1-1)
LP – Scott Bankhead (2-1)
SV – Jay Howell (19)
10 hits, but no runs. No runs.
Loaded the bases in the 7th and couldn't score. Sundberg doubled to lead off the 9th, but we couldn't bring him in. Nothing worked.
The A's scored their run on 2 walks and 2 fielder's choices in the 4th. They didn't get their first hit until the bottom of the 6th, a Mike Davis single. Bankhead held them to 3 hits, but he walked 5. He's definitely earned consideration for a rotation spot next year.
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One day up, the next back down again.
1-3 in the series and a doubleheader loss. We lost 2 games on Texas and our playoff percentage drops to 0.7%. We travel back to Kaufmann stadium to face the Mariners for 3 games.
Texas's magic number to eliminate us is 13. (If I did my math correctly)
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My record 67-76; 5th; 7 games behind Texas
Real Life: 82-60; 1st; 2.5 games ahead of California