On a night where there was nearly as much scoring in the stands as there was on the diamond- at least from the A's standpoint- the Chicago White Sox went to great lengths to seize the series opener, 6-2.
Jim Thome's three-run blast in the eighth inning off Santiago Casilla was the big blow. It was the 550th homerun of his career.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen rearranged his starting pitching before the game, pushing tonight's scheduled starter Bartolo Colon to tomorrow, with Gavin Floyd moving up in line.
Matt Holliday was most appreciative of the switch.
The A's cleanup hitter crushed a Gavin offering with a man on and two out in the first, for a quick 2-0 lead. He added a double in the fourth. Aside from those two hits on consecutive Holliday at-bats (and a single by Jack Cust preceding the homerun), Floyd allowed no other runners until the seventh.
Chicago halved the score with a run in the bottom of the first as starter Trevor Cahill found himself in immediate peril by walking leadoff batter Scott Podsednik and giving up a single to Alexei Ramírez to put runners at the corner bags before getting an out. Jermaine Dye's sacrifice fly plated Podsednik to make it 2-1, before Cahill got out of the inning with a little help from his new best friend.
After Thome went down on strikes, Paul Konerko lifted a fly ball that seemed harmless enough at first, but then looked as if it might leave the yard. That's when Holliday made like Ryan Sweeney with a leaping catch to preserve the lead.
The A's advantage continued into the fifth when A.J. Pierzynski homered off of Cahill to tie the game. Meanwhile Floyd was mowing ‘em down until the seventh, when he sandwiched two walks around an Aaron Cunningham single with two outs. With a chance to show up his former team, Orlando Cabrera struck out to end the inning, and Floyd's night (7IP, 4H, 2R, 3BB, 8K).
It was pretty much the end for the A's, too. Matt Thornton took over for Floyd, and struck out the side in the eighth (Kennedy, Cust, and Holliday).
Craig Breslow looked to keep the A's tied in relief of Cahill (5-2/3IP, 3H, 2R, 2BB, 3K). He struck out the first two batters he faced, and retired the first four to grab a bat against him. But it all began to unravel in the eighth with the ever-popular lead-off walk to Podsednik. Breslow (tonight's losing pitcher) was removed in favor of Casilla. After a failed bunt resulted in an out, Jermaine Dye singled, setting up Thome's game-changing shot. The Chisox added another run on a bases-loaded walk.
They celebrated 70's Night in Chicago- but where were these?- and the A's, after a promising start- hit like those teams at the end of that decade to fall to 19-30 on this long and lonely season.
Tomorrow Vin Mazzaro makes his big-league debut.
0 recs | 88 comments
Pix,
or it didn’t happen.
lynnzgal - June 1, 2009
Really.
Maybe I should have gone to the trouble of looking for the power cord for my TV after all.
Englishmajor - June 1, 2009
Where's the baboon?
If the baboon turns around, it will look like Geren.
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
I knew Casilla
Should not have been brought in with a lead. Jairo Garcia should just be delegated to mop up duty at this point, the guy is a waste. Even with a taxed bullpen Zeigler would have been a better option that Casilla. Was Ziggy unavailable tonight? That seems like the ideal situation for him to get a few ground balls, and get the hell back in the dugout. What a frustrating loss!!! I thought that June was gonna be the month that we pulled in back together. Remember 2005??? Lets hope Vinny Maz is a light in the darkness of suck tomorrow night.
Shippee33 - June 1, 2009
There's a light....
over in the Frankenstein place.
GreenNGoldSooner - June 1, 2009
FWIW, Casilla was brought into a tie.
Ziggy was available, in that he was throwing in the 8th as Cameron imploded. He was probably the “8th-9th inning with a lead” guy today – remember Bailey threw 1.2 IP yesterday and Wuertz also pitched. Seems like Ziggy would have been needed in either the 8th or 9th had the A’s not trailed.
Nico - June 1, 2009
Can't we have anything nice anymore?
It’s like our relievers have been lost since that 15 inning game vs Seattle.
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
Seems like both teams' seasons went plunging downhill after that game
They should have called a truce after 9 and gone home.
Nico - June 1, 2009
You can only do that...
….in an All-Star Game
GreenNGoldSooner - June 1, 2009
If both teams leave the field, what can the umps do?
I mean granted, Angel Hernandez probably wouldn’t notice, but still.
Nico - June 1, 2009
Hmm. Civil disobedience could work for this team.
The umps don’t have any weapons, right?
scromulus - June 1, 2009
Divide and conquer
If the batter gets in thebox
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
His team wins
pitcher on rubber, that team wins.
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
Or at least avoids pregnancy
Nico - June 1, 2009
Casilla probably hasn't quite recovered
from the leg problems, yet he’s been used an awful lot.
OaklandSi - June 2, 2009
he was bad off the dl last year too.
smaple size warning, but it could be a pattern.
Future Ed - June 2, 2009
overuse after coming back from the DL?
OaklandSi - June 2, 2009
No confidence in Casilla in tough situations.
Sorry, the game was over when he came in.
Coach Cleats - June 1, 2009
or easy
up by 3, you’d still worry
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
You know what?
You’re right!
Coach Cleats - June 1, 2009
I agree
last guy to look so unconfident while on the mound for the A’s was Arthur Rhodes.
He’s trying not to fail, in contrast to beating the other team.
One won lost won - June 1, 2009
Though to be fair, not failing....
…would be a big step in the right direction for this squad!
GreenNGoldSooner - June 1, 2009
I blame the Whitesox. They were trying to make the A's fail,
or at least that’s what Hawk kept saying in a commercial for the series that ran over and over on the Sox feed (I know, I didn’t have a choice): “The A’s come into town for a four game series but the Sox are gonna try to make them fail.”
So you see, once you know they were actively trying to cause our failure its not so bad. And sooner or later the A’s will run into a more polite team that understands everyone needs a leg up once in a while.
scromulus - June 1, 2009
hooray for polite teams!
Future Ed - June 1, 2009
Two wild pitches to lose the game
I remember that.
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
game was in jeopardy when the A's only managed to score 2 runs
OaklandSi - June 2, 2009
Douche
When is Justin Douchebag coming back?
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
Whenever that zombie virus arrives....
….and the dead start shambling around the Coliseum.
GreenNGoldSooner - June 1, 2009
woh dude
Easy on the douchebag, the duke is hardly qualified to be labeled as such…
Shippee33 - June 1, 2009
What did Duke ever do to you?
And likely, not after the ASG break.
walkoff baltimore chop - June 1, 2009
Too bad we couldnt trade
Jason Giambi for Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. “Don’t turn your back on the wolfpac…”
Shippee33 - June 1, 2009
It's a joke!
Lighten up! We suck, just trying to change the mood.
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
Lighten up it's not a RAIDER game.
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
Oh!
Haha!
lynnzgal - June 1, 2009
Yeah, it's an A'S game!
Totally worse!
Durr
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Because there's 170 more of them.
lynnzgal - June 1, 2009
Sorry, 148.
lynnzgal - June 1, 2009
When I can no longer do that kind of math in my head,
its time to go. Adios!
lynnzgal - June 1, 2009
Not a football fan.
But calling Duke a douche, IMO, is kinda unwarranted. Aside from being injured, I don’t think he’s really done nothing that would greatly upset an A’s fan.
walkoff baltimore chop - June 1, 2009
That should be “I don’t think he’s really done anything that would greatly upset an A’s fan.”
Apparently, my grammar fails today.
walkoff baltimore chop - June 1, 2009
so
As an a’s fan I can say he bugs the heck out of me with his between the lines whining. But the only realy douche is ramses from Nacho Libre.
jeffro - June 2, 2009
Be careful El queso
Big Shippee33 might attack you for saying that.
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
No
But Kevin Nash will power bomb you.
Shippee33 - June 1, 2009
CHEESE POWERS ACTIVATE
FORM OF A CHEESE GRATER.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Serious LOL.
pam5981 - June 1, 2009
Putting our miserable offense and appalling manager to one side for a moment....
… I am excited to watch the A’s this year. In two or three years we will all be looking back and all saying how we were there when the A’s starting rotation first became BOMAC. Or MACOB. Or CABOM? And that starts tomorrow.
Young Trev was good tonight. He will only get better. Outman for Blanton? How can anyone say BB’s lost his magic? Anderson is the real deal – any pitcher can have a night like that in Arlington. Braden may not have the talent of the others but is a pretty bloody good option for #5 starter and he sure is fun to watch right now.
This could genuinely be as good a starting rotation as there is in the bigs in a couple of years.
So I’ll be riveted to the game tomorrow night (or rather TiVo’ing the game so I can FF through the A’s at-bats) and savor the start of the new era .
itsgemme - June 1, 2009
BOMAC FTW
Cahill’s two-seamer is filthy, but he needs to keep it down in the zone more.
TBRMKane - June 1, 2009
Braden's a lot more than a #5 starter -
In the past, that’s what I saw him as, but the additions of the cutter and the ability to add and subtract, and the “bulldog mentality” we haven’t seen much since Hudson left, will take him a long way.
Nico - June 1, 2009
Agreed on Braden right now
I was just thinking (praying) that if all the others live up to their potential I think Dallas is probably #5 on that list
itsgemme - June 1, 2009
and don't forget about the secret weapon...
Pepe’!
mrod - June 2, 2009
Heart
At least Braden shows some heart. This is what this team sorely needs.
Lucid Creations - June 1, 2009
EARTH
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Cpt. Planet.
OldhamA - June 2, 2009
I can't say I'm surprised.
When you put shitty players on the field you should expect shitty results.
brenarlo - June 1, 2009
Pretty much
There are a couple of BP pitchers and four hitters you have a chance with
The rest you can expect failure from most of the time and by most I mean 80 percent and to get any of those losers to string 2 hits together is like winning the lottery twice in one week without buying a ticket. Hence a 1 run lead or anymore than a 1 run defecit and you are basically screwed.
Trainman - June 1, 2009
Seriously...
even the players we’re glorifying (Suzuki and Cust) aren’t that good.
brenarlo - June 1, 2009
That's not true, IMO
Suzuki has become an All-Star caliber player, when you combine his offense (near .300 with doubles power and a great all-fields approach) and defense (very strong in every aspect).
Nico - June 1, 2009
Yeah
Suzuki is very good. He’s doing well. He is one of about 4.
Trainman - June 1, 2009
hehe
“On a night where there was nearly as much scoring in the stands as there was on the diamond”
Nicely done, sir. Almost makes the loss worth it.
Benjamin Light - June 1, 2009
There are far too many links in this recap.
That crap belongs in the DLD, 67M.
pam5981 - June 1, 2009
Man! The staff on the MLB network were dogging out the A"s pitch selection to Thome during his HR at bat tonight. They were almost making fun of Casilla.
Mississippi A's Fan - June 1, 2009
Don't we do that already...
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Pitch selection,
or pitcher selection?
Nico - June 1, 2009
I'm assuming thats a joke
and a good one at that.
Mississippi A's Fan - June 1, 2009
yeah, but it is really embassing when it is done on National TV.
Mississippi A's Fan - June 1, 2009
It's not like people watch MLB network...
And that’s just for one day, our comments last on the internet FOREVAH.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Wait, that's incredible.
National television knows the A’s have a baseball team?
Nico - June 1, 2009
No.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Fosse
also criticized the pitch selection
day-to-day - June 1, 2009
They just inteveiwed Thome and he couldn’t believe he got the pitch he did. He was really expecting an inside fastball, and was suprised to get the outside pitch and nailed it.
Mississippi A's Fan - June 1, 2009
The way he hit it he sure seemed surprised.
“Woah, wasn’t expecting THAT!” {launches tremendous homerun}
Nico - June 1, 2009
Seems that the W-Sox hit several times with two strikes on them
or waited from 1-2 to 4-2 counts.
Pitch selection might actually be an issue.
MobiusKlein - June 1, 2009
Yeah, but they also walked a lot on 3-1 counts,
and bottom line only scored 2 runs through 7 innings. The A’s just aren’t good enough to play even with teams for 7 innings. Eventually someone will score and it usually won’t be the A’s.
Nico - June 1, 2009
Someone
in one of my fantasy leagues just added Gavin Floyd. I wonder if he realizes he won’t be pitching against the A’s every start.
day-to-day - June 1, 2009
ANyone else worried about Cust?
OBP dropped to 346 after today, and he simply is not walking like he’s used to.
travdog6 - June 1, 2009
Trying to swing for the fences every time you're up can do that.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
changing a successfull approach will do it too
he did hit the ball hard twice.
Future Ed - June 1, 2009
It's worked for him in the past.
Too me, from the few games I watched this year his pitch selection/patience looks worse.
travdog6 - June 1, 2009
I'd have to get some pitchFX data from his at bats
But without looking at anything, I’d guess that he’s just plain getting more pitches in the zone.
When he starts hitting a few more balls out of the park, he’ll start getting pitched more carefully.
mikev - June 1, 2009
I would be upset they lost
But my squad had to play a man down tonight and we still took the match 7-2, and I scored 6 goals.
BOW DOWN BEFORE ME.
mikev - June 1, 2009
Depends
DO YOU HAVE COOKIES?
walkoff baltimore chop - June 1, 2009
Not on me.
mikev - June 1, 2009
Never, fiend.
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Cap'n.
mikev - June 1, 2009
Comn'd
ElQuesoCapitan - June 1, 2009
Mercy Rule
I fell asleep listening to the game just as Breslow was being brought in, and woke up during Korach’s postgame wrap…
OaklandSi - June 2, 2009
I'd like to know why Cabrera continually is left at the top of the lineup to
FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!
When he struck out with the bases juiced in the 7th, I knew them, it was over. What a complete waste of money…..and folks thought Bobby Crosby was bad?
Casilla’s pitch to Thome was a giant meatball and I’m not sure if that was pitch that was called by Geren or Zooks….or if it was just a pitch that got away from Casilla. Not sure why the guy has gone from really good to suck but perhaps there is a real problem in his noggin….Another wasted effort by our young gun, Cahill. DSoory dude….like maybe next time your offense will actually score more than 3 combined runs in your previous 11 2/3 innings….f***ers!
mrod - June 2, 2009
santiago's famous meat balls
ak_A - June 2, 2009
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