A's v. Angels Recap

It was only a two game series, but it still counts as a SWEEP! Horray!

I don't think this requires a full recap....

Let's look at what the A's accomplished with last night's game.

•It was their first sweep of a series since they swept the Mariners to close the season last October.

•They are now in first place for the first time since June 3rd of 2010.

•It was their first time scoring in double figures all season.

• It was their largest offensive output since they beat the Angels 15-1 on July 10th of last year.

•They entered the game 12th in the AL with 146 runs, scored in 41 games. They added 1/10 of that number in one night.

The A's won on Monday what might become their signature win of the season. Up 3-0, down 4-3 with 2 out and two strikes on Barton in the 9th, he singles home Crisp to tie, and then Ellis wins it with a ground ball in the 10th. All this in the rain after an hour and a half rain delay. It was one of those wins that you needed to have, because if you didn't get it, especially at home, it was going to sting for a long while.

And the feeling must have lasted, because last night was the A's largest offensive output of the season. Hopefully this isn't the highpoint of the long season still ahead.

Oh, and lost in all of this: Anderson had a great outing until Geren left him in a little too long, and then Gio Gonzalez struck out 7 while only allowing 1 hit and 1 walk in seven innings. We also got a solid performance from Balfour, Fuentes, Ziegler, and, we got to see the debut of Trystan Magnuson, acquired in the Rajai Davis deal. He gave up a hit and struck out one in an inning of work.

In other words, our celebration could have looked like this. But we are humble. So it looked like this, like any other night.



There were many highlights from this one. But here's the six run 6th: LINK.

The top play of the series was Kouz fielding a slow roller, and firing to first to get Aybar with a fantastic stretch from Barton. I hope you all had a chance to see it.

Here's the walkoff from Monday, also beautiful. Link.

So many players deserve POTS honors for these two, Bartons game tying single, Ellis' game winning hit, Gio's fantastic performance, almost everyone's hitting yesterday. So.... everyone get's a gold star!

So, I'd say it was successful, and the A's have a fire in their bellies for this next two game set against the scuffling Twins. McCarthy and Ross will go for the A's, and things be getting crazy. Go A's!