FLEXING THEIR GUILE AND SPEED, THE ATHLETICS ANCHOR THE M’s TO EMERGE WITH THE VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS
Game Post composed with file from Richard Park and Tim Burke
Beneath a layer of warm and nimble skies, the A’s defeated the Mariners 12-8 in four innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Here is an Athletics account of the game:
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The game started out slow with the A’s grinding out several walks in the first inning to load the bases. The Athletics were able to steal a couple of runs and walk a couple more in during the inning to take the early 4-0 lead.
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A’s starter Nathan (12) pitched the bottom of the first and was able to strike out one batter. However, the Mariners rallied to tie the game at 4-4.
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With the game tied after the first, Anthony (12) stroked a single to right field to lead off the top of the second and spark another rally to give the A’s the 8-4 lead.
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A’s reliever Charlie (7) was able to strike out two batters during the inning with a critical punch-out with the bases loaded that limited the M’s to two runs.
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The A’s fielding has been improving steadily over the past four weeks with some close defensive plays executed while the Mariners were stealing bases.
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In the third, the A’s were again able to grind out four more runs on a series of walks and steals to widen their lead to 12-6. The inning ended in dramatic fashion with the Athletics final run coming on a play at the plate with a slide into home by Finlay (5).
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As the game went on, the pitching for the Athletics got stronger. A’s reliever Sebastian (3) mowed down the Mariners in the bottom of the third with three straight strikeouts to keep them off the scoreboard.
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In the fourth, Yonah (1) led off with a double, followed by and single by Nathan (13). However, the A’s were unable to convert these hits into any more runs due to some strong Mariner’s pitching.
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Finlay, pumped up with scoring the last run of the third for the A’s, came out throwing heat and struck out three Mariners while allowing only two runs to seal the win for the A’s.
Here is a Mariners account of the proceedings:
- It was a mild evening for baseball at the Pits with the sun peeking out from the clouds as the A’s met the Mariners.
- With Mariners starter Liam (9) on the hill to begin the game, his pitching debut went well but he gave up four runs to the Athletics.
- In the bottom of the first, Jude (3) and Calum (2) hit clutch RBI singles to help the Mariners tie the game at 4-4.
- On the mound for the M’s in the top of the second was Max (14), who pitched well during the frame. But some aggressive base running by the A’s generated four runs and put them up 8-4.
- Max made up for it in the bottom of the second by delivering a RBI single and later scoring a run. During the frame, Emmett (11) stole his first base of the season! However, Emmett was called out for runner interference due to some unfortunate timing on the basepaths. Later, Reed (1) stole his way around to score a run.
- M’s reliever Eshetu (15) took to the mound in the third and produced an impressive outing with three K’s and preventing the A’s from scoring in the top of the third.
- With the pressure on the M’s in the bottom of the fourth, Reed (15) hit a single to start the rally. Later, Jude successfully found his way to third base after getting through an intense rundown by the Athletics.
- However, the A’s bullpen held the Mariners to two runs in the fourth as the The Mariners will be looking for revenge at their next meeting.