THE ATHLETICS PREVAIL OVER THE BRONX BOMBERS IN AN EXTRA INNING THRILLER AT CHRISTIE PITS TO ADVANCE TO A SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN VERSUS THE ORIOLES
Beneath a blanket of genteel September skies, the A’s edged the Yankees 6-5 in a nail biting extra inning six frame Mosquito Division Elimination Round Game this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2.Deadlocked 6-6, Noah (8) of the A’s led off the bottom of the sixth with a golly gee double. After Cooper (2) stroked a single that put two ducks on the pond, Luc (11) delivered a RBI single to bring Noah home with the Athletics winning run.
The proceeding was an exciting and well played affair that was contested between two talented and well coached teams. After the pesky Yankees rallied in dramatic fashion in the top of the fifth to force an extra inning, the gritty A’s ultimately prevailed for an elimination playoff game victory that sends them into a Mosquito Division Semi-Final showdown against the Orioles.
In the top of the first, the Yankees jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After Tyrus (1) reached base on an error to leadoff the inning, Duncan (11) and Thomas (10) garnered walks to load the bases. Mateo (13) followed with a one out RBI single to bring Tyrus home with the opening run of the game.
With the bases loaded, A’s southpaw starter Noah (8) would vanquish the Yankees threat in the first by striking out two to leave them stranded.
The A’s counterpunched with four in the bottom half of the first to take a 4-1 lead. Following a leadoff triple by Dylan (9), Anthony (6) stroked a RBI single to bring him home with the tying run.
After a single by Noah that put two runners on base, Cooper delivered a RBI single to bring Anthony home with the go ahead run.
With two aboard, Luc connected for a two RBI single that allowed Noah and Cooper to come homeward.
A’s reliever Anthony (6) struck out three in the top of the second to keep the Yankees off the scoring ledger.
Yankees reliever Thomas (10) would ring up a groundout and two strikeouts in the bottom of the second to keep the A’s off the scoresheet.
The Yankees threatened in the top of third after Tyrus muscled a leadoff triple and Duncan drew a walk that put two mallards on the lake. However, Athletics reliever Cooper (2) extricated himself from the sticky wicket by chalking up a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to leave them stranded.
Yankees reliever Rennick (4) coaxed two groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the third to keep the Athletics off the scoreboard and ensconced in the weight room.
The Yankees would score a run in the top of the fourth to trim the margin to 4-2. With one out and the bases loaded, Jiri (6) came home to crow after the A’s uncorked a wild pitch.
With two aboard, A’s reliever Dylan (9) would tally a strikeout and a pop out to quell the Yankees insurgency.
The A’s scored a run in the bottom of the fourth to increase their lead to 5-1. After a leadoff double and stolen base by Noah, Luc drew a one out walk that put two runners on base. Christian (4) followed and hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Luc at second and brought Noah home with a run.
Yankees reliever Thomas chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout in the fourth to end the Athletics rebellion.
With their season on the line, the Yankees rallied with three in the top of the fifth to tie the game 5-5. After a leadoff walk, Tyrus made a brazen bid to steal second. As he slid safely into second, the A’s throw to nab him sailed high and allowed Tyrus to advance to second. Luka (14) followed with a one out RBI single to bring Tyrus home.
As Tyrus slid into home, Luka made the turn at first and blazed towards second. On the play, the A’s defence would commit a faux pas that allowed Luka to come home and cut the deficit to one.
After stroking a single, Thomas stole a pair to advance to third. With two outs, Rennick delivered a clutch RBI single to bring Thomas home with the tying run.
Shaken, but not stirred, Athletics reliever Anthony would strikeout three in the fifth to extinguish the Yankees insurrection.
In the bottom of the fifth, the A’s regained their composure by loading the bases via a leadoff walk by Owen (10) and respective singles from Max (13) and Declan (5). However, Yankees reliever Rennick found his mojo just in the nick of time to end the threat, as he rung up two strikeouts and pop out to leave the Athletics stranded and off the scoreboard.
With ice in his veins, A’s starter Noah came back into the fray in the top of the sixth to retire the Bronx Bombers in 1-2-3 fashion courtesy of a pop out and a pair of groundouts.
And it was at this juncture in the proceedings where the A’s came to bat in the bottom in the bottom of the sixth and came face to face with their moment with destiny.