Moyer & Bullpen - Back To Business As Usual

June 30, 2003

So this rather excellent event began with us sitting down in order and then with 2 outs, that Durazo guy walked for Oakland but that's as exciting as it got and I have to say that I am still rather unaccustomed to not seeing Art Howe in the Oakland dugout and anytime that God-awful Honking Tuba Band wanted to SHUT UP, that would be great.

So second inning and everybody's down in order this time, so moving right along to the third, we waste Dan Wilson's 2 out single, and Jamie retires Oakland 1-2-3 so it is quickly off to the fourth, and I am meanwhile cracking up over Ichiro's 'You gotta hit em where they ain't' commercial because all of the Oakland Athletics, including Stomper, their mascot, come roaring out to play the field and there is just something insanely funny about mascots, except for that horrifying Seahawk's mascot that is just plain creepy.

So anyway, nothing out of the usual here... Edgar singled with 2 outs, and Jamie continued mowing down the Athletics in order, and off we go to the fifth where Mike Cameron led off with a single and then Randy Winn sacrificed him to second and then they called a balk on that Harang guy so Mike got to go to third but that's unfortunately where we leave him, and Jamie retires the side in order AGAIN and there is still no score as we head to the sixth where everyone is down in order yet again..

So seventh inning and I'm thinking now would be a good time to start scoring some runs and evidently the M's did too, as with 1 out, John Olerud singled and then Mike Cameron singled and then Randy Winn singled which scored John and then Jeff Cirillo scored Cammie on a bunt and managed to escape the tag as he was heading to first, but then the stupid A's manager came out squawking that Jeff had run out of the base path, and so they ended up overturning the decision that Jeff was safe and then Jeff spiked his helmet and the ump tossed him and Jeff had a big tantrum about it which was pretty funny actually, as he had to be held back by teammates from going after the ump and Jeff kept trying to shove Carlos Guillen out of the way and I would say we are seriously due for a good old fashioned bench clearing incident because we haven't had one in a very, very long time.

So anyway, 2-0 Seattle as we head to the bottom of the seventh, and Mark McLemore came in to play third for Mr. Hissy Fit Cranky Pants, and with 1 out, that Durazo guy singled and then Miguel Tejada singled and then Eric Chavez reached on an infield single to load the bases and I start working myself into a big hissy fit about it, and then Piatt walked which forced in a run and forced me to swear very loudly and then Hernandez lined out to Carlos and then Terrence Long grounded out to Bret and that was some pretty impressive damage control right there.

So eighth inning, 2-1 Seattle, and Rincon came in to pitch for Harang, and we're down in order, and then with 1 out, that Byrnes guy doubled for Oakland and Artie came in to relieve Jamie and Scott Hatteberg singled and Byrnes went to third and Hatteberg ended up on second advancing on the throw and then Durazo walked to load the bases and I start working myself into a fit again, and then Tejada grounded into a fielder's choice and Byrnes was out at home which is always exciting and then Chavez grounded out to Bret to end the threat and we still lead it 2-1 as we head to the ninth.

So with 1 out, Greg "I'm Hitting For Olerud & Going Yard!" Colbrunn HIT FOR OLERUD AND WENT YARD and we lead it 3-1 as we head to the bottom half where Jeff Nelson came in to relieve Artie and John Mabry came in to play first and with 2 outs, he allowed Terrence Long a single, but Ellis grounded out to end the game right after that which made me very, very happy.

"I can't tell you how much character our club showed tonight.  We didn't have (Shiggy) Hasegawa, and Arthur and Nellie gave us strong innings to lock it up.  McLemore went out to third when Cirillo got tossed, and he's got a real sore left thigh.  John Olerud gave us all he could on a sore right hamstring, and after we hit for Ole, John Mabry went to first, even though he can't really throw." - Bob Melvin