One Word:  Horrible

July 1, 2003

So this rather horrifying event began with Ichiro being safe on an error, but that's as exciting is it got for US, and then Gil Meche retired Oakland in order, so off we go to the second with no score and then WE'RE down in order and then... with 1 out, Ramon Hernandez walked and then was out at second on a fielder's choice by Eric Chavez and then Jermaine Dye singled and then some McMillon guy walked to load the bases and then Ellis singled which scored a run which royally pissed me off and finally Byrnes flew out to end the inning that we now trail 1-0.

So top of the third, and Carlos Guillen led off with a single and then got caught stealing and I sighed rather forlornly as we fail to do anything and then Hatteberg led off with a single for the A's, and 2 outs later, Hernandez singled but we strand them at the corners which caused me to shout gleefully, "honk THAT, stupid honking tuba band!"

So fourth inning and Ichiro led off by ripping a big nasty double and then Randy grounded him over to third and then Bret Boone TRIPLED and we tie the game and then Edgar walked and then... John Mabry... possessed of demons, hit into a double play.  So 1-all, going to the bottom of the fourth, and with 1 out, that McMillon guy walked again but Ellis followed that by lining into a double play, so I didn't have to get too bothered by it.

Fifth inning and with 1 out, Carlos walked and then got caught stealing again with a strike em out throw em out double play which was very annoying, and then Meche retired the A's in order, so let's just keep moving right along to the sixth where Ben Davis ripped a big nasty double to lead things off and then Ichiro grounded him over to third and for reasons unknown, that's right where we left him, and then Durazo led off with a double for Oakland and was out at third on a fielder's choice which was pretty cool, and then Chavez hit into a double play to end the inning and seriously, if that Honking Tuba Band would shut the hell up, I would be SO HAPPY.

So top of the seventh and Edgar singled to lead things off, but John Mabry, still possessed of demons, hit into a double play and we can't get anything going and fortunately, neither can Oakland, as Gil retired them in order.

So eighth inning and we're down in order, and then Shiggy relieved Gil and with 2 outs, gave up a harmless single to Miguel Tejada that didn't matter as Durazo followed it with a fly out, so ninth inning and that Rincon guy relieved Tim Hudson and Ichiro singled and then Randy grounded him over to second and then Keith Foulke came in to pitch for Rincon and Ichiro got caught stealing and it just turned into a big fat mess really, as we failed to score and then Oakland wasted a lead off walk from Hernandez, so off we go to extra innings.

Top of the tenth.  We sit down in order.  Rafael Soriano comes in to pitch for Shiggy and with 2 outs, gave up a harmless single to Scott Hatteberg before getting Tejada to ground out.  Eleventh inning, and Carlos led off with a big nasty double!  And then an out later and Ben Davis singled which scored him!  An out after that, and Randy walked, but we settle for the 1 run and head to the bottom half leading 2-1 where... Arthur Rhodes... gave up a lead off single... and Carlos Guillen made an error and the runner advanced to second and... Jeff Nelson came in... gave up a single, tied the game... then that runner was sacrificed to second... and went to third on a wild pitch... and I'm sure you all know what happened next, but I'll tell you anyway in case you fainted from the horror of it all like I did:  Jermaine Dye hit a sac fly and the A's won it 3-2.  What crap.