Three Words:  Stranding Runners Blows

July 3, 2003

So this rather crappy event began with a 2-out single from Bret Boone who then stole second, but that's where we leave him which unfortunately would become a pattern as the night wore on, and then Oakland scored a run and I could get into how that happened but I think we all know I won't as we also all know that nobody gives a good goddamn about Oakland anyway.

Second inning and Mike Cameron led off by reaching on a bunt single but an out and a double play later, we don't score him and then Ryan Franklin hit Frank Menechino with a pitch but that was as exciting as it got for Oakland, so moving right along to the third, we waste a 2 out single from Ichiro and the A's sit down in order as well they should.

So fourth inning, still 1-0 Athletics, and with 1 out, Edgar "I'm Tying the Game!" Martinez TIED THE GAME by going yard and then Oakland unties it and it's 2-1 Athletics now and nobody cares how they accomplished this.  Nobody.

Fifth inning and we're down 1-2-3 and Oakland scores twice more and let's just move along to the sixth where Ichiro reached on an infield single and an out later and Bret reached on an infield single and we CAN'T BLOODY SCORE THEM and then at some point some guy named Taylor came in to pitch for Franklin, and Oakland tacks on another run to make it 5-1 and I have to be restrained from putting my foot through the television.

Seventh inning.  We waste a 2 out single from Willie Bloomquist.  Oakland sits down in order.  Eighth inning.  Ben Davis leads off with a single and is out at second on a fielder's choice by Ichiro.  Randy reached on an infield single.  Bret singled, and scored Ichiro.  Oakland, being the cowardly bastards that they are, brought in Chad Bradford to pitch for Barry Zito who retired Edgar, and then Keith Foulke relieved Bradford to retire Cameron, so we settle for the 1 run, much to my severe annoyance.

So bottom of the eighth, and Rafael Soriano came in to pitch for Taylor and with 2 outs, gave up a double to that Byrnes guy and then he went to third on a passed ball but Soriano recovered nicely to strike out Hatteberg and off we go to the ninth where we don't do a goddamn thing.