YES!  FIVE GAME LEAD AGAIN!

July 23, 2003

So this game begins with everyone sitting down in order, so let's just move right along to the second where Oakland wastes a 1-out walk to Eric Chavez and we're down 1-2-3 once more, so third inning and Mark Ellis was safe on an error, but 2 outs later, Ryan Franklin picked him off of first base and then Barry Zito sits us down, once again, in dismal order.

And speaking of Barry Zito, he was very funny and very good looking on David Letterman the other night, but I digress and anyway, fourth inning and Ichiro ROBBED Scott Hatteberg of a homerun and an out after that, Miguel Tejada doubled but they don't score him.

Ichiro Robs Hatteberg

A/P Photo

So then with 1 out, Carlos Guillen singled and then Bret walked and then John Olerud walked and I'm a bit alarmed at Edgar's absence at this point, I know it's not supposed to be serious soreness in his leg but still, and then Mike Cameron hit a sac fly and Carlos totally took out the catcher Ramon Hernandez to score and we take a 1-0 lead and then Randy Winn walked but we're done scoring for the moment.

Carlos Scores!

A/P Photo

So fifth inning and with 1 out, Billy McMillon walked, but Ellis grounded into a double play to erase it and then with 1 out, Jeff Cirillo walked, and then Bret walked and then Ole singled which scored Carlos and Cirillo and it's 3-0 as we head to the sixth.

So Oakland's down in order, and Randy "I'm Goin Yard!" Winn GOES YARD to give us a 4-0 lead before we head to the seventh where the A's waste a 1-out walk to Tejada and then Jim Mecir relieved Zito and with 1 out, Carlos walked and then Bret walked and then Mike Neu relieved Mecir and Ole ripped a big nasty double which scored both Carlos and Bret and then Cammie walked but we settle for the 2 runs and lead it 6-0 as we head to the eighth.

So Oakland's down in order and Dan Wilson led off with a single but Cirillo hit into a double play and then Ichiro ripped a big nasty double but we aren't able to score him and off we go to the ninth where Ryan finished off his complete game shut-out as he gave up only a harmless 1-out single to Scott Hatteberg that he actually came close to catching and we take game 1 of the series 6-0 and take a 5 game lead in the West!