.

GAMEFLOW

As in Game 1, the M's came out as though they were the ballclub with the $20M players and the four All-Stars.  In the first inning they didn't score, but Segura whistled a single up the middle and then Robby stood up there twitching the bat menacingly before flying out hard.  K-Pax was firing seeds, fanned two A's swinging and it looked like the overmatch it's supposed to be.

In the 2nd, the M's drew blood when Span walked, Healy ripped one into CF and then Gamel launched a 400-foot* double out to right-center-field.  2-0 M's.

The pesky rodent A's somehow managed to scrounge a run back based on some kind of pesky rodent baserunner who went to 1B on a strikeout - wild pitch and then came around to score.  Bah humbug.  2-1.

But the M's bit back right away in the third, hard, with three runs:  a Cano single, a Cruz walk, a hard Span hit up the middle, a Healy hit, and a Seager double* off the wall ?! that was scored a missed catch error by the 2B on the throw back in.  The rodent A's had three such plays in the inning, outfielders bobbling balls and the like, but somehow totalled only 2 errors for the entire game.

Lou Piniella used to say his favorite strategy was to "get ahead and then play for one run at a time" and the M's, up 5-1, added to their lead in Sweet Lou fashion, driving it to 6-1 in the 4th and then 8-1 in the 5th.

.

.

.

.

They cruised from there until

.

.

.

.

.... goofy circumstances -- including a ball hit off a base -- got to Alex Colome in the 8th.  Before it was over with, Edwin Diaz needed a 5-hitter save and the final score looked like it had been a ballgame.  Well, it was during the 9th -- when, unfortunately for the A's, Edwin Diaz was pitching.

The M's remained a perfect 65-0 when leading after 9, which Bill James once compared to, suppose you had a racehorse who was 15-49 but 11-1 when leading ten yards from the wire.  So what?

So nothing, but I can't wait for the M's to get back to their Twin Closers routine, I can tell you that.

.

SCHEDULE

So, if the hopefully-rejuvenated Felix can poach us one last win then we're within a series (-3.5) and get a breather against the 40-96 Orioles, followed by the (Astros) Padres and Angels.  Time to make hay, but it starts with you, Felix.

BABVA,

Dr D

........

PS the plan is still to add a post or two on D-O-V.  Health rampin' back up and is just now towards normal gauge.  Thanks for the patience amigos.