SECTION 331

Because he was the only thing preventing me from turning off the TV today. I’ve been having more insomniac issues lately, and actually fell asleep on the couch for about 45 minutes prior to game time, so I didn’t have the wherewithal to jump up and start taking notes right at the offset; but I did want to see Wash pitch – and no, I never thought I’d say that.

We managed to get several men on base in the first (and consequently two runs in) on a Mike Sweeney double. Russell Branyan also had a nice outfield hit, and Sweeney could have scored if it wasn’t for the fact that he barrel-rolled coming around third, possibly due to an injury suffered while sliding into second. I’m not sure exactly how he did it -it wasn’t on the cameras when it happened, and the replay didn’t show the entire move- but he got up dirty and looked like he was experiencing some pain. I expect there will be some sort of announcement about him being out for a few days: and sure enough, Griffey eventually came into the DH position to replace him. Jarrod Washburn was also dealing with a bad knee, not pitching his absolute best, and wincing a lot – but he still managed to keep the A’s scoreless! I’ve decided that I love watching Wash pitch to Giambi, since he seems to school the man every time he comes to bat, and anyone who can make Giambi take a seat gets five thumbs up from me.

In the top of the 5th, it was announced that Jeff Clement has been burning it up as DH in Tacoma; a 13-game hitting streak, with a .448 BA. WOW. They have mentioned recently that they still want Clement to catch, but it sounds to me like he may have found his calling! I wound up phoning my mother for a bit, but while I was chatting, Franklin Gutierrez got a single to right field on a pretty bad juggling attempt by the Oakland outfield, and then wound up out at second. Not for nothing, though, as Ichiro got on base, then Yuni hit a single to send Ichiro to 3rd, and there was a run scored in there somewhere. Hey, it’d be boring if I kept perfect track of everything all the time, wouldn’t it? All I cared about at that point was that we kept the A’s from scoring, but I should have known hat would change soon enough.

Wash was pulled in the 7th in favor of Miguel Batista, who blew Washburn’s shut-out to bring the score to 3-1 with one out and two on. Someone on Brock & Salk today was talking about how Jakabauskus should be pulled in favor of Batista, and I have to wonder if that person has been paying any attention to what happens 80% of the time that Batista is on a pitching mound. For every decent outing he has, there seem to be at least three bad ones to counter that. Facing Kurt Suzuki with two on, Miggy took it to a full count, and then loaded the bases before having to throw to Jack Cust. With one out. Wakamatsu had seen enough, and took the ball away from a dejected-looking Batista, while Mark Lowe ran out to the field. Lowe threw to Cust who hit a shallow pop to center, and Gutierrez had to run for his life to get the out. Bases still loaded, and Matt Holliday up, Lowe took the count 3-0, and then walked in a run, with Giambi up; and unlike Wash, Lowe is no threat to Giambi; and he wasn’t, Giambi base hit up the middle, driving two runs in to send the score 3-4 in Oakland’s favor. This team has been using Lowe like they used Green last year, and I don’t think I like it very much, it really bothers me. Lowe looks a little tired, and I really wish Corky and Kelley would feel better soon and come back to give him a break. While I know that Kelley probably won’t come back any time soon, Corcoran at least threw a simulated game recently, and may be working his way up to rehab in the near future.

With two outs in the 8th (Griffey and Branyan), Santiago Casilla came in to throw for the A’s; the last out was easy. Lowe stayed into the 8th, and there was an out at first, another nice long fly for Gutz, and another for Balentien off the bat of Jack Hannahan. Andrew Bailey came into the 9th to go up against a very determined-looking Wladimir Balentien. Not determined enough, Baily struck him out swinging. Working quickly, Bailey took out Rob Johnson as well. Gutierrez put up a bit of a fight, but did not run fast enough to make first base, game over.

Batista collected the loss. 3-4, Oakland.

If we get swept with Bedard on the mound tomorrow before having to go to Los Angeles…I just don’t know…It’s time for bed. Losing makes me tired.