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Liam Hendricks recorded his fifth consecutive scoreless "open", but this time the relievers were not up to snuff and the A's lost 9-7 to the Angels. Mike Trout hit his 35th home run, but the big blow was a grand slam by Kaleb Cowart, his first home run of the year, a feat which pushed his slashline to .143/.241/.273.
The Yankees, Astros and Rays all won, so Oakland is now five games behind Houston for the division, 2.5 games behind NY for the # 1 wild card, and 5.5 games ahead of the hard charging Rays for the # 2 wild card. Oakland's magic number on Saturday morning was 7, and three games later it is still 7.
After three days of wheel spinning, the A's finally reduced their magic number from 7 to 6 with a 10-0 stomping of the Angels. It was a night of stomping, the Yankees mashed Boston, the Rays crushed the Rangers and the Mariners mauled the Astros.
So...A's gain a game on Houston and are 4 games back for the division, they remain 2.5 games behind NY for the # 1 wild card and 5.5 games ahead of the Rays for the second wild card.
As though trying to make up for their three game slide, for the second day in a row the A's stomped on the Angels like Godzilla does to Tokyo. 10-0 last night, today in the sunshine it was 21-3, Oakland enjoying a five run inning, a seven run inning and a six run inning. After losing by a total of three runs in their previous two games, the A's have won the next two 31-3.
Today, Francisco Arcia, a rookie catcher for LA, was called upon to pitch the final two innings. He gave up three runs on four hits, but got one of them back by hitting a home run in the 9th. I wonder if a position player taking the mound, has ever homered in support of himself before?
This reduces Oakland's magic number to five for the second wild card spot. It could drop to four depending upon the outcome of the Blue Jays - Rays game which is in progress as I type. (Jays lead 2-0 in the 3rd)
Khris Davis hit home runs 44 and 45 tonight, the second one a walk off game winner in the 9th. It gave the A's a 7-6 win over the Twins, reducing their magic number to three. Davis has now increased his home run total every year of his career.
New York, Houston and Tampa Bay all won, so there is no change in the standings.
Tampa Bay has lost 5-3 to Toronto, so the A's go into play tonight with a magic number of 2. This means that they could clinch tomorrow in their final home game of the season, either by beating the Twins tonight and Sunday, or winning one of those two while the Rays lose again tomorrow.
The A's won on a ninth inning walk off wild pitch, 3-2 over the Twins, so the magic number is now down to one. This is happening fast, on the 19th it was 7 games.
So the A's could clinch at home tomorrow by completing a sweep of Minnesota, or they could take the field with a post season spot already clinched if the Rays lose to Toronto. Those two start at 10 am Pacific time, and should be ending about 1pm when the A's game commences.
New York and Houston both won, so the A's remain 3.5 behind Houston for the division, and 1.5 behind the Yankees for the # 1 wild card.
The Twins refused to co-operate in giving the A's a going away party, sticking them with the wrong end of a 5-1 score.
Houston won, and they are 4.5 games up for the division with a magic number of three to clinch. The Yankees lost, so the A's are still 1.5 games behind for the first wild card.
The A's are on the road for the remainder, three in Seattle starting tomorrow, a day off Thursday, and three in Anaheim against the Angels. The Rays would need to win all of their remaining seven games while Oakland lost all of its final six to displace the A's.
4-2 in the final 6 regular season games at the Coliseum losing the bookend games of the homestand (the opener of the Angels series, and the final game of the Twins series) but winning the other 4, so winning 2/3 in both series. Still 1.5 behind the Yankees, but the Astros seem to have put some distance as they are 4.5 up and can't see them blowing that lead so they should start prepping for the Yankees, taking care of business in Seattle & Anaheim, and hope the Rays & Red Sox can cooperate somewhat and get that Wildcard game in Oakland. 3 games in Seattle starting on Monday, and than the final 3 of the season in Anaheim on Friday following a Thursday off day.
One batter into the game tonight, the A's clinched a post season spot as the Yankees beat the Rays 4-1.
All that remains to determine in the AL is the AL West division winner (Houston or Oakland) and which team will be the # 1 wild card. (NY or Oakland)
After spending the last two weeks rooting against the Rays, now I'm all in favor of their walloping the Yankees the next two games.
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