Athletics Shut Out the Mariners

A Great Day for Baseball
By Annie Rivera

On this the last Saturday of April, the Athletics beat the heat and while they were at it, beat the Mariners in a shut out game.

Having gone to the batting cages just hours before the game, the Athletics brought their same drive and energy into today's game.

Starting pitcher Uriel Garcia went 3 2/3 innings before closer pitcher Christopher Rivera came in for the save. The win was credited to Garcia.

The streak began in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Lead-off hitter Gabriel Garcia on a 2-0 pitch hit a shot that dropped in to left field for a base-hit. On two wild pitches G. Garcia took 2nd and 3rd. With 1 out and a runner in scoring position, Rivera on the first pitch hit a strong line drive over center field for his 6th homerun of the season (2nd in the 2nd half) for 2 RBI's. Colton Burrows later came up with a line shot to right field for a 2B but would be stranded on a grounder to the pitcher by U. Garcia for the 3rd out of the inning. The score was 2-0 Athletics.

Jesse Moreno lead off with a BB in the bottom of the 4th inning and was later knocked in with an RBI reached-on-error to 1st base by Bryce Gibson. By the end of the 4th inning the score was 3-0 Athletics.

The final score came in the bottom of the 5th inning as lead off hitter Rivera doubled to center field; followed by a single by Terrazas and an RBI single by Burrows. The final score was 4-0 Athletics.

Pitching:

Uriel Garcia: 2-H, 0-BB, 0-Runs, 3-K, 2-E, IP-3 2/3, PC-46
Christopher Rivera: 0-H, 0-BB, 0-Runs, 8-K, E-0, 1-HB, 1-WP, IP-2 1/3, PC-36


Contributors:

Rivera: 2-3; HR-1, 2B-1, RBI-2, Runs-2
Terrazas: 1-3; 1B-1, ROE-1
Burrows: 2-3; 1B-1, 2B-1, RBI
Moreno: 0-2; BB, Run
Gibson: 0-2; ROE-1, RBI
G. Garcia: 1-1, 1B-1, Run
U. Garcia: 0-2; BB

Box Scores:

WP: Uriel Garcia



Athletics HR: C. Rivera (6)

Next Game: Monday, April 30, 2007 vs Angels @ 5 p.m.

(Editors note: CONGRATULATIONS TO GABRIEL GARCIA FOR YOUR FIRST HIT! Hooray to Uriel, Colton and Christopher who all had hair cuts!)

A's Lose to the Yankees

Fuh-get About It
By Annie Rivera

Not much can be said about Wednesday's game against the Yankees.

Yankees jumped ahead early with a run scored in the 1st inning. Yankees scored two more runs in the 3rd inning. The A's battled back in the bottom of the 3rd inning and worked a BB to Christopher Rivera. Isaiah Terrazas hit his second dinger of the 2nd half over center field to drive in 2 RBI's keeping the game close at 2-3 (sensing a theme here? The #2?). Those two runs would be all the A's could muster the entire game.

Afterwards it was a hit fest as the Yankees scored 13 more runs off of Terrazas, Uriel Garcia, Colton Burrows and Tommy Arreola combined. The game ended with a score of 2-16.

Contributors:

Rivera: 0-0; 2-BB, 1-HBP, 1-SB, 1 Run
Terrazas: 2-3; 2-RBI
Burrows: 1-3; 1-ROE

Pitching:

Terrazas: H-4. BB-4, HB-1, K-6, E-3, R-5, ER-1, IP-3 1/3, PC-84
U. Garcia: H-1, E-1, R-1, ER-0, IP-2 1/3, PC-10
Burrows: H-1, BB-2, E-1, R-3, ER-1, IP-1 1/3, PC-18
Arreola: H-4, BB-2, K-1, E-6, R-7, ER-4, IP-1 2/3, PC-37

Box Scores:


A's HR: I. Terrazas (2)
Yankees HR: J. Ray

(See complete stats).

Next game: April 28, 2007 vs Ct. Mariners @ 4 p.m. at BPALL

A-mazing! A's Step It Up

Hit-Parade

The Athletics combined offense and defense to win against the Red Sox with superb pitching, great defensive plays, and hard hits.

It took Isaiah Terrazas' single and Uriel Garcia's RBI single in the first inning to score Christopher Rivera. The Red Sox scored their only run in the first inning with almost an identical scenario as the A's. The score was tied 1-1. The score remained tie throughout most of the game.

It was a hit-parade in the 2nd, 3rd. 4th, and 5th innings with mostly ground balls hit to the Red Sox' 3rd baseline for put-outs at 1st. Another big hit came in the 5th inning when Bryce Gibson connected for a high fly ball to right center which hit the outfield fence on one bounce for a near ground-rule double. Hustling around 1st base Gibson would wound up with a 2B. In to pinch-run for Gibson was Tyler Osborne who got caught stealing 3rd to end the inning.

In the 6th inning the Athletics were fired up with a walk from lead-off hitter Rivera and Terrazas' base-hit. With runners in scoring position, Colton Burrows connected for a line drive to right center for his second career and season-high 3 RBI homerun. Following suit, U. Garcia and Osborne both singled. A sac-bunt produced an unassisted play at 3rd base for the force-out and Miguel Bansil's hard liner to right field was caught by a Red Sox rightfielder to end the inning. The score was Athletics 4, Red Sox 1.

On the defense, a web-gem play was made by Burrows as he extended to grab a high infield fly ball over his left shoulder at first base robbing the Red Sox from a base-hit for the 1st out in the 4th inning; followed by 2 straight K's to end the inning. Another web-gem play was in the 6th inning. With Burrows on the mound on his way to his first season save, a Red Sox hard-liner was hit to 2nd baseman Jesse Moreno who with ease and confidence tracked the ball into his glove for the 2nd out of the inning. Ending with only 5 pitches, Burrows closed the inning with a K. The final score was Athletics 4, Red Sox 1.

Contributors:
Rivera: 0-2; BB, 2 Runs
Terrazas: 1-3; 1B, Run
Burrows: 1-3; HR, 3 RBI, Run
U. Garcia: 2-3; 2-1B, SB, RBI
Osborne: 1-1; 1B
Gibson: 1-2; 2B



Pitching:
Rivera: 2-H, K-11, BB-2, E-2, IP-5 2/3, PC-85
Burrows: K-1, IP-2/3, PC-5


Box Scores:

(See full revised stats)

A's HR: Burrows (2).

Next game: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 vs Yankees @ 5 p.m.

Athletics Had the Dodgers Singing the Blues

Coming off an upset game Thursday against the Angels losing 2-3, the Athletics had their game faces on with only one thing in mind - WIN.

Perhaps the team's batting practice at the cages were partly responsible for their multiple hits today?

Neither of the teams scored in the 1st and 2nd innings. The Dodgers' bats came alive in the 3rd inning leading off with a double, a strike-out and a single which scored a run. After another base-hit, starting pitcher Isaiah Terrazas struck out the next batter for the 2nd out followed by a grounder to first for the 3rd out.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, after the second of three Intentional Walks to Christopher Rivera, Terrazas came up with a big double to score Rivera, followed by Colton Burrows with a base-hit. Next came a strike-out, a batter hit-by-pitch and a ground-out that stranded Burrows at 3rd after 2 stolen bases. After three complete innings the score was now Athletics 2, Dodgers 1.

Both teams were scoreless in the 4th inning.

In the top of the 5th inning, Terrazas struggled with control before he was relieved by Rivera. With Rivera on the mound, who also struggled with his control caused a run to score on a wild pitch. He later composed himself; ended the inning with a walk and 2 strike outs. The score was now tied at 2-2.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, lead-off batter Rivera had his third consecutive Intentional Walk of the game. Terrazas popped up to the Dodgers' short stop. Burrows singled to right field to score Rivera. The big hit of the game came from Bryce Gibson, whose bat came alive in his only at-bat with a line drive single to right field. On a steal attempt from 3rd Burrows was called out at the plate for the 2nd out of the inning. Jesse Moreno laid down a perfect bunt which scored Gibson and Moreno was safe at 1st. The inning ended with Jared Hanko with a grounder to short for the 3rd out.

Rivera ended the 6th inning striking out the first batter, and an errant call "hit-by-pitch" on the second batter, but came back strong striking out the next two batters for outs number 2 and 3.

The game ended with a final score Athletics 4, Dodgers 2.

Contributors:

Rivera: 3-IW, SB, 2 Runs
Terrazas: 1-3, 2B, RBI, 2-SB, Run
Burrows: 2-3, 2-1B, Sac Bunt, RBI
Gibson: 1-1, Run
U. Garcia: 1-2, 2-SB, HBP
Moreno: 1-2, BB, RBI
Osborne: 0-3, Sac

Pitching:

(SP) Terrazas: H-4, BB-1, K-7, E-3, ER-1, Run(s)-1, IP-5 2/3, PC-65
(WP) Rivera: H-0, BB-2, K-5, E-0, ER-0, Run(s)-1, IP-1 1/3, PC-23, HBP-1, WP-1

Box Scores:

To view complete stats for the game and for the season, please click here or see the side bar panel under "2nd Half Stats."

Next game: Monday, April 23, 2007 vs. the Red Sox.

My Heart Goes Out to Virginia Tech

A Moment of Silence

Tonight I reflect on the images we have all seen in the past 24 hours about a senseless act which took place on a university campus thousands of miles away. While although we are not in close proximity of the location where this horrific massacre and great loss of life occured, we are in touch with those who have felt the greatest sorrows and pains; we are a in touch with the human spirit.

Our own sense of security was breached by a lone sole who regarded life so carelessly and etched April 16, 2007 in our memory forever.

Helpless I sit and wonder what could have been; what should have been; and what might have been. Hopeful I stand and offer my prayers.

Whispering the words through the silence of the night; loudly I speak the cries of many. Guard one another from harm's way. Be watchful and mindful of your loved ones. As precious as life is, how quickly it is taken from us.

The A's Dealt the Cards a Losing Hand

By Annie Rivera

Going into Saturday's game against the Cardinals, the A's knew it was going to be intense. It always is.

Scoreless the first two innings, it was a pitching duel.

Lead-off hitter, Christopher Rivera took a 2-0 inside low pitch which brought him down clutching his left knee in pain. A's fans held their collective breaths and worry came upon them when Rivera limped off to first base favoring his injurred knee. Rivera later got tagged on his steal-attempt to second.

A rare sighting, Rivera played first base and Jesse Moreno covered short for two innings.

The Cards took an early jump in the 3rd inning and led 1-0.

Rivera was intentionally walked twice in the 3rd and 4th innings.

Tempers flared in both dugouts and both stands causing the umpires to intervene.

The Cardinals were in celebration mode - until the 6th inning.

Playing smart baseball, Gabriel Garcia, Colton Burrows and Jared Hanko worked the count for 3 straight walks loading the bases. Following were Uriel Garcia and Bryce Gibson with back-to-back strikeouts boosting the Cards' pitcher's confidence. Two outs, bases loaded Tommy Arreola and Justin Hanko showed great plate discipline also working the count for 2 more walks - forcing 2 runs to score (1 RBI each). With the bases loaded, 2 outs, top of the line up Rivera came up to bat and the Cards changed pitchers. With a count of 2-2, Rivera swung at an inside high pitch for a strike-out, ending the inning. He's human after all.

Knotted at 2-2, the game went into extra innings. Rivera took the mound. Rivera struck out 9 batters, giving up only hit.

Top of the 8th inning, Morena and Arreola worked the count for 2 more walks. With runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out, (almost a de ja vue) Rivera faced the same pitcher who in the 6th inning got him swinging at a bad pitch for the 3rd out, with determination in his eyes, in dramatic fashion, took a 2-2 breaking ball pitch and hit a strong line drive to left field for a home run. Three runs scored.

Rivera closed out the 8th inning with 3 K's to win the game 5-2.

Pitchers:
Terrazas (SP) - IP 5, K 11, BB 2, H 5 PC 85
Rivera (WP) - IP 3, K 9, BB 0, H 1, PC 43

BPALL A's HR - C. Rivera (5)

(Stats are available by clicking here or see the STATS section in the side panel).

Next practice: Monday, April 16, 2007 5 p.m. @ San Marino


Next game: Thursday, April 19, 2007 5 p.m. vs Angels @ BPALL

A's Get A Good Work Out

Rarely taking their own home field for practice, the A's put in a good work out.

All Work and Some Play

Wednesday's practice combined hard work and some play. Parents...you would've been proud of your boys. They really had fun.