Game #39: A's 12, Mariners 6

May 16, 2006 | A's vs. Seattle

Blowout victory against the Seattle Mariners made even more enjoyable by being there in person with No. 19. I scored the game which means I hardly remember anything about this game. What I can recall:

• I had the pulled pork sandwich with barbecue sauce and a chocolate malt.
• At the 8th inning a group of teens the next section over were asked to leave the Coliseum by three security guards. Someone had complained about their use of profanity.
• No. 19 was captivated by the scoreboard showing the Rangers-Yankees game which New York eventually won, 14-13.
• Yeah, of course I noted the stuff that matters! Adam Melhuse's grand slam (second of his career). Nick Swisher's home run (his thirteenth of the season). Jay Payton's thrilling triple. Kendall had two singles and three RBI.
• Perhaps our vantage point enhanced the view, but those line drives and home runs looked absolutely beautiful. And didn't it seem like every A's hit rolled through a gap in center field or was just missed by the feet or hands of a Mariner?
• Mariners starter and phenom "King" Felix Hernandez was left in the game longer than No. 19 thought he should be. Turns out this is Felix's second shortest outing as an MLB starter and half of the 10 runs he gave up were unearned. I wondered if he was being punished. Or was he being allowed to learn what it's like when he can't get himself out of a jam?
• The Mariners' right fielder Ichiro was 2 for 3 with an RBI. He caught a Kotsay fly ball in the 5th inning, otherwise he seemed pretty low-key.
• Seattle first baseman Richie Sexson was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, but I find him so... likable. Well, we don't want him to do any damage against the A's, right? So no harm in my liking him.
• For a third of an inning or so, I thought it might be possible for Joe Blanton to throw a complete game like Dan Haren did Sunday. But 83 pitches in seven innings with only seven hits, two earned runs, and no walks is plenty good. When Kiko Calero was brought in for the 8th inning, but had trouble getting that third out, someone in the stands yelled, "Where's Joe?"
• For the top of the 9th inning, the ball was given to RHP Steve Karsay who was acquired by the A's from the Cleveland Indians last Saturday. He's been with the Athletics twice before, so he's an old new old new guy at age 34.

(Game experience: Went to the Coliseum with No. 19 and sat at field level along the third base line. My seat was at Sec. 123 Row 22 Seat 14. Finally No. 19 got to attend an Athletics win this season. The jinx is broken!)

A's record: 19-19 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 3