Game #52: A's 4, Royals 6
May 29, 2006 | A's vs. Kansas City
Dan Haren had nine sexy strikeouts in 6.2 IP and threw a career-high 122 pitches. Tonight's loss brings him to a 4-5 record for the season. And yet I get excited when I see him on the mound. He's got the stuff to be another ace for the A's. When I see that he's going to start, I feel like we're going to win.
- Two errors tonight (the Payton bobble and Crosby missed a ground ball). I think our A's are tired. The guys have played 14 games in a row, half of them were on the road, and they went 5-9 in that stretch. Their last off day was May 15. They don't get another off day till Monday next week, but only after they complete a four-game series against the Twins.
- Nick Swisher hit home run #15! It was only enough to narrow the Royals' lead in the 8th, but I'm still happy for Swish. I really want him to have a great season. Moments after each HR he hits in the Coliseum, the TV cameras show him sitting quietly at the end of the bench next to the players' helmets. I think he was "banished" to that corner for being too loud and brash as a rookie.
- Seth Etherton, who used to be with the A's, started and won tonight for the Royals. I think of him as Setherton.
- Ambiorix Burgos, the Royals' closer, owns one of my favorite baseball names this year. Consequently, when the Royals defeated the A's tonight, I felt good for Ambiorix. The Royals are on pace to have their worst season record in franchise history unless — as RHP Scott Elarton said last week — the Royals care enough to do something to prevent this. Tonight they won this game fair and square. Kudos.
Two more games in the series. Two more days till June.
Links:
• My favorite Haren start in '06 was his first complete game this season. [Game #38]
• Another favorite was the last time Haren won. [Game #42]
• "Get beat with some pride" and other Scott Elarton quotes from May 22 [Kansas.com]
(Game experience: Caught a couple of innings on FSN, and the bottom of the 9th on KYCY.)
A's record: 23-28 | streak: L-2 | well-A-meter: 2
posted by blank book at 9:42 PM
3 Comments:
Haren threw a strikeout pitch in the 6th inning that was either A) a palm ball a la Elroy Face or B) a spitter (and no, I didn't leave out the L). It moved way differently than his other pitches. I had one eye on the A's and one eye on the NBA, so I'm not sure what he threw, but it sure was effective.
My favorite baseball name right now is Mets' prospect Lastings Milledge, but good ol' Ambiorix is right up there.
Lastings Milledge is classy but for pure comedic value I go with Boof Bonser.
Bonser an ex-Giant who was traded along with Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano to the Twins for one season of, Mr. Personality, AJ Pierzynski.
Vladimir Guerrero's name confounded me for a while, but I'm used to it now.
Tonight I just learned of the existence of Florida Marlins 2B Dan Uggla. That's quite a name to put on the back of a jersey.
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