Game #73: A's 3, Rockies 2

June 21, 2006 | A's @ Colorado

Nick Swisher carries the team...
Swisher goes deep twice and scores the other run in extra innings. He scored on a single to left fielder after a Johnny Damon-esque lollipop throw from left. Thank you, Matt Holliday.

I cringed when Chavez made a half-hearted attempt to run over the catcher on the next play. I had Jermaine Dye flashbacks — never a good thing for an A's fan.

The good news is that Swisher can carry the team. The bad news is that he has to.

Head for the Rockies...
Three runs in three games in Coors just seems unbelievable, in spite of the Rockies' attempt to counteract the thin, dry air of Denver.

As they are moistening the balls in the humidor, they are also getting better pitching. Last year Coors Field added 28.5% more runs (1st in MLB) to games played in Denver. This year Coors is adding not quite 4% to the scoring (10th in MLB). Park Factors Explained

Barry Zito does good work...
One earned run over 7 IP. Too many walks: 4. But this is one of the dangers of Coors — pitchers tightening up and trying to be too cute with their control. They end up walking more batters than normal and the hits they are giving up are finding gaps or seats.

Zito has now lasted 6 innings or more in this last 15 starts. His one true disaster was the first game against the Yankees, other than that he has been great.

First place...
In spite of our little scoring drought we are one game ahead of Texas and playing the Giants in AT&T Park starting Friday. The pitching matchups aren't fabulous for us and I am curious to see which version of Loaiza shows up.


(Game experience: TV)

A's record: 39-33 | streak: W-1