Game #74: A's 4, Giants 3

June 22, 2006 | A's @ San Francisco

Ahhh yes... another Bay Bridge Series... another chance to kick Giant ass!

Thanks to Nick Swisher who hits a game-winning, run-scoring triple in the top of the 9th.

Thanks also to some of my other favorite players: Kendall, Kotsay, Kielty. Their at-bats in the 9th laid the groundwork for this amazing comeback. Though I guess I should also thank Giants closer Armando Benitez for his blown save/this victory. Snicker!

Jason Schmidt pitched better and an inning longer than Joe Blanton. But through seven innings, the score was tied 2-2.

Surprisingly — for me, at least — Barry Bonds steals a base in the 8th, then Pedro Feliz hits to center and Bonds scores the tie-breaking run.


There was so much talk from both the A's and Giants announcers about how much weaker Bonds is playing defense, how he has to be careful about his surgically repaired knee, etc. I didn't expect Bonds to steal. In fact, when I saw Gaudin throw to first to keep Bonds honest, I thought, "Oh, don't worry about it, Chad."

So when Bonds productively stole a base, well... I was reminded that he is a great baseball player, not just someone who, in his career, hits three home runs every 12.1 at-bats [Baseball-Reference.com].

Also:

• Antonio Perez, who entered the game 2-for-40, gets a hit off Schmidt! Turns out Perez is a fastball hitter. I've been harsh on Perez. I still expect to see something good come out of him, but for now I'm feeling sorry that he's struggling so much.
• Bonds gets the first run of the game when Blanton gives up a base on balls with the bases loaded.
• Both teams play this game wearing throwback 1982 uniforms. In 1982 I was barely aware of baseball as a sport.

(Game experience: 1/3 KYCY 1550 AM, 1/3 KTVU Fox Channel 2, 1/3 FSN BA)

A's record: 40-33 | streak: W-2 | well-A-meter: 3