Game #136: A's 10, Orioles 1 updated with photos!

September 3, 2006 | A's vs. Baltimore

Today was Build-A-Bear Giveaway Day. Unfortunately you have to be 14 years old or under to receive a bear. I thought of borrowing one of Dr. Dan's daughters (and even discussed it briefly with him), but that's simply unrealistic.

• The A's scored nine of their 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning. I settled into my seat just in time for Dan Johnson's grand slam. This is the second of his young career and came at his first at-bat since he was brought back from the minors. It was the first pitch!


• I hate being late for games and today's crazy 1st inning is only one reason why. I was still eating my sandwich and cradling my radio on my lap. Usually I like to get food and settling in business out of the way, before the first pitch. When that doesn't happen, I feel like six-time hotdog-eating champion Takeru Kobayashi.

• Orioles starter Hayden Penn faced the entire A's line-up and started again from the top. The A's scored seven times already when Russ Ortiz relieved Penn. No change to the O's fortunes as Ortiz gives up a two-run HR to Mark Ellis. Ellis has been sizzling lately!

• The 10th run of the game came from Eric Chavez in the 4th. Like everyone else, I was pleased to see the A's continue to compete in this game despite the huge lead. More than just an opportunity to pump up one's stats, it was time to show fans that this team is serious, focused, and determined. Likewise, I didn't leave the game until the last out was recorded.

• Most of the excitement took place in the 1st, so by the 6th inning I actually nod off for a little bit!

• I've nothing but words of praise for Adam Melhuse. An effective and exciting pinch hitter, he doubled in his only at-bat.



• Today will also be noted as Jeremy Brown's major league debut. He came in as DH in the 8th, but flied out. I've seen Jeremy Brown at the Coliseum before, but this is his first at-bat in the majors.

• Antonio Perez confounds me. His BA is not even in triple decimal digits. Today he doubled in the 8th and I cheered for him loudly, sincerely, and purely without irony.

• FOUR double plays in this game! If I understood correctly, that means the A's have tunred 149 (?) DPs this season. The most exciting one today turned a the top of the 5th with runners on first and third to end the inning. The game ended with a DP, too.

• Once again, I'm giddy that the A's win at hme and don't have to play the bottom of the 9th. There's something beautiful about that X in the scoreboard.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
BAL (61 - 75)	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	8	0		Final
OAK (79 - 57)	9	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	X		10	16	0

• When did everyone start calling Esteban Loaiza "E. Lo"? What a horrible nickname! I won't stand for it!

• By popular request, the well-A-meter goes decimal this month of September. The A's are dominating and I'm so confident in them, I haven't needed to lower it from 5.00 since we reached this level last week. And, yes, 5.00 is the highest the well-A-meter goes.


(Game experience: Sec 203 Row 10 Seat 2)

A's record: 79-57 | streak: W-1 | well-A-meter: 5.00