Game #150: A's 7, Indians 3

September 19, 2006 | A's vs. Cleveland

I saw Bobby Kielty's first career grand slam!

I went to the game with Lucija, Samir, and their houseguest. Many thanks to Samir for these tickets. They're great seats — nice view of the A's bullpen mound. (Above is a photo from later in the game when Huston Street warmed up

As we settle down for the first pitch with our ultimate nachos, Lucija happens to mention that she's a jinx. "I've been to four games and the A's lost," she said. I told her, "Don't worry. I'm here." Then at the top of the 1st inning, Saarloos gives up a run. After three innings, the Indians are ahead, 2-0. Hmm...

I wasn't keeping score and Lucija and I had a lot of catching up to do, but I noticed that the Indians would get on base often. However, Saarloos would work his way out of it. Usually with a strikeout. By the end of five innings, Saarloos would rack up 11 strikeouts.

(The only other A's pitcher to strikeout 10 or more batters in five innings or less is Tim Hudson. Huddy did it during his June 8, 1999 major league debut in San Diego. I heard this on the post-game radio show.)

Bottom of the 4th and Lucija mentions she needs to get up from her seat. "But let me wait for Frank Thomas's at-bat," she says. Thomas strikes out. "I'm the reason," Lucija says. Then Payton pops out. "Um, why don't you go to the restroom now?" I say to her. She leaves.

Then Chavy comes up to bat and crushes the ball over the center field wall. The crowd cheers loudly. Samir and I high-five. He says, "Lucija's not here!" over and over. I laugh hysterically. Then I look at the aisle and see Lucija doubling back to see what's the commotion. "Get out of here!" I yell, but lovingly. She goes to the restroom. We welcome her back afterwards, wondering if the A's will do better or worse.

Saarloos continues to give up hits to the Indians, but gets himself out of jams with those strikeouts. Meanwhile, Cleveland starter Cliff Lee keeps the A's from doing any damage. Until the bottom of the 6th. The Big Hurt walks and Payton singles. With one out, Swisher goes to a full count then gets hit by a pitch. Bobby Kielty comes up.

Lee throws the first pitch of the at-bat and Kielty kills it. The ball flies over the left center wall. I can't see where it lands because we all stand up to go nuts. It's a grand slam. The crowd refuses to cease clapping and shouting until Kielty is forced out of the dugout for a curtain call.

At the top of the 7th, when Kielty goes to position in left field, the Left Field Bleacher fans — they of the crazy signs and large flags — goad him into tipping his cap to them. All of us in left field give Kielty another round of hearty applause.

(A's fans are getting all New York with these standing ovations and demands for curtain calls this season.)

The score is now 5-2, A's and everyone breathes easier. "We're gonna win this game," I say confidently. I'd been saying that since this morning, but I hadn't said it since just before the first pitch.

"You're released," Samir says to Lucija. She says, "My jinx is over!"

To assure her, Nick Swisher hits a two-run homerun in the bottom of the 8th.

• For the first few innings of the game, the A's seemed rather lethargic. At one point, three players converge to catch a fly ball, but it drops to the grass in the middle of them. Instead of saying, "Mine!" maybe they each said, "Yours!" Even the infielders, particularly Chavy seemed content to let groundballs and foul pop-ups to get by. Hmm. The A's don't get an off day until the end of the season, 12 games away.

• The tattoo on Swisher's elbow is NOT real. He announced this on Robert Buan's Extra Innings show tonight. Apparently Swish went to a henna shop at Busch Gardens and got the black widow design to spook Chad Gaudin.

At last Friday's game, Tanner Boyle and I noticed the "tattoo." I tried to take a picture of it, but this was the best I could do. Click on it for a larger image.

• I saw SteveO outside the Coliseum while waiting to meet Lucija. Yes, SteveO recently became a father, but the got the chance to attend tonight's game while the wife and li'l O visit the grandparents.

• No. 19 calls my cell. She's at the game and only two sections over. "Stand up!" I say with the phone to my ear and she rebuts, "I WILL NOT STAND UP!" As Huston Street gets the last out, I spot No. 19. We meet afterwards and she and Lucija get to catch up. Gee, I should've corralled SteveO for this mini-reunion...


(Game experience: My ticket says Sec 128 Row 13 Seat 7, but I was actually sitting on Seat 5 with Lulu to my right.)



A's record: 87-63 | streak: W-1 | magic number: 6 | well-A-meter: 5.00
number of cars stolen from me this game: 0