Dateline: Hook Road 1
It was a warm Spring evening with a light breeze and the A’s continued their road trip against the O’s. After a rainout and some missed practices, some commentators thought they might not be sharp. It was not to be the case — the A’s jumped on the O’s starter for a quick three runs as Matthew, Will and Alyssa all scored on some exciting base hits and stolen bases.
The O’s, always known as a tough team (one merely has to note their past victory over the A’s), retaliated swiftly with three quick runs even though A’s starter Alyssa threw a number of great pitches. After 1 it was 3-3. The A’s were held to a run in the second as Pierce and Tommy walked and couple of key wild pitches scored Pierce for the go-ahead run. The O’s were shut down in the second and after 2 it was 4-3 A’s.
In the 3rd, Richard led off with a walk and Will drove a towering shot to right. There was no play at all as Will easily circled the bases for his first in-the-park home run. Drew walked and moved around the bases to score on an exciting wild pitch and the A’s had some breathing room 7-3. The O’s, not to be denied, came back with two more in the bottom of the third and after 3 it was 7-5. Alyssa did a wonderful job and struck out two of the last three O’s she faced.
The 4th and 5th were scoreless as Matthew came on to shut down the O’s and the game moved to the sixth. The A’s were shut down by the O’s closer and so they took the field with a 2 run lead as darkness hovered over the field. Matthew calmly struck out the leadoff batter, but a weak popup fell harmlessly to the ground and the batter reached second on the needless throw to first. A clean single up the middle scored the run and suddenly it was a one run game in the bottom of the sixth. Matthew walked the next batter and after a stolen base the O’s had runners on first and third with one out. A’s faithful held their breaths, but Matthew calmly struck out the next two batters and the A’s had their first win over the O’s this season.
Coach Grossman was available only briefly as he was on his way to the local pharmacy to get his blood pressure evaluated. He said, “These close ones are really exciting. I was on the edge of my seat. Will’s hit was fantastic and our pitchers did a great job. We even looked more alert in the field. I am not happy with our bench behavior (making mud puddles, etc.) so that is why we ran around the whole field after the game. I am sure it will be improved on Thursday.” Coach Goldstein said “…it was a thriller — the O’s are tough…I really like the play Drew made when he tossed the ball to Matthew at home nailing the runner coming from third. …”
