That’s five straight and a series win versus the Orioles.

The game was looking like another blowout, something similar to last night’s 9-1 victory, that was until Bob Geren decided to manage again. With a nine-run cushion heading into the seventh inning and Trevor Cahill (tonight’s starter) at a comfortable 91 pitch mark, Geren chose to make a move to the bullpen because there were men on first and third nobody out. The move back-fired (once again) and Cahill was stuck with two earned runs. Two more scored and the 9-0 lead was now 9-4. What more can be said about Bob Geren. Has this guy ever heard of playing through adversity?

Aside from what I’m calling sabotage, things went well for the A’s tonight. Cahill pitched like a veteran and the offense continued to get runs on the board. However; If I could give out an error to someone tonight it would obviously be Geren, he would inherit three of the four runs scored for his misuse of the bullpen (your welcome Ziegler and Breslow, Bailey your still the man).

Cahill’s night was awesome, two runs (one earned because of manager) on six hits in six-plus innings of work. Cahill (3-5) struck out five and walked none.

The A’s offense pounded out 13 hits tying an Oakland-record with 8 doubles. Jason Giambi drove in three with a two-out bases clearing double down the right-field line. Adam Kennedy and Orlando Cabrera each drove in two apiece, Cabrera had a three-hit night. Kennedy, Matt Holliday and Rajai Davis each had two-hit nights.

Five straight and they’re playing the Orioles again tomorrow boys, only 7 1/2 back of Texas and rolling.

Green and Gold and doubles galore!

That’s what the last few games have been all about, rookie pitching and Brett Anderson is no exception. Anderson went seven shut-out-innings and dominated the White Sox lineup to earn his third victory on the season making it three-straight and the series win for the Athletics. A’s win it 7-0!

The offense was led by Jason Giambi’s second home run in as many days, a three-run home run, a no-doubt-insurance-type two-run home run from Aaron Cunningham (excited about this guy), and Matt Holliday’s 2-4 performance. Also a couple of sac-fly’s form Kurt Suzuki and Orlando Cabrera.

Stellar defense and good pitching, usually equates to wins for the A’s, and it happened again today. Aaron Cunningham made a highlight grab in foul territory in the fourth and Rajai Davis played a sketchy, but solid center-field to back up Anderson’s pitching performance.

Anderson (3-5) looked especially good today, limiting the walks which is what usually got him in trouble earlier in the season. He really pounded righty’s inside, making it difficult for them to square anything up. Anderson went seven, gave up zero runs on six hits and struck out a respectable four.

The impossible bullpen scenario? Bring out Wuertz and Bailey in the eigth and ninth innings respectively, every night. Hey, I can dream.

Go A’s.

With two on, two out in the bottom of the eight inning, the A’s leading three to one, Ian Kinsler drives a pitch from Russ Springer to deep center field and Ryan Sweeney robbed Kinlser of what would of been a game- changing home run.Then in the top half of the ninth, Matt-oh I wish I could hit a home run-Holliday comes up and drives his first long-ball of the season to center field.

The A’s defeated the Rangers 4-2 Thursday.

Backed by some great situational pitching by Dallas Braden (3-2) and Andrew Bailey, the A’s held onto the win, setting their record at 8-11.

Braden’s pitch count forced his outing short, but he was effective once again, going five innings giving up zero runs, five hits, four walks while striking out six.

Check SportsCenter tonight because there will be plenty of “web gems” from the A’s defense including a nice throw from Holliday in left to get (greedy) Michael Young out at third with one out in the bottom of the ninth.

The offense had 11 hits, with Sweeney, Cabrera, Suzuki, and Crosby each tallying two. RBI’s from Cust (8), Holliday (12), Suzuki (8), and Powell (3).

Yeah boy!

You gotta love this game!

A’s win it in the ninth with three runs off garbage closer Brian Fuentes, (personal shot I know but it’s a blog) after trailing most of the night three nothing. The A’s got to the Angels bullpen for three in the eighth and three more in the ninth, then Brad Ziegler shut the door.

MVP of the night for me is Ryan Sweeney who continued hitting tonight with another three-hit performance, the most pivotal of the three coming in the eighth with two on and two out. Sweeney roped a line drive single up the middle to put the A’s within reaching distance. The ninth then came around and with two outs, Suzuki squibbed a hit up halfway up the first base line that should have ended the game, but Angels closer Fuentes and catcher Napoli hesitated and Suzuki was safe. Next up was pinch-hitter Nomar Garciaparra who hit a floater into left that drove in the tying run.

The next two runs came via base hits from Mark Ellis and “sick boy” Matt Holiday. Holiday came into the game as a pinch hitter because he was sick with the flu. The guy gets my respect with the effort, although earlier I was a little frustrated not seeing him in the lineup again.

A’s  burly left-hander Dana Eveland went six innings while giving up three earned runs, eight hits, and walking two, while striking out four. Eveland was cruising through the game until the fourth, where he surrendered all three runs and four hits.

Rookie reliever Andrew Bailey got the win, his first ever Major League victory as he continued to impress with another scoreless inning of relief.

Take it easy A’s fans

So here it is, the 2009 opening day, 25-man roster. Surprised by anything? how about Gio Gonzalez returning to Sacramento?

I must say, having Sean Gallagher as a long reliever scares me some. He has been very wild all spring. I’d rather have Gonzalez the long-reliever and Gallagher starting in Sacramento.

Also how about Andrew Bailey making the team straight from AA. He’s looked mighty impressive so why not give him a shot.

Bob Geren mentioned that his Saturday lineup will be opening day’s. Here it is for those of you who missed it:

RF Ryan Sweeney, SS Cabrera, 1B Jason Giambi, LF Matt Holliday, 3B Eric Chavez, DH Jack Cust, C Kurt Suzuki, RF Travis Buck and 2B Mark Ellis.

Let me know what you think of the decisions.

Pitchers:

49 Brett Anderson

48 Andrew Bailey

13 Jerry Blevins

51 Dallas Braden

53 Trevor Cahill

44 Santiago Casilla

30 Dana Eveland

39 Sean Gallagher

55 Josh Outman

36 Russ Springer

48 Michael Wuertz

31 Brad Ziegler

Catchers:

35 Landon Powell

8 Kurt Suzuki

Outfielders:

6 Travis Buck

32 Jack Cust

11 Rajai Davis

5 Matt Holliday

15 Ryan Sweeney

Infielders:

18 Orlando Cabrera

3 Eric Chavez

7 Bobby Crosby

14 Mark Ellis

1 Nomar Garciaparra

16 Jason Giambi