Ryan Sweeney drove in the tying run in the six and Mr. clutch Kurt Suzuki gave the A’s the go ahead run with a two-out RBI single to right propelling the A’s to their second straight win against the Padres 6-3.

Starting pitcher Brett Anderson lasted five innings but was replaced having thrown only 68 pitches. Anderson was decent tonight, getting out of jams when needed. The rookie lefty surrendered three runs on five hits striking out three and walking one.

Some more crucial insurance runs were manufactured by the A’s in the eighth inning, this time of back-to-back home run variety. Adam Kennedy hit one to right and Jack Cust completely annihilated one to deep left center to give the A’s their final runs of the night. Kennedy went 4-5, Ryan Sweeney had two hits as he gets re-aquaitned to baseball activities and Jack Cust had two hits.

Four-pack of A’s tickets still up for grabs! Read below for more info, Go Athletics.

The A’s were down 10-0 heading into the ninth and scored four times. Still rallying, Bases loaded one out and closer Joe Nathan enters. Strike three swinging Jack Hannahan and Rajai Davis, game over.

The Minnesota Twins broke out for 10 runs on 16 hits to end the A’s seven game winning streak. Pitcher Brett Anderson looked like he was going to be the unfortunate tough-luck loser of a close game until the Twins busted out for four runs in the six, pushing their one-run lead to 5-0 and knocking Anderson out.

Anderson was removed after 6 2/3 and gave up five runs on ten hits, striking out five and walking one. The bullpen failed to give the A’s any ray of hope when Santiago Casilla came out for the seventh and didn’t record an out, surrendering a three-run no-doubter to right followed by a single. The next inning Edgar Gonzalez came in for cleanup duty and failed to keep the Twins off the board also, allowing two more runs to score.

The final score was 10-5.

Some good news…

Also important on the day was the First-year player draft. With a surpluss of pitching in the farm, the A’s chose shortstop Grant Green from USC with their first pick of the draft (they had two first day picks). Many scouts say he is a 5-tool player so we’ll see. You guys like the pick? Some are saying he’s the third-baseman of the future.

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.

7-6 A’s.

Ryan Sweeney, AKA. mr. clutch, the savior, did it again. What else can be said for his amazing, meaningful web-gems. Sweeney, with two out in the bottom of the ninth, up one run and the tying run at first, made an all-out diving catch which would have been the game-tying double off of BJ Upton’s bat.

Now Geren. Geren, Geren, Geren

He almost blew it again. Luckily Brett Anderson came away with his first career win.

With one on and nobody out in the seventh inning, starting pitcher Brett Anderson was pulled after throwing 80 pitches, the result? Nailbiting for all of us, as releiver Michael Wuertz gives up two hits and a run, but was bailed out with an inning ending doulbe-play, at home, I might add.

After Thursday’s 9-4 win over the Rangers, and all of the bad baseball we have seen as of late, the A’s still are only four back in the division. With Seattle coming back down to earth as all of us A’s fans knew would, and the Angels and Rangers not doing enough to distance themselves, can they A’s finally pull it together?

If the A’s can pull it together offensively, and get some more good starts out of Josh Outman, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Dallas Braden, can they gain some ground quick? Does anyone believe the team is in the early stages of breaking out?

I’ll give my personal opinion and everyone else can either break it down or come up with their own.

I’ll keep it short.

The pitching is coming around, I see Trevor Cahill’s last start more of what we will see the remainder of the year (excluding an off day here or there, everyone gets one), and Dallas Braden will continue to be very solid and keep the A’s in the game. Brett Anderson seems to be on the cusp of turning in some good starts as long as his blister doesn’t linger. Josh Outman throws hard and he was very encouraging in Seattle last time out, I don’t see him consistently getting too deep in the game though. That leaves the five spot, I’m not sure who’s going to be there past this weekend in Sean Gallagher, so I’ll leave that one out.

If the offense can string together some offensive performances in the five to six-run territory, I could see the A’s taking charge in the division. They will need Suzuki, especially Giambi, and the role players to stay hot, like Bobby Crosby. I’ve heard Crosby’s just trying to play his way out of Oakland, we’ll take it.

I’m not really worried about the bullpen as long as they are not over-worked, or as Bob Geren likes to do it, under-worked. Had to throw that in there. He should still be packing his bags!

The Angels, Rangers, and Mariners haven’t had many difficult teams to face early in the season, but all that changes in the next two weeks. The Angels and Mariners will be beating each other up severely, like Pacquiao did Hatton, as they face each other seven times in the next 19 games. Then the A’s host the Mariners, and after their beat-down by the Halos, the A’s will take it to them, which will be the turning point, it has to be.

And Holliday, keep hitting Insane, beef-eating home runs.

The A’s (9-14)  lost the first of a three-game series versus AL West “rival” Anaheim Angels (11-13) 5-2.

Brett Anderson struggled early and was pulled after 42/3innings (only 72 pitches) after allowing five earned runs on nine hits, no walks, and zero strike outs. His last start was cut short becasue of a blister and it seemed to bother him some today, as you could see him picking at it between at-bats. Sean Gallagher-recalled from Sacramento today-came in a pitched 32/3 scoreless innings of relief, but the A’s never had a chance, as their inept offense continued.

Kurt Suzuki-the lone bright spot-stayed hot even after a change in the batter order (leadoff), however, Matt Holliday continued to look out of it as he had two chances with runners in scoring position and both times popped out foul to first base, he went 0-4 on the day as did Jack Cust, Travis Buck, Gregorio Petit and Rajai davis would have too if he had a fourth at-bat.

Who thinks it’s time Rajai Davis packs his bags? He’s more of a liability in the outfield than an asset at the plate or on the bases. When he comes up to the plate you know the end result before he takes his first swing.

Four A’s players (Garciaparra, Ellis, Anderson, Casilla) left Tuesday’s game versus the Rangers with injuries, Garciaparra and Ellis with calf injuries, Anderson a blister, and Casilla an apparent leg injury.

By the way, the A’s (7-10) lost 5-4thanks to some spotty defense, and what I’m calling some awkward circumstances. Two pitchers left the game injured (Anderson, and Casilla) with at bats still in progress and both resulted in two runs, which proved to be the difference.

The A’s are more than on pace to meet last years 54 appearances on the DL, hope I’m worng.

The offense tonight did manage to get 10 hits, although they were all singles aside from Sweeney’s home run. Brett Anderson had a pitching line as such: five plus innings pitched, four runs (one earned), three hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Too bad he had to leave early.  Orlando Cabrera went three for four, Ryan Sweeney, two for four with one RBI, and Bobby Crosby had two hits in three at bats.

Trends:

Matt Holliday’s inability to hit, Matt Holliday’s inability to hit, and… forget it, he just looks awful, and me using the Woosah phrase too much.

Wishful trends:

Ryan Sweeney hitting the long ball, Orlando Cabrera going three for four, and Brett Anderson pitching like a veteran, all on a consistent basis.

Don’t panick just yet, Woosah Woosah

A’s lose 4-5 to Mariners

The Mariners didn’t do much aside from a five-run second inning, but it turned out to be just enough. Rookie pitcher Brett Anderson, pitched very well in his Major-League debut, but he takes the loss as he accounted for all five runs. Aside from the second inning, Anderson (0-1)looked sharp as he went six, allowing five runs on seven hits( four hits in second), while striking out two and walking two.

The Mariners bullpen did it’s job when it counted, escaping several bases-loaded jams.

The A’s had more than enough chances to score but failed to convert. The ball wasn’t carrying tonight as many balls were hit for what seemed to be home runs but fell short.

You had to love Mark Ellis’ grab in the ninth! Web-Gem for sure.

A’s will get em’ tomorrow

Going into the season, most of us knew the A’s rotation would make or break the season, but how many projected out a four-man lefty rotation? This is either an extremely temporary situation or Billy Beane is showcasing some young talent for a proven veteran, at least I hope.

Believing in the 21-year-old’s (Cahill, Anderson) is already asking a lot, but four lefty’s, most without much experience is asking too much.

So that’s why I say Billy Bean is up to something, as he is every year.

The A’s have a ton of depth -even after Cahill and Anderson- in the pitching department so why not package one of the two and a couple of minor-leaguer’s with promise for a proven Big-league talent, say Jake Peavy? The A’s could afford to lose one of the two, if it meant receiving a player of Peavy’s caliber. The money I know would be an issue but the A’s will be off the hook next season for a considerable amount after Crosby, Cabrera, Holliday (most likely), and possibly more. This move would continue in the philosophy of Billy Beane of building for the future while staying competitive, as it will also (other than the money) provide the young pitchers, a stable ace to provide leadership. This move would not inhibit their future too much and it would provide a much needed lift in the pitching department for this year’s pennant race.

So is a move such as this, farfetched or is it something that needs to be done? From an A’s fan point of view I can’t see the young pitching withstand the length and adversity in which a Major League season brings.

The West will come down to pitching as it always has, and right now, with all the pitching injuries, the division is up for grabs.

After seeing the A’s and their possible opening-day roster, it looks like their lacking two vital components: Chemistry and pitching experience (obvious).

As most A’s teams in the past, chemistry and some timely pitching and hitting is what has driven this team for the past decade if not longer, and this will come eventually. Pitching, however, I’m not so sure of. After watching Trevor Cahill escape inning after inning on Friday against the lowly Padres, and then eventually getting tagged for a inevitable long ball, I have to say I’m worried. Aside from what many think, Cahill is in the running for that final spot in the rotation. If not for some very good defensive plays by Orlando Cabrera, and Erik Chavez, he might have surrendered a bunch more runs and left an inning early. His problem is that he gets behind the count on almost every batter, and when it’s time to finish the guy off, he loses control about 50 percent of the time. If he could someone get this problem fixed, there’s no doubt he could provide the A’s a good outing more times than not.

Brett Anderson looks more controlled and might have already taken the fourth spot. As a commenter pointed out, it would be nice to see the A’s start this guy (and Cahill for that matter) in the minors in order to retain him for an extra year before the dreaded free agency time comes around, but this guy seems ready.

Orlando Cabrera is looking like he’s going to be real fun to watch this season, on defense and offensively. He was making some plays at short look effortless. Seeing all these new guys in the green and gold was fantastic and it looks like we can have fairly high expectations for the offense.

The chemistry will be there in a couple of weeks and when this team clicks, no other team can really counter it, the offense will be raking!

Did anyone catch the lineup on Friday? Holliday batting fourth? Not to brag but I do remember someone predicting him in that spot We’ll see if it last’s.