Trevor Cahill and Booby Crosby were the MVP’s tonight as they helped the Athletics take game one of the East Bay, Bay Area rivalry 5-1.

Trevor Cahill was on his game tonight after allowing an early solo home run to Giant first baseman Travis Ishikawa. Cahill (5-5) went seven innings allowing only one earned run on four hits, striking out four and walking one, this all without topping the 100-pitch plateau.

Crosby drove in three of the five A’s runs with a two-run double in the sixth and an RBI ground out in the eighth. Other notables were the two hits apiece from Orlando Cabrera, who also drove in one, and ex-Giant Rajai Davis.

The task gets much tougher tomorrow as the Giants deal Tim “the freak” Lincecum. The A’s will try to counteract “the freak” with Vin Mazzaro.

Free Tickets still available, for more info on how to get them, check previous posts. Go A’s!

With two down in the top of the eighth versus the host San Diego Padres, A’s down 5-3and Jason Giambi and Orlando Cabrera each come through in the clutch with two hits, driving in three total and giving Oakland the one-run lead and eventually the comeback win. Andrew Bailey closed the door with another four-out save.

Final Score 7-5.

Earlyr in the contest, stand-out rookie pitcher Josh Outman left early (second inning) with what is being said to be a strained elbow, hopefully that’s all it is as Outman has been the most consistent among A’s rookies pitcher. Edgar Gonzalez came in for relief and lasted 3 1/3 and gave up four runs. Following by Russ Springer who gave up the hit that scored two of the earned runs credited to Gonzo, Springer also allowed his own run as usual.

The other three runs came from Cabrera (sac-fly), Giambi (bases-loaded hit by pitch), Bobby Crosby (sac-fly) and the ever-important insurance run by Kurt Suzuki (single). Suzuki has my vote for the lone All-Star representative, he also had three hits tonight by the way.

Ticket contest reminder:

The game is for July first when Oakland hosts Detroit, four tickets in total, free to the winner.

The contest ends on June 29th if there isn’t much of a contest the tickets will go to waste. What kind of A’s fans would waste tickets, not you guys.

The commenter who brings the most traffic via message boards, blogs, face book, my space whatever will win the tickets. Make sure that anyone who comments on Athleticshomeplate.com references you by name so we can keep a count. Go A’s

The A’s came back form a 3-0 deficit to tie the game in the eighth, then in the bottom of the ninth, runners on second and third and one out, Rajia Davis takes the first pitch for a game-winning single. Game over!

Orlando Cabrera brought in Jack Hannahan with an RBI single in the eighth to narrow the margin to 3-1. Then with a Cabrera on base Adam Kennedy tied things up with a home run to right.

Trevor Cahill was going to be the losing pitcher after pitching another more-than quality start until the offense saved him. Cahill gave up all three runs in the fourth on a three-run home run by Joe Crede. Cahill went seven innings surrendering seven hits, two walks and struck out two.

Nicely salvaged game I must say. Go A’s!

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!

It’s alive! At least it was Tuesday night. The A’s beat up on the Kansas City Royals 12-3.

After a short pep talk-initiated by Orlando Cabrera-with the offense, it didn’t take long to notice it had worked, as the A’s slaughtered the Royals pitching in the first four innings for 12 runs. The offense was led by whom else but motivational expert himself, Orland Cabrera.

Not only was it a great offensive performance, but the pitching didn’t disappoint either.

Starter Trevor Cahill (2-2) started things off shaky through the first two frames by loading the bases with two out ion the first, but he survived. The second inning was similar as Cahill gave up two hits but got out of the jam as well. He cruised through then next two innings before giving up solo home runs to Coco Crisp in the fifth, and Mike Jacobs in the sixth. His line was six innings, two earned runs, seven hits, two walks, and two strike outs.  Overall he pitched an effective game, although he still needs to work on his command, at times it looks as if he has no idea where his pitches will go. However, he does have an ERA of 3.69, not bad for the rookie.

This is what Billy Pitt paid for…

Orlando Cabrera had three hits to go along with four RBI’s while Matt Holliday, Jack Cust, and Kurt Suzuki each had two hits a piece. Cust had three RBI, all coming on a three-run sky-rocket home run to center. The remaining RBI’s went to Matt Hollday (2), Jason Giambi (2),and Jack Hannahan (1).

A’s beat the Blue Jays 5-3

Record now at 11-16

A five-run fifth inning ignited by Ryan Sweeney’s two-run shot to right was just what the doctor ordered. Jack Hannahan and Kurt Suzuki both drove in run’s with doubles, and Orlando Cabrera getting his RBI with an single.

The bullpen held their own tonight with 4 2/3 of shutout ball, with MIchael Wuertz (2-1) early entrance making him the winning pitcher. Starter Josh Outman (o-o) unfortunately labored through the third inning, costing him the win as he needed over 100 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings. His third inning, in which he gave up the three runs, lasted over 35 pitches.

This is the kind of baseball I think were going to have to get used to, big innings from both our offense and pitching. The pitching seems to yield all of it’s runs in  one big inning, if they can minimize it-like they did tonight- they can be successful.

Other news from the game has to be the ugly defense.

Bobby Crosby at second and the unlikely Orlando Cabrera at short, both committing what looked like costly errors, fortunately the pen held down the fort.

At least they got a win.

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!

The A’s won their second straight, and take the three-game series against the Rays in a final score of 7-1. The A’s record stands at 7-10 on the season.

Dana Eveland (1-1) finally came through with a decent 5 plus inning effort, yielding only one run on four hits, three walks, and three strike outs.

The offense, led by Kurt Suzuki’s three RBI, managed ten hits, two coming from shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

The A’s are back on the road to take on the free-swinging Texas Rangers, in what should be a high scoring affair, as it always is in Arlington.

Oh yeah, Chavez was out today with yet another injury, a strained elbow. He has to be the biggest gimp in baseball. Name one worse.

The A’s lost game one of a weather-shortened two game series to the Yankees 5-3.

Athletics record stands at 5-8, their worst record to start a season since 2001.

The tying run came up to the plate in the ninth, in Orlando Cabrera with one on and two out, and he chose to bunt, and popped out to the pitcher for the last out. Nice call there. Cant even bunt.

Dana Eveland gave up four runs (all earned) in the second inning, all while lasting a whole four innings, walking four, striking out three and giving up nine hits. I’m going to say it now, if this guy doesn’t get on track soon, he’ll be back in triple A in an exchange for someone who can go six innings.

The A’s offense failed-once again- to take advantage of what early reports suggested, a home-run friendly park, with a bunch of singles. So exciting! Three long balls all season folks, that’s all.

Kurt Suzuki had four of the A’s 12 hits.

The offense looks pretty terrible and adjustments are going to have to be made. Holliday for example looks awful, swinging at pitches in the dirt on a consistent basis, and Chavez is another story for another day, can I buy a hit, (3-28) this year guys.

Another thing, Rajai Davis! Please do not start this guy anymore. He really looks like a pitcher when he’s up to bat, no faith in him at all. Am I wrong about that? He’s only useful as a defensive replacement, or on-base replacement in need of a situational steal.

The Athletic’s have really failed to take advantage of a temporarily weak AL West.

Woosahhhh people, Woosahhhh.

Sorry for the absence, School has unfortunately occupied my life. Won’t happen again

The A’s today lost to the Blue Jays 1-0 putting their record to 5-7.

The story of today’s rubber-game for the Athletics was lack of hitting, which is becoming a trend, once again.

Dallas Braden, was great, but suffered the loss while surrendering only one run in 71/3 innings, and limiting the Jays to five hits, four strikeouts and three walks. The A’s have been without third-baseman Erik Chavez for nearly a week, he was in the lineup today, providing an 0-four as did Cabrera, Cust and Giambi. The A’s have had a tough time hitting left-handers this year, even from the right side, and it won’t get any easier when they head to New York to take on two more lefties, in Andy Petit and CC Sabathia.

The A’s offense provided five hits, two from Matt Holliday and one each from Ryan Sweeney, Mark Ellis, and Kurt Suzuki. The Offense is last in almost every offensive category in the American League. Home-runs and extra base hits have limited the offense to eight runs in the last three games.

So much for the philosophy, score a ton of runs while the young rotation struggles, the pitching has been the only bright spot.

The team is lucky to have a 5-7 record if you ask me, so hopefully there are better things to come.

Thanks for reading, stay positive A’s fans, home-run town comes Monday, guaranteed!