Dallas Braden went seven strong innings giving up only two runs but the A’s offense couldn’t come through for their starting pitcher, losing a pitchers duel to the San Diego Padres, 4-1.

You can say the bullpen didn’t help out either, as Craig Breslow and Russ Springer each gave up a run in relief. Springer served up a two-run home run to Kevin Kouzmanoff that basically closed the door on any chance of a comeback for the Athletics.

Ryan Sweeney drove in the lone run for the A’s on a double to left that scored Jack Cust.

Next up are the Bay Area rival orange and black. The A’s will have a tough chance scoring any runs off their pitching staff if they can’t hit today’s opposing pitcher, ex-Giant, Kevin Correia.

Go A’s!

Trevor Cahill vs. Erik Bedard round two, fight!

It was a great fight today boys, but somebody had to win and it went to the team who doesn’t retain the anemic, non-existent force, who is Rajai Davis and the recently looney Russ Springer.

Mariners 6, Athletics 1

The offense was limited to five hits, one home run and the rest singles..Yes singles. Bobby Crosby hit the home run of all people. The 7-8-9 lineup should never look like this: Crosby, Rajai Davis, Jack Hannahan. Why can’t the A’s have Travis Buck or Aaron Cunningham in the lineup instead of Rajai Davis, who might as well of been a lefty facing another lefty today.

More ranting I know but it needs to be said.

Russ Springer, or “old-man Springer” which I like to call him, for some reason can barely get outs. Today he came into the ninth with a 4-1 Mariner lead and gave up three straight single, one that led to two runs, an out, another single, before getting out of the inning with a doulbel play. Something must me going on with Springer, family related or injury related I don’t know, but something needs to be done. Maybe a DL stint.

It’s a shame the A’s can’t back up a solid rookie performance from Cahill. Cahill (2-5) today went six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out five and walking one.

Bullpen fails, A’s lose 8-7 in eleven innings to the Diamondbacks.

Yeah, that’s how it’s going for the A’s, four home runs off one of the most dominant pitchers in the National league in Dan Haren, still doesn’t equate to a win. Way to go bullpen, especially you Springer.

After another shaky outing in the eighth inning by reliever Russ Springer-whom for whatever reason is still the setup man- the A’s saw a five-to-one lead erased in one inning. Springer never recorded an out, Chat it up guys, plenty to discuss here. Instead of having Brad Ziegler come in late in the game, Manager Bob Geren chose to bring him in for the seventh. Ask yourselves this, who would you rather have late in the game right now, Springer or Ziegler. Where was Casilla in the eight?

Too bad for recently-recalled pitcher Edgar Gonzalez who pitched a solid game but failed to pick up the win after leaving the sixth inning with a five to one lead. Gonzalez went five-plus innings giving up one run on four hits, he struck out four and walked two.

The bright spot in the game was obviously the long-balls, one more special than the others. Jason Giambi hit his 400th career home run in the fourth inning off Dan Haren. Jack Cust started the home run parade with a two-run shot to right center in the first, followed by solo variety’s from Giambi, Adam Kennedy in the fourth and Nomar Garciaparra’s coming in the fifth.

PS: Jack Hannahan and Bob Geren are spies.

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.

Six runs in the first two innings, one there after , you would think seven runs equates to a win, not for the A’s.

Oakland lost 11-7 to the Detroit on Sunday after giving up two three-run home runs, one served up by Santiago Casilla (which is rare) and one by Russ Springer (not so rare). Trevor Cahill had the six-run cushion which lately would have suggested a win, as he has won his last two starts after receiving ample run support, but not today. Cahill (2-3) lasted only 2 1/3 innings, surrendering seven earned runs and seven hits, while walking two with zero strike outs.

The bullpen gave up four of the 11 runs, three by recently instated Casilla who came in very early-too early maybe- to replace cahill and one by home run friendly Springer.

Please don’t refrain from giving me your full opinions!

A’s lose to the Mariners some how, 8-7.

If a manager could strike out, Bob Geren did just that tonight.

Dana Eveland…my oh my. Well he gets the loss tonight but he’s not worth talking about anymore.

After scoring three in the top of the 13th, head-case-Gio Gonzalez (in his fourth inning of work) loads the bases and A’s manager Bob Geren leaves him in. He walks in one run, and gives up a two-RBI hit to tie the game. Gonzalez was just called up to replace Santiago Casilla who was placed on the 15-day DL. Gonzalez must be close to a mental break-down. He then comes in to pitch the next inning too, another bad decision, but he get’s out of it. Over 100 pitches out of relief from Gonzalez! Wow.

During the 13th, Geren say’s he has no more pitchers available, but he tells Andrew Bailey to get up and then get down, and then up again, and down once again? The problem here is that he never puts Bailey in. Why would Bailey get warm (twice) and not come in?

Josh Outman was in line for the win but Russ Springer couldn’t hold onto the one-run lead and blew the save chance by allowing a solo home run to Kenji Johjima. Outman pitched well, giving up two earned runs, four hits, one walk, five strikeouts while lasting six innings.

Managers shouldn’t lose games.

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!

Veteran pitcher Russ Springer and the Oakland Athletics have agreed on a one-year contract for the 2009 season. Springer is a 16 year veteran and should be very valuable in the bullpen where the A’s are extrememly young. The contract is rumored to be in the $3 million range.

In the last two seasons with the St. Lous Cardinals, Springer went 10-2 with a 2.24 ERA and a .195 opponents’ batting average.

Good move for the A’s!