Game Score: A’s 7, Royals 2 / Box Score
WP: Zito (13-8), LP: Redman (7-8)
Royal Home Runs: None
Royals Record: 45-80
I was in attendance for this game. Barry Zito was sharp through eight innings. I don’t know if his curve ball quite as good as it was earlier in his career, but he threw his breaking ball for strikes and he seemed to be able to locate it anywhere he wanted to.
Mike Sweeney, seen facing Zito below, managed to get a hit off of him. But the Royals managed only eight hits on the night.
We still had a pretty good game going into the seventh inning. The score was tied 2-2, but after Jay Payton singled to lead off the inning, Bell needed to get somebody up in the pen. He didn’t. Redman then walked Nick Swisher, and still Bell didn’t get anybody up. Finally, during Bobby Crosby’s at bat, the pen began to stir, but it was too late. Crosby laid down a sacrifice bunt and Redman threw the ball away. The A’s took a 3-2 lead with runners at first and third with no outs. Joel Peralta came in and got an out, and then gave up a sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. With two lefties coming up, Bell brought in Andrew Sisco and I cringed. He got knocked around and allowed to more guys to score and this one was over.
And we lost more than just a game. Mike Sweeney left the game in the third inning with a sore knee--a product of sliding the night before in a stolen base attempt. He was hoping to return to action on Sunday, but that didn't happen. Reporters asked Bell if Mike was headed for the DL and he said he wasn't. I guess we'll wait and see.
In spite of it all, does anything beat a beautiful Saturday night at the K?
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