The 1980 Oakland A's - Rebuild #1 Continues

[motnahp]

Rick Langford (3-1) tossed his 2nd straight shutout, blanking the Twins 4-0. Langford allowed only 5 hits, walked 3 and struck out 3. Wayne Gross went 3-3, with a triple and 2 RBI. Rickey Henderson, in his 2nd game back in the leadoff spot, went 3-5 and stole two bases. Tony Armas and Dave McKay were both 2-5. Minnesota starter Roger Erickson (1-3), who shut out the A's in Oakland on the 12th, lasted only 5 2/3 innings. He allowed 4 runs on 9 hits.

The A's go for the sweep tomorrow, sending Mike Norris (2-1) to the mound.

SAT APR 26

OAK_____4___12___0
MIN_____0____5___0

[motnahp]

Jerry Koosman (4-0) shut down the A's with 9th-inning relief help from Doug Corbett (SV 4), as the Twins avoided the sweep, 4-1. Rob Wilfong was 3-3 with an RBI and 2 stolen bases. Mike Norris (2-2) went 7 innings and took the loss. Mike Heath went 4-4 at the plate in a losing effort.

The A's now fly to southern California for a 3-game series with the Angels.

SUN APR 27

OAK_____1___10___0
MIN_____4___12___0

Season record 8-9, 5th place in AL West, 3 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Tony Armas tripled twice and drove in a run. Wayne Gross was 2-3 with a triple and 3 RBI. Steve McCatty (2-2) went 8 strong innings on the mound and the A's downed the Angels, 6-2. McCatty allowed 7 hits and two runs, then got perfect 9th inning relief from Jeff Jones. Frank Tanana (2-2) allowed all 6 runs and took the loss.

MON APR 28

OAK_____6___10___1
CAL_____2____7___0

[motnahp]

This was a very messy game.

Rod Carew lined a bases-loaded single to left field in the bottom of the 10th, as the Angels came back from down 3-0 to beat the A's, 4-3. Oakland starter Matt Keough allowed no runs on 6 hits through 7 innings, but ran out of gas. Rick Lysander and Bob Lacey combined to pitch a scoreless 8th, but things fell apart for Lacey in the 9th and 10th.

With one out, Dan Ford doubled, then advanced to 3rd on a Carew single. Freddie Patek then popped out for the 2nd out. Former Oakland outfielder Joe Rudi doubled off the wall in left center, scoring Ford and Carew, cutting the A's lead to 3-2. Rudi took 3rd on the throw home (why did the AI throw home?). Bobby Grich then reached on a Tony Armas error in right field, Rudi scored, and the game was tied.

Don Aase (CG, 2-1) retired the A's 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th. Lacey took to the mound in the 10th and would not retire a batter. He walked Rick Miller. Todd Cruz then reached on third baseman Wayne Gross' error. Dan Ford followed and reached on a mysterious play that did not appear in the Game Log. With the bases loaded and no one out, manager motnahp fruitlessly brought in the outfield and infield, only to watch master batsman Carew serve a Lacey offering into left field to end the game.

Apparently, Wayne Gross was charged with a second error in the 10th, but it didn't show up on the scroll or in the Game Log. Luckily, computer players won't remember a thing about this game tomorrow when the series with the Angels wraps up!

TUE APR 29

OAK_____3___7___4
CAL_____4__12___1 (10 innings)

[motnahp]

Before tonight's game, some joker had put yellow crime scene tape across Bob Lacey's locker. I hope the prankster has some left over for Dave Hamilton's locker. The bullpen and defense again squandered a lead and the A's fell to the Angels 4-2.

Oakland led 2-1 going into the bottom of the 8th, behind the solid pitching of Brian Kingman. Hamilton allowed a hit and a walk. Rickey Henderson contributed with an error in left field and the Angels scored 3 times in the 8th. Joe Rudi hit his second homer earlier in the game. Al Cowens was 3-4. Mark Clear (1-0) pitched a scoreless 1/3 of an inning to get the win. Dave LaRoche retired the A's in the 9th for his 5th save. For the A's, Hamilton falls to 0-2. Mike Heath continued his hot hitting, going 2-4. Heath is hitting .422 on the season.

The A's end April with a mark of 9-11. After an off-day on Thursday, they begin a 4-game weekend series against the Tigers, including a Sunday doubleheader.

WED APR 30

OAK_____2___5___1
CAL_____4__12___0

Season record 9-11, 5th place in AL West, 5 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

The month of May started the same way April ended. Detroit scored 10 runs in the 9th inning, blowing open a close game and cruising past the A's 13-2. Detroit led 3-0 on Lance Parrish's 3-run homer (2) in the 6th. A tiring Rick Langford (3-2) was battered around in the top of the 9th. He gave way to Jeff Jones, who officially joined the Crime Scene Tape Club, allowing 2 hits, 3 walks, 6 runs (5 earned) in only 1/3 of an inning. Dave Beard came on to allow a hit and a walk, but no runs of his own.

For Detroit, Parrish was 2-4 with 4 RBI, and Alan Trammell was 3-5 with 3 RBI. Dave Rozema (1-4) was one out from a shutout, when Mickey Klutts drilled a 2-run double. Oakland pitchers walked 8 men. Mike Norris takes the mound on Saturday and tries to stop the bleeding.

FRI MAY 2

DET_____13__10___2
OAK______2___4___1

[motnahp]

Before the game, members of the bullpen borrowed a couple of shovels from the grounds crew and dug a small hole in the bullpen area. Into the hole was placed a box. Inside the box was a gas can. It was either that or call an exorcist.

The A's dropped their 4th straight decision, 2-1 to the Tigers. Dan Schatzeder (2-2) and Aurelio Lopez (SV 7) combined on the mound for Detroit. Mike Norris (2-3) went the distance and pitched well, but absorbed the loss.

John Wockenfuss was 2-2 with a solo homer (2). Mario Guerrero was 2-2 for the A's. For the 2nd straight game, the A's were shut out through 8 innings. Back-to-back doubles from Dwayne Murphy and Mike Davis off Lopez accounted for the only Oakland run.

SAT MAY 3

DET_____2___7___0
OAK_____1___9___1

Doubleheader tomorrow. Some former A's from the early years will be in attendance, signing autographs before the game. John "Blue Moon" Odom, Dick Green, Mudcat Grant, Mike Epstein, Larry Haney, and John Donaldson are expected. The team tried to get 73-year-old Satchel Paige, a former member of the Kansas City A's, to attend. The deal fell apart when Paige, through an agent, demanded a two-year contract. Paige thought he was being asked to sign a contract to pitch, a not-too-far fetched proposition, considering the state of affairs in the pen.

Behind the scenes, calls to the agents of Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, and Juan Marichal have not been returned. The team has been contacted by another former A's pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner Denny McLain. Thanks, but no thanks.

[motnahp]

The A's turned the tables on the Tigers, scoring twice in the bottom of the 9th to pull out an 8-7 victory. Mitchell Page's two-out double scored Dave McKay with the winning run. Page also homered (3) and was 3-5. Dave Revering (2) and Dwayne Murphy (3) also homered for Oakland. Bob Lacey (1-1) pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win. Detroit reliever Auerlio Lopez (0-1) failed to earn the save and was saddled with the loss. Champ Summers (2) homered for Detroit and Tom Brookens was 3-5.

Starters Jack Morris (6 ER in 8 innings) and Steve McCatty (7 ER in 5 2/3 innings) were ineffective.

SUN MAY 4 (1)

DET_____7___14___0
OAK_____8___11___0

[motnahp]

Matt Keough (2-1) went the distance and the A's swept the doubleheader with the Tigers, 5-2. Mike Edwards was 2-4 with a 2-run double. Wayne Gross went 2-4, and Mike Davis was 3-3. For Detroit, Jason Thompson hit his 7th homer, and Rick Peters was 3-3. Milt Wilcox (2-3) allowed 5 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings.

The A's now entertain the Indians for a 3-game series.

SUN MAY 4 (2)

DET_____2___9___0
OAK_____5__11___1

Season record 11-13, 5th place in AL West, 5 1/2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Tony Armas' 2-run double in the bottom of the 10th gave the A's an exciting 3-2 win over the Indians. The game was scoreless into the 10th inning, when Cliff Johnson hit a 2-run homer (4). Cleveland reliever Victor Cruz came on in the 9th with a 2-0 lead.

In the last of the 10th, Jim Essian popped out. Dave McKay drew a walk. Pinch hitter Jeff Newman singled to left and McKay moved to 3rd. Mike Edwards ran for Newman at 1st. Rickey Henderson struck out for the 2nd out. Dwayne Murphy then singled, scoring McKay and moving Edwards to 3rd. Following a Mitchell Page walk to load the bases, Armas blasted a Cruz pitch in the left center field gap, scoring Edwards and Murphy.

Brian Kingman went all 10 innings and improved to 2-1.


MON MAY 5

CLE_____2___10___0
OAK_____3____6___0

[motnahp]

Jeff Newman and Mike Heath delivered RBI singles in the bottom of the 8th to break a 1-1 deadlock and give the A's a 3-1 win over the Indians. Rickey Henderson, still batting below .200, was moved from 9th back to leadoff in the order. Rickey responded with a triple, single, walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Dave Hamilton started on the mound and pitched 6 strong innings, but got no decision. Jeff Jones (1-0) went 3 scoreless and earned the win. Rick Waits went the distance for Cleveland, but fell to 1-3.

TUE MAY 6

CLE_____1___8___0
OAK_____3___8___0

[motnahp]

The A's finished a 3-game sweep of the Indians with another nail-biter, as they edged the Tribe 3-2. Cleveland's Joe Charboneau put the Indians ahead 2-1 in the top of the 8th with his 7th homer of the season. Tony Armas responded in the home half of the 8th, tying the score at 2-2 with his 4th homer. Later in the 8th, Jim Essian singled in Dave Revering with the go-ahead run off losing pitcher Bob Owchinko (1-3), For the A's, Rick Langford went the distance and improved to 4-2.

The A's will take Thursday off, then welcome the Blue Jays for a 3-game series over the weekend. The surprising Blue Jays are 14-9 and tied for 1st place in the AL East with Milwaukee.

WED MAY 7

CLE_____2___9___0
OAK_____3__12___1

Season record 14-13, 4th place in AL West, 3 1/2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Friday's game at the Coliseum was rained out. The two teams will make up the game in July, during Toronto's next visit.

The rain and Dave Stieb washed away the A's 5-game winning streak. The crafty Stieb went the distance on a 6-hitter and the Blue Jays won, 7-1. Otto Velez was 3-5 with a RBI and 2 runs scored. Ernie Whitt was 2-3 with an RBI. Roy Howell went 2-3 with an RBI, and Lloyd Moseby had a double and drove in 2 runs.

Oakland starter Mike Norris allowed 4 runs in 8+ innings. Bob Lacey came on in the 9th with the gas can, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs in only 2/3 of an inning.

SAT MAY 10

TOR_____7___15___1
OAK_____1____6___1

[motnahp]

Designated Hitter Mitchell Page knocked in 6 runs for the A's, as they earned a split with Toronto, 8-4. Page delivered sacrifice flies in the 1st and 8th innings, collected an RBI groundout in the 6th inning, and swatted a 3-run homer in the 5th, his 4th homer of the season. Rickey Henderson was 2-4, with 3 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. He leads all of baseball with his 20 steals. Mike Edwards went 2-5 and scored twice.

Steve McCatty (3-2) struggled with his control, walking 7 in only 5 2/3 innings. Matt Keough finished up and earned the save, allowing 2 runs in 3 1/3 innings. The A's pounded Jim Clancy (4-2) for 12 hits and 7 runs in 5 innings.

The A's take Monday off, then travel to Detroit for a brief 2-game series, followed by visits to Toronto and Kansas City.

SUN MAY 11

TOR_____4___13___0
OAK_____8___15___1

Season record 15-14, tied for 3rd in AL West, 4 GB behind 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

The A's used power and good relief pitching to get by Detroit 9-7 at Tiger Stadium. Tony Armas (5) and Dave Revering (3) both hit 3-run homers, while Wayne Gross (2) and Dave McKay (1) hit solo shots. Dave Beard (2/3 IP) and Matt Keough (2 IP) kept the Tigers off the board in the late innings. Beard (1-0) picked up the win, while Keough earned his 2nd save in as many games. Dave Rozema fell to 1-6 with the loss. Champ Summers was 3-5 with 3 RBI, Rick Peters went 3-3, and John Wockenfuss added a solo homer, his 5th.

TUE MAY 13

OAK_____9___9___0
DET_____7__16___0

[motnahp]

Dan Schatzeder allowed only 5 hits and shut out the A's for 8 2/3 innings. The Tigers earned a split of the 2-game series, 5-1. Jason Thompson doubled, homered and drove in a pair to support Schatzeder (3-2). Rick Langford (4-3) went only 6 1/3 innings and was charged with the loss. Mitchell Page was 2-4 for the A's.

Oakland has the day off on Thursday. Players are rounding up their passports for the weekend trip to Toronto.

WED MAY 14

OAK_____1___5___0
DET_____5__11___0

Season record 16-15, 4th place in AL West, 4 1/2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Rickey Henderson led off the game with a solo homer, his 2nd. Tony Armas was 3-5 with a pair of solo homers (6,7) and scored 3 runs to lead the A's past Toronto 5-1. Mike Norris (3-4) went the distance, allowing 8 hits. He walked only one and struck out 8. Rob Picciolo was 3-4 at the plate. Jim Clancy (4-3) lost to the A's for the 2nd time in 6 days.

FRI MAY 16

OAK_____5___12___0
TOR_____1____8___1

[motnahp]

Jesse Jefferson (4-2) and three relievers combined to hold the A's to 4 hits. John Mayberry homered twice (13,14) to drive in all 3 runs in the Blue Jays' 3-1 win over the A's. Steve McCatty (3-3) went the distance in a losing effort for Oakland. Mike Willis earned his 11th save for Toronto.

SAT MAY 17

OAK_____1___4___0
TOR_____3___6___0

[motnahp]

Al Woods' bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th knocked in the game's only run, as Toronto won 1-0. Jerry Garvin (9 1/3 IP) and Tom Buskey (1 2/3 IP, 1-2) combined to limit the A's to 8 hits. Brian Kingman logged 10 shutout innings for Oakland, before giving way to Dave Hamilton (0-3) to start the 11th. Hamilton retired the first 2 batters before his luck ran out. Lloyd Moseby reached on a Mike Edwards error. Damaso Garcia singled to right, moving Moseby to 3rd. Alfredo Griffin drew a walk to load the bases. Wodds then singled to right to end the game.

Oakland packs up and heads to Kansas City for a 4-game series.

SUN MAY 18

OAK_____0___8___1
TOR_____1___8___1 (11 innings)

Season record 17-17, 4th place in AL West, 4 1/2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Mike Davis' sacrifice fly scored Tony Armas with the game's only run. Rick Langford (5-3) shut out the Royals on 6 hits, striking out 7 and walking only one. Paul Splittorff (3-5) went 8 innings and took the loss.

MON MAY 19

OAK_____1___8___0
KC______0___6___0