The 1980 Oakland A's - Rebuild #1 Continues

[motnahp]

Three KC pitchers combined to limit the A's to 4 hits, as the Royals came out on top 3-2. Frank White's 3-run homer (2) in the 2nd accounted for the KC runs. Mitchell Page's 2-run homer (5) in the 1st accounted for Oakland's scoring. Rich Gale, Marty Pattin (2-1), and Dan Quisenberry (SV 12) starred on the mound for the Royals. Matt Keough (2-2) went the distance, but took the loss.

TUE MAY 20

OAK_____2___4___0
KC______3___7___1

[motnahp]

The A's blew a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the 9th, but prevailed 8-6 in 13 innings. Wayne Gross' single and Dave Revering's RBI groundout plated the decisive runs. Gross ended the day 2-6 with a homer (3) and 3 RBI. Tony Armas went 3-5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Rickey Henderson stole two more bases, raising his season total to 27. Dave Hamilton pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to raise his mark to 1-3.

For the Royals, George Brett doubled, homered (6) and drove in 2 runs, going 3-6. Willie Wilson had a 2-run triple. Gary Christenson (0-1) took the loss.

WED MAY 21

OAK_____8___12___0
KC______6___15___0 (13 innings)

[motnahp]

The Royals pounded out 16 hits and thrashed the A's 9-3 to earn a split of the 4-game series. Hal McRae led the way, going 2-5 with a double and 4 RBI. Willie Wilson was 4-5 with a triple and 4 runs scored. Clint Hurdle was 3-4 with 3 RBI. Larry Gura (4-5) went 9 innings and shut out the A's for the first 7 innings.

For the A's, Mitchell Page hit a solo homer (6) and Rob Picciolo had a 2-run double. Steve McCatty (3-4) lasted only 4 2/3 innings. He was charged with 5 earned runs.

The A's fly home, where they will host Texas for 3 games, followed by these same Royals for 3.

THUR MAY 22

OAK_____3___10___0
KC______9___16___0

Season record 19-19, 4th place in AL West, 6 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Tony Armas hit a two-run homer (8) and added two sacrifice flies to lead the A's past the Rangers 7-2. Mike Heath went 3-3, raising his average to .391 in a part-time role. Mitchell Page was 2-5. Brian Kingman (3-1) notched his 3rd complete game of the season and the A's defense turned 3 double plays. Kingman allowed only solo homers to Al Oliver (5) and Mickey Rivers (4). Gaylord Perry (3-3) allowed all 7 runs and took the loss for Texas.

FRI MAY 23

TEX_____2___9___1
OAK_____7__12___1

[motnahp]

Doc Medich (5-4) carved up the A's lineup, going 8 innings and allowing only two runs. Bump Wills was 3-4 with a RBI, Richie Zisk 3-3 with a RBI, and Buddy Bell added a solo homer (6) as the Rangers topped the A's 5-2. Danny Darwin pitched the 9th for his 12th save. Rick Langford (5-4) allowed 5 runs in 7 innings. Rookie outfielder Mike Davis hit his 2nd homer for Oakland.

SAT MAY 24

TEX_____5___10___1
OAK_____2___6___0

[motnahp]

Oakland defeated Texas 6-3 to take the series 2 games to 1. The A's scored 5 times in the first inning, sending 11 men to the plate off former teammate John Henry Johnson, who fell to 0-3. Johnson walked 7 men in 3 1/3 innings.

Matt Keough (3-2) went 7 innings, surrendering home runs to Mickey Rivers (5) and Al Oliver (6). Jeff Jones (2/3 IP) and Bob Lacey (1 1/3 IP, SV1) provided relief help, although both gave manager motnahp angina by loading the bases in the 8th and 9th innings. Wayne Gross doubled and drove in a run, while Tony Armas was 2-3 with an RBI.

The A's await Kansas City, who arrive tomorrow for a 3-game series.

SUN MAY 25

TEX_____3___12___0
OAK_____6___9___0

Season record 21-20, 4th place in AL West, 5 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Poor bullpen performance (PBP) led to another loss, as the Royals plated 3 in the 8th to win, 5-4. Oakland starter Mike Norris (3-3) nursed a 4-2 lead in the 8th. He left with the bases loaded and one out. Rick Lysander allowed a hit and a walk to tie the game. Dave Hamilton came on and immediately gave up a single and the lead.

Renie Martin (3-1) and Dan Quisenberry (SV 14) combined on the mound for KC.

For the A's, Wayne Gross had a solo homer (4) and Dwayne Murphy a two-run shot (4) in the losing effort.

MON MAY 26

KC______5___8___0
OAK_____4___9___0

[motnahp]

Steve McCatty (4-4) went the distance for the 4th time this season, shutting down the Royals, 5-1. Mike Heath led the way at the plate, going 2-4 with 3 RBI. Craig Chamberlain (0-1) took the loss in his 1st start of the season. Hal McRae went 3-4 for the Royals in a losing effort.

TUE MAY 27

KC______1___9___1
OAK_____5___7___0

[motnahp]

Dwayne Murphy sent the crowd home happy with his 2-out game-winning homer in the bottom of the 10th, as the A's took the series from the Royals, winning 3-2. Murphy's blast, his 5th of the season, came off KC starter and losing pitcher Larry Gura (4-6). Brian Kingman went the distance for the A's to improve to 4-1. Wayne Gross was 3-4 with 2 RBI at the plate.

WED MAY 28

KC______2___8___0
OAK_____3__12___0 (10 innings)

Season record 23-21, 4th place in AL West, 4 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Rick Langford (6-4) tossed his major league leading 4th shutout as the A's blanked the Rangers in Arlington, 7-0. Langford allowed 7 hits, struck out 4, and didn't walk a batter. Dave Revering homered (4), doubled, and drove in 2 runs. Mitchell Page connected for a grand slam homer in the 9th to put the game out of reach. The blast was Pages't 7th of the season.

Doc Medich pitched well, allowing only 2 runs in 7 innings, but took the loss and dropped his season mark to (5-5).

FRI MAY 30

OAK_____7___10___0
TEX_____0____7____1

[motnahp]

The A's ended May with a 4-game winning streak after beating the Rangers 7-2. Tony Armas tripled, homered (9) and drove in 3 runs. Mitchell Page hit a 3-run homer (8). Matt Keough allowed 12 hits in 7 innings, but only gave up 2 runs. He improved to 4-2. Jeff Jones and Bob Lacey provided scoreless relief.

Jon Matlack took the loss and fell to 5-4. Mickey Rivers was 4-4, Rusty Staub 3-4 with 2 doubles, and Bump Wills added a solo homer (2).

SAT MAY 31

OAK_____7___9___0
TEX_____2___14___0

[motnahp]

Standings after close of play on May 31:

[motnahp]

Mitchell Page continued his hot hitting, going 2-4 with a homer (9) and 3 RBI, as the A's swept the Rangers with a 6-1 win. In the 3 game series Page was 4-13 with 3 homers and 10 RBI. Mike Norris tossed his 5th complete game of the season and improved to 4-5. He struck out 8 and walked 2. Rickey Henderson went 3-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 stolen bases (31,32). Wayne Gross was 3-5 with a RBI, and Dave McKay had a double and an RBI.

Fergie Jenkins fell to 4-6. Rusty Staub provided the lone Ranger [;)] highlight with a solo homer, his 8th of the season.

The road trip continues, as the A's take their 5-game win streak north to face the Indians.

SUN JUN 1

OAK_____6___11___0
TEX_____1____6___1

Season record 26-21, 3rd place in AL West, 3 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Dwayne Murphy's 2-out, 2-run homer in the top of the 9th pushed the A's to victory in Cleveland, 5-4. Oakland led 3-2 going into the last of the 8th, but a tiring Steve McCatty and Bob Lacey (2-1) could not hold the lead. Cleveland scored twice to take a 4-3 advantage, then turned the game over to closer Victor Cruz. Murphy's blast off Cruz (0-3) gave the A's their 6th straight victory. Rickey Henderson was 2-4 and hit his 3rd homer. Jeff Newman hit his 1st homer. Duane Kuiper and Miguel Dilone were both 3-4 for the Tribe.

MON JUN 2

OAK_____5___6___0
CLE_____4___13___1

[motnahp]

Mario Guerrero scored on Mitchell Page's groundout in the top of the 10th inning as the A's made it 7 in a row with a 1-0 win in Cleveland. Brian Kingman (5-1) went 9 scoreless innings. Bob Lacey picked up his 2nd save. Guerrero was 3-4 on the day. Wayne Garland went all 10 innings, but fell to 4-5.

TUE JUN 3

OAK_____1___7___1
CLE_____0___5___0 (10 innings)

[motnahp]

Rickey Henderson's 2-out 2-run single in the 6th inning gave the A's a 4-3 lead. That turned out to be the final score, as the A's won their 8th game in a row. Rick Langford went the distance to improve to 7-4. Dan Spillner (2-4) took the loss. At the plate, Henderson was 2-4 and also stole his 34th base. Red hot Mitchell Page was 2-3 with an RBI. He now has 38 RBI on the season, tied for 2nd with Kansas City's George Brett, 3 behind Ben Oglivie of Milwaukee. Mike Heath was 2-4 and also threw out pinch runner Rick Manning trying to steal second in the bottom of the 9th.

For Cleveland, Ron Hassey went 2-5 with a homer (5) and 3 RBI. Mike Hargrove was 3-5, and both Tom Veryzer and Duane Kuiper were 3-4.

The A's, now in second place, take Thursday off before welcoming Boston, Baltimore and New York for a 10-game homestand.

WED JUN 4

OAK_____4___11___0
CLE_____3___12___0

Season record 29-21, 2nd place in AL West, 1 1/2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

Tony Armas' solo homer (10) in the bottom of the 8th broke a 1-1 tie. The A's added another and beat Boston 3-1 for their 9th straight win. Matt Keough went the distance and improved to 5-2. Dennis Eckersley pitched into the 8th inning and took the loss, falling to 5-5. For the A's, Dave Revering was 2-3 with an RBI and Wayne Gross was 2-3. Fred Lynn went 3-3 with 2 doubles for the Red Sox. The powerful Boston lineup was hindered by a stiff breeze blowing in from left field in the Coliseum. Armas' 8th-inning blast (362 ft) just cleared the wall in left, over the glove of a leaping Jim Rice.

FRI JUN 6

BOS_____1___10___0
OAK_____3___10___1

Former Oakland outfielder Claudell Washington was traded from the White Sox to the Mets for a minor leaguer today. Washington, who was batting .268 with 3 home runs and 13 RBI, joined the A's as a 19-year-old teenager in 1974 and was a member of their 3rd straight World Championship team. He played with the A's through 1976.

[motnahp]

Jim Rice homered twice (16,17) and the Oakland bullpen gave up the lead, as Boston snapped the A's 9-game winning streak, outlasting the green & gold 9-8. Rice had 5 RBI on the game. Oakland relievers Bob Lacey and Jeff Jones (1-1) combined for 2 1/3 innings, allowed 3 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Starter Mike Norris was touched up for 6 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. Dick Drago (3-1) picked up the win in relief, while Tom Burgmeier notched his 9th save.

The A's pounded out 17 hits in the losing effort. Rob Picciolo smacked his first homer, a 2-run shot. Tony Armas also homered (11) and drove in a pair. Rickey Henderson was 3-5 and stole 3 bases. Mike Edwards went 3-4 with 2 RBI, and Mike Heath was 4-5 with an RBI.

SAT JUN 7

BOS_____9___10___0
OAK____10___17___0

[motnahp]

Rob Picciolo's RBI single in the 7th inning broke a 2-2 tie. Wayne Gross added an RBI single in the 8th, as the A's nipped the Red Sox 4-2. Carlton Fisk had a 2-run double for Boston. Steve McCatty went the distancce and improved to 5-4. Boston starter Steve Renko fell to 5-4. Tony Armas was 2-4 at the plate and Mike Edwards was 2-4 with an RBI. The A's used their speed on the bases to manufacture runs, as Rickey Henderson (39), Dwayne Murphy (11) and Edwards (7) all recorded successful steals.

After taking the series from the powerful Red Sox, the A's will entertain the Baltimore Orioles for a 3-game series.

SUN JUN 8

BOS_____2___4___0
OAK_____4___9___0

Season record 31-22, 2nd place in AL West, 2 GB 1st place Minnesota

[motnahp]

The Orioles pounded the A's, turning a 2-1 lead into a 14-1 rout with 2 runs in the 7th, 7 runs in the 8th, and 3 more in the 9th. The game was stopped by the umpires twice, due to fans littering the field with cups, programs, and other items. With one out in the 8th, play was stopped for 12 minutes after Oakland reliever Dave Beard issued a bases-loaded walk to Al Bumbry, making the score 8-1. After Eddie Murray flied out, Ken Singleton cleared the bases with a double, making it 11-1.

Rick Lysander came on to pitch the top of the 9th and fared no better. With two outs, Lysander also walked Bumbry with the bases loaded. Fans littered the field again and play was stopped for almost 10 minutes. After an Eddie Murray single made the score 13-1, Lysander issued a bases-loaded walk to Ken Singleton.

Mike Flanagan went the distance and improved to 7-4, allowing only a Wayne Gross homer (5) in the bottom of the 2nd. Rick Dempsey was 4-5, including a 2-run homer (5). He drove in 4. Al Bumbry "drove" in 3 runs without the benefit of a hit. Along with his two bases-loaded walks, he added an RBI groundout. Doug DeCinces was 4-6, Kiko Garcia was 3-6 with 2 RBI, and Ken Singleton went 2-5 with 4 RBI. Oakland starter Brian Kingman fell to 5-2.