The 1979 Oakland A's - (54-108)

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Here's one the A's are dominating:

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Following the All-Star break, the A's hit the road for a 3-game series in the Bronx.

Reggie Jackson's single in the bottom of the 10th scored Willie Randolph with the winning run as the Yankees edged the A's 7-6. Oakland trailed 6-3 after 8 innings, but knocked around Yankee reliever Goose Gossage in the 9th, tying the score at 6-6. Ron Davis (2-0) pitched a scoreless 10th to get the win. Dave Heaverlo (0-4) took the loss. Reggie Jackson hit his 13th homer in the game. He went 2-5 with 4 RBI. Jim Spencer (17) also homered and Chris Chambliss was 3-5. For the A's, Dwayne Murphy hit his 9th homer, and Wayne Gross was 3-5.

THUR JULY 19

OAK_____6___9___0
NYY_____7___10___0

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Derek Bryant's solo homer (7) in the top of the 10th off Catfish Hunter (13-6) gave the A's a 2-1 lead. It was followed later in the 10th by a Mitchell Page 3-run homer (9). The Yankees got two in the bottom of the 10th, but is wasn't enough, as the A's held on to win 5-3 in 10 innings. Dave Hamilton (4-4) picked up the win. Bob Lacey earned his 2nd save. Jim Spencer was 4-5 with a homer (18) for the Yankees. Jeff Newman had a solo shot (7) for Oakland. A's starter Steve McCatty went 8 2/3 innings and allowed 12 hits, but only one run. The Yankees had two runners thrown out at the plate.

FRI JULY 20

OAK_____5__7___0
NYY_____3__16___0

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The Yankees' Ron Guidry (9-7) handcuffed the A's, holding them to only 4 hits in a 2-0 shurout. Guidry walked 2 and stuck out 2. New York scored single runs in the 7th and 8th innings. Willie Randolph drew a bases-loaded walk off starter Craig Minetto (3-4) in ther 7th, then Reggie Jackson connected for his 14th homer in the 8th off Brian Kingman.

The A's now travel to Baltimore for a two game, Sunday/Monday series.

SAT JULY 21

OAK_____0___4___0
NYY_____2___7___0

Season record: 33-65, 7th place in AL West, 9 GB 6th place Seattle

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Eddie Murray singled in Kiko Garcia with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th, as the Orioles topped the A's 6-5. Tippy Martinez (6-2), while Jim Todd (2-4) took the loss.

SUN JULY 22

OAK_____5___10___1
BAL_____6___14___1

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Matt Keough and Brian Kingman combined to shut out the Orioles and the A's earned a split of the 2-game series, 4-0. The game was scoreless into the 9th inning, before the A's unloaded on the Baltimore bullpen. Tim Stoddard (3-2) allowed a leadoff double to Mario Guerrero. Glenn Burke ran for Guerrero. Rob Picciolo reached first on an error by Oriole 3B Wayne Krenchkcki. Mitchell Page drove home Burke with a single up the middle for the game's first run. Dave Ford relieved Stoddard and walked Rickey Henderson to load the bases. Dave Revering then singled up the middle to score Picciolo and make the score 2-0. Tony Armas then singled to left, scoring Page and Henderson and give the A's a 4-0 lead. Scott McGregor came on and allowed a Wayne Gross single to right field to again load the bases. McGregor then retired the next 3 batters with no further damage.

Oakland starter Keough (4-10) allowed a single and a walk to start the 9th inning. He was then replaced by Brian Kingman, who retired the next three in order to earn his second save. The A's now finish up the road trip with three games in Boston.

MON JULY 23

OAK_____4___16___1
BAL_____0____6___0

Season record: 34-66, 7th place in AL West, 9 GB 6th place Seattle

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Jack Brohamer's pinch-hit triple with no outs in the bottom of the 9th scored Tom Poquette with the winning run, as Boston edged Oakland 4-3. Oakland led 3-1 behind Rick Langford (7-11) until Jerry Remy (6) and Carlton Fisk (10) hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the 7th. Dick Drago (3-0) picked up the win in relief for the Red Sox. Wayne Gross (8) and Rob Picciolo (5) each homered for the A's.

TUE JULY 24

OAK_____3___8___0
BOS_____4__12___0

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Wayne Gross and Jim Essian both went 3-5 with 3 RBIs as the A's pounded the Red Sox 9-1. Gross and Essian hit back-to-back homers in the 1st inning to stake Steve McCatty (7-10) to an early 4-0 lead. For Gross is was his 9th homer of the season. Essian would later add a second solo shot, giving him 4 homers for the year. Derek Bryant also went 3-5 for the slugging A's. McCatty went 8 innings, allowing only a solo homer by Jim Rice (19). Allen Ripley (2-3) started and lost, allowing 7 runs in only 4 innings.

WED JULY 25

OAK_____9___15___1
BOS_____1____9___0

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Oakland beat Boston 7-5 to take the series. Oakland manager motnahp started Brian Kingman in the spot of Craig Minetto to off-set Boston's right-handed power and short LF fence. Kingman retired the first five batters before leaving the game with a minor leg injury. Minetto (4-4) came out of the pen and got the win, allowing 5 runs in 6 1/3 innings. All Boston runs came on Fred Lynn homers, #24 and #25. Dwayne Murphy (10) homered for the A's and went 3-5. Dave Hamilton pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save. Boston starter Steve Renko (8-6) was charged with the loss. Kingman is expected to miss about one week.

Oakland returns home to face the Mariners in a 3-game series, then hosts Minnesota for two games to end the month.

THUR JULY 26

OAK_____7___13___2
BOS_____5____5___0

Season record: 36-67, 7th place in AL West, 8 GB 6th place Seattle

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Mario Guerrero's two-out single in the bottom of the 10th just got through the left side of the infield, scoring Dwayne Murphy with the game-winner, as the A's won their 3rd straight game, 3-2 over the Mariners. Mike Norris went 9 1/3 innings before tiring, and was replaced by Dave Hamilton (5-4), who picked up the win. Mariner reliever Byron McLaughlin (2-7) was tagged with the loss. Bruce Bochte drove in both of Seattle's runs with a double and his 11th homer.

Before the game, the A's optioned IF Mickey Klutts to AAA and recalled P Alan Wirth. This gives the A's ten healthy arms on the pitching staff.

FRI JULY 27

SEA_____2___7___0
OAK_____3__12___0

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Seattle used 6 pitchers and held down the A's bats, winning 7-4. Julio Cruz was 4-6 for the Mariners. Dwayne Murphy had 3 RBI for the A's. Seattle starter and Former "A" Glenn Abbott left the game in the 1st inning with a shoulder problem. Roy Branch (1-0) picked up the win in relief. Oakland starter Matt Keough (4-11) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing 6 runs, 3 earned, to take the loss. Seattle's Shane Rawley came on in the 9th to earn his 16th save.

SAT JULY 28

SEA_____7___15___0
OAK_____4___6___2

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Floyd Bannister (10-6) got help from Shane Rawley (SV 17) to stop the A's 3-2. Bruce Bochte was 3-4 with an RBI for Seattle, while Mitchell Page was 2-4 with a RBI for the A's. Rick Langford (7-12) went all the way in a losing effort.

SUN JULY 29

SEA_____3___9___1
OAK_____2___8___0

Season record: 37-69, 7th place in AL West, 9 GB 6th place Seattle

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Steve McCatty and 3 relievers combined to shut down the Twins, as the A's won 4-2. McCatty (8-10) went 6+ innings, allowing only a 2-run homer to Ken Landreaux (7). Dwayne Murphy hit his 11th round-tripper for Oakland. Jim Todd, Bob Lacey, and Dave Hamilton (SV 6) turned in 3 scoreless innings of relief. Paul Hartzell (7-10) took the loss. Lacey pitched a scoreless 8th, but suffered a back injury and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. The A's recalled P Mike Morgan from AAA Tacoma.

MON JULY 30

MIN_____2___7___1
OAK_____4___7___1

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The Oakland A's ended the month of July with a bang, smacking Minnesota 10-5. Wayne Gross was 2-4, including his 10th home run, a 3-run shot. Derek Bryant (7) and Dave Revering (8) also homered. Craig Minetto (5-4) went 6+ innings and picked up the win. Rookie Alan Wirth pitched a scoreless 7th, and Dave Heaverlo pitched scoreless 8th and 9th innings on only 9 pitches. Rookie Mike Morgan failed to retire a batter in the 8th and was charged with 2 runs on 4 hits. For Minnesota, starter Roger Erickson (7-7) was roughed up for 6 runs in only 2 2/3 innings. Roy Smalley was 3-4 with an RBI.

The A's host Minnesota for one more game before enjoying Thursday off.

TUE JULY 31

MIN_____5___11___0
OAK____10___13___0

Record at the end of July: 39-69.

The Oakland A's finished the month of July with a 15-12 record!

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Mike Norris (5-11) picked up his first win since May 22nd and it was a beauty. Norris shut out the Twins on a 6-hitter, walking 2 and striking out 5. Tony Armas blasted a 3-run homer, #22 on the season. Wayne Gross (11) added a solo shot, as the A's blanked the Twins 4-0. The A's swept the 3-game series, their first such sweep of the season. Twins' starter Pete Redfern (1-3) took the loss.

WED AUG 1

MIN_____0___6___0
OAK_____4___9___1

Season record: 40-69, 7th place in AL West, 6 GB 6th place Seattle

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August 2, 1979:

Thurman Munson, 32-year-old All-Star catcher for the New York Yankees, was killed in a private aircraft crash today. At the time of his death, Munson was batting .306 with 5 home runs and 43 runs batted in. R.I.P. Thurman.

The A's sent P Mike Morgan back to AAA and recalled IF Mickey Klutts. P Brian Kingman is healed and will start Friday's game at Seattle.

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Oakland traveled to Seattle and opened up a 3-game series by pounding the Mariners 8-3. Mitchell Page's grand slam highlighted a 5-run 6th inning, which gave the A's an 8-0 lead. Page's homer was his 10th of the season and 3rd of the game off Seattle starter Floyd Bannister (10-7). Jeff Newman (8) hit a solo shot and Mike Edwards (1) drove one over the right field fence for a 2-run homer, both in the 2nd inning. Brian Kingman went 5+ innings, allowing only a Willie Horton (14) 3-run homer. Matt Keough pitched the final 4 innings for his 1st save.

FRI AUG 3

OAK_____8___14___0
SEA_____3___11___0

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Willie Horton's 2-run homer with no outs in the bottom of the 9th gave the Mariners a dramatic 8-7 win over the A's in Seattle. Oakland jumped out on top 5-0 in the top of the 3rd, but Seattle scored 6 times in their half of the 3rd off Rick Langford to go ahead 6-5. The A's regained the lead 7-6 in the top of the 5th and appeared headed for their 5th straight victory. Langford settled down and pitched into the 7th inning, before being relieved by Dave Hamilton, who retired the side in the 7th and 8th innings. Hamilton walked Julio Cruz to start the 9th, then Horton belted Hamilton's first offering over the left field wall to end the game. On the day, Willie also had a double and totaled 4 RBI. Oakland's Jim Essian was 3-3 and Dwayne Murphy hit home run #12. John Montague (4-3) picked up the win. Hamilton falls to 5-5.

SAT AUG 4

OAK_____7____8___1
SEA_____8____11___0

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Bruce Bochte homered twice to lead Seattle past Oakland 10-6. The solo homers were #s 14 and 15 for Bochte. Ruppert Jones (13) added a 2-run shot. Rookie Roy Branch improved to 2-0 for Seattle, while the Oakland starter Steve McCatty (8-11) was tagged for 7 runs in only 4 innings pitched. For the A's, Tony Armas was 2-4 with 3 RBI and hit his team-leading 23rd homer. Mitchell Page (11) also homered for Oakland. The A's return home Monday to start a brief 3-game homestand against the Angels.

SUN AUG 5

OAK_____6___7___0
SEA____10___15___0

Season record: 41-71, 7th place in AL West, 7 GB 6th place Seattle

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Bobby Grich was 3-5, including a 3-run homer (20) to lead the Angels to a 9-5 win over the A's in Oakland. Rick Miller added a triple and also had 3 RBI. Frank Tanana (10-6)shut down the A's through 8 innings, until Jeff Newman belted a grand slam in the 9th. Newman also had a solo homer earlier in the game. He knocked in all 5 of the Oakland runs. A's starter Craig Minetto (5-5) was roughed up for 9 hits and 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings. He left trailing 2-1, in favor of Matt Keough. Keough was greeted by Grich's 3-run homer, giving the Angels a comfortable 5-1 lead. Keough pitched only 2/3 of an inning and was charged with 4 runs.

MON AUG 6

CAL_____9___13___0
OAK_____5____8___1