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

[motnahp]

Mike Norris (6-11) pitched his 2nd straight complete game and the A's pounded the Angels 12-1. Wayne Gross went 2-3, including a 3-run homer (12). Mitchell Page, Dwayne Murphy, and Tony Armas all had 2 RBI. Dave Chalk went 3-4 with a double and an RBI. Dave Frost (15-8) allowed 5 runs in 4 innings and took the loss.

TUE AUG 7

CAL_____1___12___0
OAK____12___15___1

[motnahp]

The A's jumped out to a 4-0 lead against the Angels and Nolan Ryan (12-11), thanks to a 3-run homer from Jeff Newman (11) and a solo homer from Mitchell Page (12). Unfortunately, the bullpen had another implosion and California won 8-5. Brian Kingman posted 5 shutout innings, but ran out of gas in the 6th. He left with a runner on 2nd and the A's leading 4-3. Enter Matt Keough (4-12). Keough allowed a single to Carney Lansford to tie the score. Not satisfied with the tie, Keough then surrendered a home run to Joe Rudi (12) to give California a 6-4 lead. Ryan settled down and the Angels added to their lead, scoring another run off Keough and one off Dave Heaverlo to increase the lead to 8-4. Oakland chased Ryan after 8 1/3 innings, scoring once in the 9th and threatening, before Mark Clear (SV 19) came on to put out the fire. For the Angels, Dan Ford was 3-4 with an RBI. Page was 4-5 at the plate for the A's.

The A's will take Thursday off. Manager motnahp will be in contact with the Tums company, something about a new Extra-Strength product. The team will fly to Minnesota on Friday for a 3-game series against the Twins. Manager motnahp is resisting the urge to lock both Keough and Heaverlo in an airport bathroom stall. Lucky for the both of them that there is no ready talent in Tacoma.

WED AUG 8

CAL_____8___13___0
OAK_____5___12___0

Season record: 42-73, 7th place in AL West, 8 GB 6th place Seattle

[motnahp]

Rob Picciolo's 2-out double in the top of the 10th scored pinch-runner Glenn Burke with the go-ahead run and the A's survived a bottom of the 10th scare to win, 3-2. Dave Hamilton (6-5) went 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings to get the win. Angel starter Paul Hartzell (7-11) pitched into the 10th, but took the loss. In the bottom of the 10th, Hamilton walked Roy Smalley, then allowed a Ron Jackson single. Jim Todd came on and gave up a single to Jose Morales, loading the bases. Butch Wynegar flew to deep center field, where Dwayne Murphy made the catch, threw home, and nailed Smalley at the plate to end the game.

FRI AUG 10

OAK_____3___13___0
MIN_____2___11___0

[motnahp]

Glenn Adams provided all the runs Minnesota needed, as they edged the A's 4-3. Adams hit a grand slam in the 3rd inning, his 7th of the season, off Steve McCatty (8-12) went the distance in the loss. Roger Erickson (8-7) was the winning pitcher. Mike Marshall picked up his 16th save. Tony Armas was 2-4 with 3 RBI for the A's.

SAT AUG 11

OAK_____3___8___0
MIN_____4___7___0

[motnahp]

Minnesota pummeled the Oakland bullpen for 7 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning, erasing a 2-1 Oakland lead, then held on to beat the A's, 8-5. Roy Smalley was 2-4 with 3 RBI and hit his 12th homer. Jerry Koosman (16-9) went the distance for the Twins. Oakland starter Craig Minetto pitched 7 strong innings, but was pulled after a leadoff walk in the 8th. Dave Hamilton came on and allowed 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Alan Wirth chipped in, allowing 2 more runs without retiring a batter. The A's rallied for 3 runs in the 9th, but it was not enough.

The A's return home to face Toronto in a 3-game series.

SUN AUG 12

OAK_____5___11___1
MIN_____8___11___0

Season record: 43-75, 7th place in AL West, 8 GB 6th place Seattle

[motnahp]

The A's outlasted the Blue Jays 9-6 in Oakland. Mario Guerrero was 4-4 with 5 RBI to pace the A's. Glenn Burke was 3-4 with 4 runs scored and a stolen base. Tony Armas chipped in with a 3-run homer, his 24th on the season. Mike Norris (7-11) went 8 innings and allowed 4 runs. Dave Heaverlo allowed 2 runs in only 2/3 of an inning. Jim Todd came on to record his 6th save. Toronto starter Tom Underwood took the loss. Oakland manager rested lefty swingers Mitchell Page, Wayne Gross, and Dwayne Murphy against the lefty Underwood. Todd escaped a jam in the 9th, recording the final out with the bases loaded.

MON AUG 13

TOR_____6___11___2
OAK_____9___15___1

[motnahp]

Either the A's are growing up, or Toronto's bullpen also stinks. Oakland blew a 5-2 lead in the top of the 9th, then won the game in the bottom of the 9th on Dwayne Murphy's RBI double. Final score: 7-6.

Matt Keough (gulp) was on in relief of Brian Kingman, who pitched into the 8th inning. Keough retired the side in the 8th, then took the mound to protect a 3-run lead. With one out, a Mario Guerrero error allowed Rick Cerone to reach first. Luis Gomez then smacked a triple to cut the Oakland lead to 5-3. Alfredo Griffin followed with a single to make the score 5-4. Manager motnahp summoned lefty Dave Hamilton (double gulp) from the pen with lefties Roy Howell and John Mayberry due up. Howell launched Hamilton's second offering into the right field seats for his 12th homer, giving the Blue Jays a 6-5 lead. Hamilton then retired the side. Toronto brought on Tom Buskey to pitch the bottom of the 9th.

Jim Essian, batting for Guerrero, flied out. Rob Picciolo then doubled. Picciolo was 3-3 with 2 RBI on the day. Rickey Henderson came in to run for Picciolo at second base. Mitchell Page then singled to left center to tie the score. The throw to the plate was late and Page took second. Dwayne Murphy then ended the game with his double down the right field line off Buskey (0-1). Hamilton (7-6) was credited with the win.

Oakland's defense turned 4 double plays to help the cause.

TUE AUG 14

TOR_____6___11___0
OAK_____7____9___2

[motnahp]

Tony Solaita smacked a 2-run homer (3) in the top of the 9th to give Toronto a 3-2 win over the A's and avoid a sweep in Oakland. A's manager motnahp, fresh off another bullpen implosion, stuck with a tiring Rick Langford (7-13) into the 9th. Dave McKay reached on a Mike Edwards error to start the 9th. Solaita then launched Langford's 149th and final pitch over the center field fence. Jackson Todd (3-2) picked up the win in relief, while Tom Buskey retired Oakland in the bottom of the 9th for his 16th save. Oakland's runs both came in the 4th inning on solo homers by Dave Revering (9) and Jeff Newman (12).

The A's are off on Thursday, then welcome Cleveland for a 3-game series.

WED AUG 15

TOR_____3___8___1
OAK_____2___8___2

Season record: 45-76, 7th place in AL West, 7 GB 6th place Seattle

[motnahp]

The stock price of Tums rose today, as the Oakland bullpen trio of Alan Wirth, Jim Todd (2-5), and Dave Hamilton surrendered 9 hits and 8 runs in only 1 1/3 innings. Dave Heaverlo did manage two scoreless innings. The Indians scored 7 runs in the top of the 10th and buried the A's 13-7. Cliff Johnson homered twice (20 & 21). Andre Thornton (23) also homered for the Tribe. For the A's, a pair of sluggers homered twice in a losing effort. Both Mitchell Page and Wayne Gross hit their 13th and 14th homers. Rick Waits pitched into the 10th for Cleveland to improve his record to 15-12. Lefty reliever Bob Lacey should return from the DL in the next couple of days. Lacey was 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and 2 saves before his back injury. The A's will need to send someone down to AAA to make room for Lacey.

FRI AUG 17

CLE_____13___15___0
OAK_____7___10___0

[motnahp]

The Cleveland Indians again feasted on the Oakland bullpen, this time battering Matt Keough and Alan Wirth (0-1) for 9 hits and 7 runs in only 2 1/3 innings. The Indians came out on top, 9-4. Len Barker (8-12) went the distance for the Tribe, and Cliff Johnson hit his 22nd homer. Tony Armas hit #25 for the A's. Rick Manning was 4-6 with 3 RBI for Cleveland.

SAT AUG 18

CLE_____9___17___0
OAK_____4___6___0

[motnahp]

The A's avoided a sweep with a 6-5 win over the Indians. Bob Lacey returned to action and pitched 1 2/3 innings, earning his 3rd save. Mike Norris (8-11) got the win. Dave Revering was 2-4 with a 3-run homer, his 10th. Mickey Klutts was 3-4 with 2 RBI and hit his 2nd homer. Rob Picciolo went 3-3 with one RBI. Cleveland starter Mike Paxton fell to 12-7. Pitcher Alan Wirth was sent to AAA when Lacey was activated.

SUN AUG 19

CLE_____5___11___0
OAK_____6___12___1

Season record: 46-78, 7th place in AL West, 8 GB 6th place Seattle

Next up for the A's are the Detroit Tigers, in for a 3-game series.

[motnahp]

The Oakland A's won ugly, as Rick Langford (8-13) went 7 innings, allowed 6 runs on 5 homers, but picked up the win. The A's outlasted the Tigers 9-6. Jason Thompson (19,20) homered twice for Detroit. Lou Whitaker (6), Jerry Morales (4) and Lance Parrish (7) also homered. The A's touched up Dave Rozema (2-9) for 9 runs. Tony Armas (26) and Dave Revering (11) homered, while Rob Picciolo had a bases-loaded triple. Derek Bryant was 3-4 with 2 runs scored. Dave Hamilton pitched the final two innings for the A's and picked up his 7th save.

MON AUG 20

DET_____6___12___2
OAK_____9___13___1

[motnahp]

The Detroit Tigers led 9-1 in the 6th inning, then withstood an Oakland comeback attempt to win, 9-8 at the Coliseum. Oakland torched the Tiger bullpen for 6 runs in the 6th and another run in the 7th, but fell just short. Tiger relievers Dave Tobik (2 IP) and Aurelio Lopez (SV 18) shut the door. Pat Underwood (2-5) picked up the win. Brian Kingman (4-4) allowed 8 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and absorbed the loss. Lou Whitaker knocked in 4 runs for the winning Tigers and Kirk Gibson was 3-4 with 2 RBI. For the A's, Mitchell Page was 3-5, Rob Picciolo 4-5, and Tony Armas went 2-3 with 3 RBI.

TUE AUG 21

DET_____9___12___0
OAK_____8___17___1

[motnahp]

Jack Billingham fired a 6-hit shutout and Steve Kemp drove in 3 runs with a double and a sacrifice fly to lead the Tigers over the A's, 3-0. Billingham (15-7) walked none and struck out 5. Oakland starter Steve McCatty (8-13) went 6 1/3 innings and allowed 3 runs on 9 hits. It was a rare scoreless day for the Oakland pen, as the trio of Hamilton, Heaverlo, and Todd posted 2 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit.

The A's now hit the road, with stops in Cleveland, Toronto, and Detroit.

WED AUG 22

DET_____3___10___1
OAK_____0___6___0

Season record: 47-80, 7th place in AL West, 9 GB 6th place Seattle

[motnahp]

Craig Minetto (7 IP, 6-5), Dave Heaverlo (1 IP), and Dave Hamilton (1 IP, SV 8) combined to stifle the hard-hitting Indians, 2-1 at Municipal Stadium. Minetto allowed 6 hits and 6 walks, but was aided by three double plays. Twice, Cleveland DH Bo Diaz grounded into double plays with one out and the bases loaded.

THUR AUG 23

OAK_____2___9___0
CLE_____1___7___0

[motnahp]

Mike Norris (9-11) notched his 6th complete game of the season, as the A's topped the Indians. 6-1. Tony Armas was 2-3, including his 27th home run. Armas also drove in 3 runs to raise his total to 101 on the season. Wayne Garland (6-8) took the loss for Cleveland. Norris walked 6 and struck out 3. His only run allowed came on a Cliff Johnson solo homer (23).

FRI AUG 24

OAK_____6___9___0
CLE_____1___8___0

[motnahp]

The A's took their 3rd straight from the Indians, winning in exciting fashion, 3-2. Cleveland broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 8th on a sacrifice fly from Ted Cox. Rick Wise (17-11) took the 2-1 lead to the mound in the 9th, but could not hold it. Wise walked leadoff batter Dave Revering. Rickey Henderson ran for Revering and stole second base. After a Wayne Gross fly out, Henderson scored the tying run on Jeff Newman's single to right. With Newman running on the pitch, Derek Bryant grounded out, advancing Newman to 2nd. With 2 outs, Glenn Burke tripled over the head of Rick Manning in center field, scoring Newman. Dave Hamilton pitched a scoreless 9th to improve his mark on the season to 8-6.

Manager motnahp has decided to roll the dice and insert Matt Keough (4-12, 5.54) back into the rotation. He will get the start tomorrow in place of Brian Kingman (4-4, 6.31). Kingman was rocked for 9 hits and 8 runs over 5 1/3 innings in his last start on Tuesday.

SAT AUG 25

OAK_____3___5___0
CLE_____2___9___1

[motnahp]

The Oakland A's completed a 4-game sweep of the Indians, taking advantage of a strong wind out to RF and doubling up the Tribe, 12-6. Matt Keough (5-12) allowed 5 Cleveland homers, 4 of them solo shots, then got relief help from Brian Kingman, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for his 3rd save. Going deep for Cleveland were Rick Manning (4), Toby Harrah (7), Andre Thornton (24), Bobby Bonds (26) and Bo Diaz (3). For Oakland, Dwayne Murphy (13), Jeff Newman (13), Mario Guerrero (1) and Rickey Henderson (1) cleared the fences. Cleveland starter Rick Waits (16-13) allowed 3 of the homers and was charged with 7 runs in only 4 1/3 innings.

The A's get out their passports and head to Toronto for 3 games.

SUN AUG 26

OAK_____12___17___0
CLE______6___15___0

Season record: 51-80, 7th place in AL West, 7 GB 6th place Seattle

[motnahp]

The A's were done in by the dreaded one-out hit & run, as Toronto's Luis Gomez pulled the trick in the bottom of the 9th to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 win. Steve McCatty and Phil Huffman were locked in a scoreless duel until the last of the 8th, when Otto Velez launched his 17th homer of the season, giving the Jays a 1-0 lead. Mitchell Page (15) tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the 9th with a homer of his own. Balor Moore (9-8) was the winning pitcher, while Dave Hamilton (8-7) suffered the loss.

MON AUG 27

OAK_____1___12___0
TOR_____2____9___0

[motnahp]

Craig Minetto (7-5) went 8 strong innings and the A's got home runs from Mitchell Page (16), Wayne Gross (15), and Jeff Newman (14) to pound Toronto 9-1. Mark Lemongello (3-4) was charged with all 9 runs in 5 2/3 innings.

TUE AUG 28

OAK_____9___12___0
TOR_____1____6___1