Unfortunately, one of the most entertaining Athletics campaigns in recent memory came to an abrupt conclusion on an overcast October evening in Oakland. Seth Smith's grounder completed a 6-0 defeat at the hands of Justin "Tight pants" Verlander and Detroit which resulted in a 3-2 ALDS departure. A season that saw a collection of youngsters, rag-tag castoffs, and forgotten names become the first team in baseball history to overcome a 5 game deficit with fewer than 10 games remaining in a season and win a division to accumulating the most wins since 2003. From the Bernie, a dance craze that united the clubhouse and swept across Oakland, to the 15 walk-off victories (Plus a severe whipped cream shortage...) and loose atmosphere surrounding the ballclub, 2012 has truly been a one for the ages as the Athletics became arguably one of the most improbable playoff teams in baseball history. And before we all hunker down for spring training 2013, it's time to recount the most memorable contests of 2012. In the first installment, games #22-#18 will be counted down as I try my best to reverse those frowns after Oakland's untimely elimination. Without anymore delay, let's get this started.
#22: Craziness in Colorado (June 13th)
Oakland traveled to mile high following a wasted opportunity in Arizona and still trying to forget their nasty nine game slide a week earlier. Things got off well for the green and gold after a 8-5 victory in which they blasted four bombs and allowed Ryan Cook to record his first career save. On the verge of a crucial series win, Milone took to the mound looking to continue his fabulous rookie campaign, but the Oakland offense would steal the show. After a one out Cowgill single in the first frame, things got off rapidly as former Rockie, Seth Smith, belted a HR off of one of the players that sent him to Oakland, Josh Outman. After the fireworks subsided, Tomaso took the mound only to become yet another victim to Coors Field. After two walks that loaded the bases, Todd Helton deposited a Milone fastball into the bleachers for grand slam. Adding insult to injury, Outman would smack an RBI single later in the inning to make it 5-2 after one. In the second inning, Cuddyer would wind up hitting a solo HR to extend Colorado's advantage to 6-2 and kept the score that way through three. However, in the 4th inning the Athletics rallied the slashed the deficit to a lone run after a Gomes Double, Inge single, Donaldson FC, and Moss HR. But the thorn of the day would prove to be Michael Cuddyer, as he blasted a second HR in the bottom of the 4th to swell Colorado's advantage to 8-5. Tommy surrendered three homers on the evening with 4 walks, however, he would then go 14 consecutive starts following this one with one or fewer base on balls, tying the Oakland record. After this, Oakland couldn't solve the Outman riddle in the 5th inning and looked to Jonny Gomes to knock Outman out to leadoff the 6th, which was exactly what he did, shrinking the deficit to two runs. The Athletics wouldn't tire in the 7th, as Cowgill knocked home a 7th run and put the pressure squarely on Colorado's bullpen. Nursing a 8-7 lead, the Rockies turned to their reliable closer Betancourt in the 9th and Coco Crisp promptly responded with a leadoff single. After a sacrifice and a stolen base, Crisp plated on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 8-8. But the green and gold weren't complete yet, as Seth Smith smacked a double and Reddick was IBB'd. Up next was Brandon Inge, who would slap a two run double into the left field corner and locked up a final score of 10-8 for Oakland. It would be one of seven victories when facing a 4+ run deficit for Oakland and lead to the first road sweep of the season.
#21: The Walk-Off is born (April 11th)
Oakland entered the finale against Kansas City (Their first non-Seattle opponent of 2012) in search of their first won series of the year. Things got off to a quick start for the A's with a Cespedes double to leadoff the 2nd and later scored due to a throwing error on KC's catcher, Pena, on a stolen base attempt from Yoenis. Kansas City wouuldn't quit though, as they scored in the 3rd and 4th innings off of McCarthy. But Gomes wouldn't allow the club to go down quietly, smacking his first stateside HR to grant a 3-2 lead to the good guys. In the 7th, Fuentes would blow his first save of 2012 with a Gordon HR and the score would remain the same until the 12th inning, where Butler gave the Royals a 4-3 lead and sent Broxton to the mound. After a Barton punchout, Smith reached on a gifted fielding error from Escobar and Oakland drew two straight walks to load the bases. After a game tying Crisp groundout, Cespedes would be hit by Broxton and glared at him while trotting to first (It was the 3rd HBP he sustained in his first 10 games). Gomes, the hero of the 4th inning, took to the box, readied, and took his base. Gomes would be responsible for Oakland's first walk-off of the season. They would wind up tying the Oakland record (Including postseason) for walk-offs with 15.
#20: Hicks, Weeks, and Weird Baseball (July 30th)
Oakland would head home for a crucial 10 game homestand after a 18-4 July, needing one more victory to set the Oakland record for a single month winning percentage. Facing their 4th straight AL East foe, they matched up against Tampa's ace, David Price. The white spikes inflicted the first blow, with consecutive doubles from Trogdor and Zuk in the 2nd to claim a 2-0 lead. But,a two run double from Pena tied the game in the 4th and Matt Joyce homered in the 6th to give the Rays a 3-2 lead. Things seemed bleak with Price on the mound, as he struck out the first two to leadoff the 7th. As Brandon Hicks dug in against one of he AL's best, not even he could've predicted what happened next. Hicks swung at an elevated Price offering and carried it into the RF bleachers. His game tying, opposite field HR not only proved to be one of the most important of the season, but also extended the game for an additional eight frames. Oakland set a single game strikeout record on the night with 21 and left 10 on-base in innings 9-14 including two bases loaded situations in the 9th and 10th innings. But, with mayor Jean Quan in attendance in the 15th frame and weird baseball officially underway, Inge would slap a leadoff single to start the inning. After a sacrifice and an IBB, Sogard walked to load the bases for Weeks with one away. Jemile eventually slaped a shallow fly to RF and allowed Inge to score and grant Oakland with their 12th walk-off. It was also their 9th walk-off in 17 home games, the best stretch since the 1973 Dodgers, and it gave Oakland their 19th victory (19-4) in July. It was the best month in Oakland history and the best July in MLB since the 1956 Yankees.
#19: Inge sacrifices a shoulder (August 11th)
The Athletics were walked-off on the previous night in Chicago's bandbox after a 3-0 lead for the Athletics turned into a 4-3 defeat with four solo HRs. After a back-and-fourth exchange in the first six innings, the score sat tied at 6-6 following Trogdor, Reddick, Norris and Rosales base knocks and a shaky outing from Travis Blackley. However, the true story of the contest would come with one out in the B7th. With Youkilis on base and Rios batting, a sharply hit grounder was knocked down by Inge at third to prevent an extra base hit, but arose grasping his shoulder and seemed to contort his joint back into place. After a check-up from the training staff, Inge gave the ok and stayed in the game. Afterwards, Chicago would hit a go-ahead single for a 7-6 lead, but this would prove to be short lived. Jonny Gomes launched a game tying HR in the next half frame and Cespedes reached on an error. After a Trogdor single, Inge stepped to the plate and would produce one of the most memorable moments of 2012. He would line a go-ahead opposite field double with a dislocated shoulder which gave Oakland an 8th ining advantage they wouldn't let go of. Inge would be placed on the 15 day DL and allow Josh Donaldson to showcase his improvement. Inge would return on September 1st only to tweak his shoulder on a throw and miss the remainder of the season (After his second dislocaton he also hit a two run double to RF in his final 2012 PA)
#18: Hicks starts a streak (July 18th)
After dropping their first game following the ASB, Oakland looked to salvage a series split versus Texas at the Coliseum. After a scoreless four frames, Texas finally woke and got out to a 1-0 lead against Oakland's aussie pressence in the rotation, Travis Blackley. Inge would immediately respond though with a booming HR to tie the ballgame yet again. But, unfortunately, the Rangers knocked home another bunch of runs in the following inning to make it 3-1, but this again would be brief as Reddick banged two runs in the 7th to bring it to another stalemate. After this, Brandon Hicks entered to leadoff the 9th and wasted no time in making Texas sulk off of the Coliseum field. He blasted an offering to opposite center (Which Michael Kirkman pointed at as though it would be a shallow fly ball) and gave Oakland their 1st second half walk-off. Hicks now joined Norris as Oakland became only the second team to have two players have their first MLB homers be walk-offs be walk-offs in a single season (1986 Padres). This also ignited a seven game winning streak that was pivotal towards the Athletics' historic July.
Games #17-#12 are up next.
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