The Oakland Athletics tasted victory for the first time in 2012 thanks in part to superb performances from Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick and the 38 year old veteran, Bartolo Colon. Colon took the mound with his health in question. The MLB journeyman and former Cy young recipient debuted his reformed stylization of pitching amongst the grandeur of the Tokyo Dome. Colon, infamous for his fiery velocity, has evidently transformed into a sagacious master of precision. His control was exceptional, finishing with 63 strikes and 23 balls, as he proceeded to retire the first thirteen batters in Seattle's lineup. He finished his outing after 8 IP with a mere 86 pitches and allowing 3 H, 1 BB, 1 ER (A HR to Smoak) and recording 6 K's strewn throughout the duration of his appearance. Oakland's two starting pitchers (McCarthy and Colon), frequently mentioned as an embarrassment as the 1 and 2 pitchers in the order, combined for a statline of 15 IP, 9 H, 1 BB, 9 K, 2 ER, 168 pitches (121 strikes) and 20 GB/5 FB. It was the first time two Oakland pitchers had begun a season with at least 7 IP and 1 or fewer ER since Dave Stewart and Bob Welch in 1988. Phenomenal is an understatement. Albeit, they were facing Seattle, but a duplication of these performances will result in a plethora of victories.
With the game in jeopardy after Colon surrendered a HR in the top of the 7th, Oakland would respond in the bottom of the frame. Yoenis Cespedes approached the batter's box with two outs and a runner on first. He readied... swung... and trotted. The Cuban sensation had hit the first HR of the season for the Oakland Athletics. And he didn't even make ideal contact... The ball rocketed to left-center and immediately boosted Oakland to a 2-1 advantage. Cespedes (Who slammed a double in the previous contest) became the first Athletics player since Geronimo Berroa in 1997 to begin the season with an XBH in the first two games of the season. The international superstar hit 2-6 with a 2B and a HR in 7 plate appearances.
After the Cespedes HR, Reddick then bashed a solo shot to right. Extending the Oakland lead to 3-1. Reddick had hit a double earlier in the game and had two XBH stolen from him by Mike Carp in the previous outing.
Donaldson proceeded to record his first single after the AB as did Ka'aihue... In the 8th, Jonny Gomes destroyed an offering to left-center making the lead 4-1 and made it a 3 HR contest for the Athletics.
Balfour entered his first save situation in the 9th, and despite throwing more balls than strikes, forced Seattle in to 2 groundouts and recorded a strikeout as well, earning his first save of 2012.
The paucity of Oakland's offense was blatantly obvious throughout the series, going 1-14 with RISP in the initial game and recording a mere 2 hits within the first 6 innings of the second game, however, the 7th and 8th innings truly illustrate the palpable potential within the Oakland clubhouse. And yes, Ariel Preito, the interpreter for Cespedes and Colon was flustered by the amount of translating that occurred afterwards...
Oakland will embark in an exhibition against Sacramento on Saturday and then proceed to engage in a three game series serving as calibration against SF. They'll open up against Seattle yet again on April 6th.
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