Game One: Angels 7, Mariners 5 (11 innings)
WP: Ryan (1-0)
LP: Vargas (0-1)
HR: B Oliver (1)
Save: Sells (1)
Game Two: Angels 4, Mariners 1
WP: Singer (1-0)
LP: Rowland-Smith (0-1)
HR: Beltre (1)
Game Three: Mariners 7, Angels 2
WP: Snell (1-0)
LP: Wright (0-1)
HR: F Gutierrez (1)
Game Four: Angels 2, Mariners 1
WP: Ryan (2-0)
LP: Bedard (0-1)
Game Five: Mariners 6, Angels 2
WP: F Hernandez (1-0)
LP: Singer (1-1)
Game Six: Mariners 5, Angels 1
WP: Fister (1-0)
LP: R May (0-1)
HR: Suzuki (1), Sweeney (1)
Game Seven: Mariners 1, Angels 0
WP: Batista (1-0)
LP: Ryan (2-1)
Save: Aardsma (1-)
Seattle overcame a three-games-to-one deficit, holding the Angels to a total of three runs over the final three games.
The opening matchup -- Nolan Ryan vs. Felix Hernandez -- figured to be a pitching duel. Instead, it was the highest scoring affair of the series, with the two teams each scoring five runs in the first four innings. King Felix left after five innings, but the Ryan Express kept going through 10 innings. The Angels broke through in the top of the 11th for two runs on singles by Ken Berry, Jeff Torborg, Richie Scheinblum and Sandy Alomar.
Bill Singer went the distance in the second game, holding the Mariners to one run on six hits. Vada Pinson hit a bases-clearing triple in the eighth to break a 1-1 tie.
The series moved from Safeco Field to the Big A in Anaheim, and Ian Snell and four relievers got the M's their first in in Game Three. Franklin Gutierrez had four hits, three runs and two RBIs, with a homer and two doubles, to power the Seattle offense against Clyde Wright. Snell went five innings for the win.
Ryan overpowered Seattle in Game Four, striking out 11 men in his five-hit complete game win. Both runs California got off Eric Bedard were unearned; Torborg led off the sixth with a single, and two outs later Jack Wilson booted Vada Pinson's grounder. Frank Robinson followed with a double, and Pinson scored from first.
One win from advancing, the Angels bats fell silent. Hernandez allowed one run on six hits in eight innings in the final game in Anaheim, while Singer gave up four runs in a disasterous sixth inning that featured two errors and a fly ball that Scheimblum played into three bases.
The series moved back to Seattle for Game Six, and the M's went deep twice against loser Rudy May, with Ichiro Suzuki's two-run homer in the eighth giving Seattle some margin. Mike Sweeney had a solo homer in the fourth Doug Fister allowed three hits in 6.1 innings for the win.
Seattle ran a bullpen game in the finale against Ryan, with Mark Lowe allowing one hit in three innings. The M's scored in the first when Ichiro scored from first on Jose Lopez's two-out double, and that was all the scoring for the contest. Miguel Batista, Jason Vargas and Sean White divied up the next five innings, and David Aardsma finished for the save.
Player availability: Lowe should not pitch in the first two games of Round Two. Adrian Beltre is injured and unavailable until Game Four. Russell Branyan is injured and unavailable until Game Three.
Projected rotation: Hernandez-(Rowland-Smith)-Snell-Bedard-(Hernandez)-(Fister)-(??). Under the Pasqual Perez rule, Hernandez is the only M's pitcher allowed to make more than one start in a series.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Thursday, May 7, 2020
Stat break: 2019 Tampa Bay Rays
Hitters
Name AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SB Avg,
Adames 23 1 5 1 1 0 0 0 0 .217
Choi 13 3 4 5 0 1 1 1 0 .308
Choi 13 3 4 5 0 1 1 1 0 .308
d'Arnaud 10 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .100
Y Diaz 15 1 2 3 0 0 0 3 0 .133
A Garcia 21 1 9 4 0 0 1 3 1 .429
Heredia 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Heredia 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Kiermaier 23 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .130
B Lowe 7 3 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 .429
Meadows 23 7 11 9 3 0 2 2 1 .478
Pham 22 3 4 1 0 0 0 5 0 .182
Pham 22 3 4 1 0 0 0 5 0 .182
Robertson 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Sogard 12 7 5 3 1 0 3 2 0 .417
Wendle 6 1 1 1 0 0 1 2 1 .167
Zunino 10 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200
Pitchers
Name G GS IP H R ER BB K Sv. W L ERA
Alvarado 3 0 3 2 3 3 4 4 0 0 0 9.00
Beeks 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0. 0 4.50
D Castillo 4 0 5 4 1 1 1 6 0 0 0 1.80
Chirinos 1 0 5 5 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 3.60
Drake 2 0 4 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 0 0.00
Morton 2 2 12 10 4 3 3 13 0 1 1 2.25
Pagan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Poche 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 4.50
Beeks 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0. 0 4.50
D Castillo 4 0 5 4 1 1 1 6 0 0 0 1.80
Chirinos 1 0 5 5 2 2 0 3 0 0 0 3.60
Drake 2 0 4 0 0 0 2 4 0 1 0 0.00
Morton 2 2 12 10 4 3 3 13 0 1 1 2.25
Pagan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Poche 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 4.50
Snell 2 2 12.6 6 1 1 0 16 0 2 0 0.71
Stanek 3 0 1.3 4 3 3 1 1 0 0 0 35.91
Yarbourgh 1 1 5 5 1 1 0 4 0 0 1 1.80
Yarbourgh 1 1 5 5 1 1 0 4 0 0 1 1.80
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
Stat break: 2019 Kansas City Royals
Hitters
Name AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SB Avg,
Cuthbert 14 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .143
Dini 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Dini 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Dozier 17 2 4 3 1 0 1 2 0 .235
Gallagher 11 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273
A Gordon 23 2 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 .130
Hamilton 18 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 .056
Hamilton 18 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 .056
N Lopez 8 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .250
Merrifield 23 2 8 3 4 0 1 1 2 .348
Mondesi 25 2 7 3 1 0 0 0 1 .280
O'Hearn 7 2 2 3 0 0 1 1 0 .286
Soler 20 3 2 3 1 0 1 2 0 .100
Starling 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
Viloria 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Starling 9 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .222
Viloria 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Pitchers
Name G GS IP H R ER BB K Sv. W L ERA
Barlow 2 0 2.3 2 3 3 3 5 0 0 0 11.59
Duffy 2 2 14 13 7 7 1 11 0 0. 2 4.50
Hill 4 0 2.3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Junis 2 2 12.3 13 7 7 6 10 0 1 1 5.11
Keller 1 1 7.6 4 0 0 3 6 0 1 0 0.00
Kennedy 2 0 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 0 1 13.50
Lopez 2 0 3.6 6 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 4.90
Duffy 2 2 14 13 7 7 1 11 0 0. 2 4.50
Hill 4 0 2.3 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Junis 2 2 12.3 13 7 7 6 10 0 1 1 5.11
Keller 1 1 7.6 4 0 0 3 6 0 1 0 0.00
Kennedy 2 0 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 0 1 13.50
Lopez 2 0 3.6 6 2 2 1 2 0 0 0 4.90
McCarthy 1 0 0.6 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 13.43
Montgomery 1 1 4 4 4 3 3 5 0 0 0 6.75
Montgomery 1 1 4 4 4 3 3 5 0 0 0 6.75
Peralta 3 0 3 4 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 9.00
Dixie bracket: 2019 Rays defeat 2019 Royals in six games
Game One: Rays 4, Royals 0
WP: Morton (1-0)
LP: Junis (0-1)
HR: A Garcia (1)
Game Two: Rays 6, Royals 1
WP: Snell (1-0)
LP: Duffy (0-1)
HR: Sogard 2 (2), Meadows (1), d'Arnard (1)
Game Three: Royals 4, Rays 2
WP: Keller (1-0)
LP: Yarbourgh (0-1)
HR: Dozier (1), Choi (1), Wendle (1)
Game Four: Rays 11, Royals 7 (10 innings)
WP: Drake (1-0)
LP: Kennedy (0-1)
HR: Choi (2), Meadows (2), O'Hearn (1), Merrifield (1)
Game Five: Royals 5, Rays 3
WP: Junis (1-1)
LP: Morton (1-1)
Save: Kennedy (1)
HR: Soler (1), Lowe (1)
Game Six: Rays 4, Royals 0
WP: Snell (2-0)
LP: Duffy (0-2)
HR: Sogard (3)
The Tampa Bay Rays opened and closed the series with multi-pitcher shutouts, and in between generally stifled the Kansas City lineup.
Charlie Morton allowed a single to the second hitter he faced in the Tropicana Field opener. That was the only safety the Royals got all game. Ryne Stanek pitched the seventh and Oliver Drake the eighth and ninth innings for Tampa Bay. Morton walked one and struck out nine. Austin Meadows singled in two runs and also doubled and scored.
Eric Sogard hit a pair of solo homers in Game Two, the first one leading off the game, to give Blake Snell plenty of support. Meadows hit a three-run homer in the eighth to open up the margin. Snell left in the sixth inning having allowed three hits. Four Rays relievers allowed one hit apiece.
The series shifted to Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, and Brad Keller did unto the Rays as Morton and Snell had to the Royals: 7.2 scoreless innings with five hits allowed. Ryan Yarborough threw five scoreless innings but left after consecutive doubles by Aldaberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield to open the sixth. Hunter Dozier hit a three-run homer in the eighth, and solo homers by Ji-Man Choi and Joey Wendle in the ninth weren't enough.
Tampa Bay trotted out the opener strategy in Game Four. Colin Poche gave up a homer in the first to Merrifield, then gave way to Yonny Chirinos, who allowed two runs in five-plus innings. But Stanek didn't retire any of the three men he faced in the eighth, and the game was tied after that frame. Meadows hit his second three-run homer of the series in the 10th, this one off Kansas City closer Ian Kennedy, and Oliver Drake threw two scoreless innings for the win.
The Royals forced the series back to Tampa Bay by beating Morton in Game Five. Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in the third; he also doubled and scored in the eighth. Jakob Junis gave up a pair of runs in the first but followed with five scoreless innings to get the win.
Snell allowed three hits in seven innings in Game Six, while Sogard again led off the game with a homer off Danny Duffy. Meadows doubled and scored in Tampa Bay's two-run fourth, and Diego Castillo and Emilio Pagan each faced the minimum three batters in the eighth and ninth to wrap up the series.
Player availability: With two days off, Tampa Bay's bullpen will be rested for the second round.
Projected rotation: Morton-Yarbourgh(?)-Chirinos(?)-Snell-(Morton)-(Yarbourgh)-(Chirinos). Openers are possible in the Yarbourgh and Chrinos "starts"
WP: Morton (1-0)
LP: Junis (0-1)
HR: A Garcia (1)
Game Two: Rays 6, Royals 1
WP: Snell (1-0)
LP: Duffy (0-1)
HR: Sogard 2 (2), Meadows (1), d'Arnard (1)
Game Three: Royals 4, Rays 2
WP: Keller (1-0)
LP: Yarbourgh (0-1)
HR: Dozier (1), Choi (1), Wendle (1)
Game Four: Rays 11, Royals 7 (10 innings)
WP: Drake (1-0)
LP: Kennedy (0-1)
HR: Choi (2), Meadows (2), O'Hearn (1), Merrifield (1)
Game Five: Royals 5, Rays 3
WP: Junis (1-1)
LP: Morton (1-1)
Save: Kennedy (1)
HR: Soler (1), Lowe (1)
Game Six: Rays 4, Royals 0
WP: Snell (2-0)
LP: Duffy (0-2)
HR: Sogard (3)
The Tampa Bay Rays opened and closed the series with multi-pitcher shutouts, and in between generally stifled the Kansas City lineup.
Charlie Morton allowed a single to the second hitter he faced in the Tropicana Field opener. That was the only safety the Royals got all game. Ryne Stanek pitched the seventh and Oliver Drake the eighth and ninth innings for Tampa Bay. Morton walked one and struck out nine. Austin Meadows singled in two runs and also doubled and scored.
Eric Sogard hit a pair of solo homers in Game Two, the first one leading off the game, to give Blake Snell plenty of support. Meadows hit a three-run homer in the eighth to open up the margin. Snell left in the sixth inning having allowed three hits. Four Rays relievers allowed one hit apiece.
The series shifted to Kaufmann Stadium in Kansas City, and Brad Keller did unto the Rays as Morton and Snell had to the Royals: 7.2 scoreless innings with five hits allowed. Ryan Yarborough threw five scoreless innings but left after consecutive doubles by Aldaberto Mondesi and Whit Merrifield to open the sixth. Hunter Dozier hit a three-run homer in the eighth, and solo homers by Ji-Man Choi and Joey Wendle in the ninth weren't enough.
Tampa Bay trotted out the opener strategy in Game Four. Colin Poche gave up a homer in the first to Merrifield, then gave way to Yonny Chirinos, who allowed two runs in five-plus innings. But Stanek didn't retire any of the three men he faced in the eighth, and the game was tied after that frame. Meadows hit his second three-run homer of the series in the 10th, this one off Kansas City closer Ian Kennedy, and Oliver Drake threw two scoreless innings for the win.
The Royals forced the series back to Tampa Bay by beating Morton in Game Five. Jorge Soler hit a three-run homer in the third; he also doubled and scored in the eighth. Jakob Junis gave up a pair of runs in the first but followed with five scoreless innings to get the win.
Snell allowed three hits in seven innings in Game Six, while Sogard again led off the game with a homer off Danny Duffy. Meadows doubled and scored in Tampa Bay's two-run fourth, and Diego Castillo and Emilio Pagan each faced the minimum three batters in the eighth and ninth to wrap up the series.
Player availability: With two days off, Tampa Bay's bullpen will be rested for the second round.
Projected rotation: Morton-Yarbourgh(?)-Chirinos(?)-Snell-(Morton)-(Yarbourgh)-(Chirinos). Openers are possible in the Yarbourgh and Chrinos "starts"
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Stat break: 1973 Oakland A's
Hitters
Name AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SB Avg,
J Alou 15 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 .267
Andrews 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 .333
Andrews 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 .333
Bando 22 3 4 1 1 0 0 2 0 .182
Campaneris 24 3 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 .083
Carty 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Fosse 13 2 4 0 3 0 1 0 1 .308
Fosse 13 2 4 0 3 0 1 0 1 .308
Green 9 0 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 .222
Jackson 24 2 6 4 0 0 1 0 0 .250
De Johnson 16 3 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 .188
Kubiak 5 1 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 .400
North 23 2 7 2 0 0 0 2 0 .304
Rudi 22 1 4 5 2 0 1 1 0 .182
Tenace 21 2 5 3 1 1 1 2 0 .238
Rudi 22 1 4 5 2 0 1 1 0 .182
Tenace 21 2 5 3 1 1 1 2 0 .238
Pitchers
Name G GS IP H R ER BB K Sv. W L ERA
Blue 1 1 8 3 1 1 3 6 0 1 0 1.13
Fingers 3 0 3.6 1 1 1 3 1 3 0. 0 2.45
Holtzman 2 2 18 7 5 5 2 12 0 1 1 2.50
Hunter 2 2 14.3 9 5 5 3 8 0 2 0 3.14
Knowles 1 0 2.6 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 6.74
Lindblad 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Odom 1 1 4.3 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0.00
Fingers 3 0 3.6 1 1 1 3 1 3 0. 0 2.45
Holtzman 2 2 18 7 5 5 2 12 0 1 1 2.50
Hunter 2 2 14.3 9 5 5 3 8 0 2 0 3.14
Knowles 1 0 2.6 2 2 2 0 2 0 0 1 6.74
Lindblad 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Odom 1 1 4.3 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0.00
Stat break: 2019 Seattle Mariners
Hitters
Name AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SB Avg,
T Beckham 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Crawford 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000
Crawford 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000
D Gordon 23 1 4 1 0 0 0 1 2 .173
Haniger 19 2 3 2 0 0 1 3 0 .158
Long 11 1 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .182
D Moore 9 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 .111
D Moore 9 1 1 3 0 0 1 0 1 .111
Murphy 12 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 .083
Navarez 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Nola 9 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 .222
Do Santana 20 3 4 3 1 0 2 2 0 .200
K Seager 23 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 .130
M Smith 17 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 .176
Vogelsbach 12 2 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .250
M Smith 17 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 1 .176
Vogelsbach 12 2 3 1 0 0 1 1 0 .250
Pitchers
Name G GS IP H R ER BB K Sv. W L ERA
Adam 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.00
Bass 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0. 0 0.00
Brennan 1 0 3.6 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0.00
Elias 2 0 2 4 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 4.50
Gonzales 2 2 12.3 15 9 7 4 4 0 0 2 5.11
F Hernandez 1 1 7.3 2 0 0 2 7 0 1 0 0.00
Kikuchi 2 2 10 13 6 6 3 7 0 1 1 5.40
Le Blanc 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Leake 1 1 5.3 6 4 4 0 2 0 0 1 6.75
Magill 2 0 2.6 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0.00
Bass 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0. 0 0.00
Brennan 1 0 3.6 1 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0.00
Elias 2 0 2 4 2 1 0 2 1 0 0 4.50
Gonzales 2 2 12.3 15 9 7 4 4 0 0 2 5.11
F Hernandez 1 1 7.3 2 0 0 2 7 0 1 0 0.00
Kikuchi 2 2 10 13 6 6 3 7 0 1 1 5.40
Le Blanc 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0.00
Leake 1 1 5.3 6 4 4 0 2 0 0 1 6.75
Magill 2 0 2.6 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0.00
Milone 2 0 2.6 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0.00
Saturday, May 2, 2020
West bracket: 1973 A's defeat 2019 Mariners in six games
Game One: A's 5, Mariners 3
WP: Hunter (1-0)
LP: Gonzales (0-1)
Save: Fingers (1)
HR: Do. Santana (1), Tenace (1), Jackson (1)
Game Two: Mariners 5, A's 3
WP: Kikuchi (1-0)
LP: Holtzman (0-1)
HR: Moore (1), K Seager (1), Nola (1)
Game Three: A's 4, Mariners 2
WP: Blue (1-0)
LP: Leake (0-1)
Save: Fingers (2)
HR: Vogelbach (1), Kubiak (1)
Game Four: Mariners 2, A's 0
WP: F. Hernandez (1-0)
LP: Knowles (0-1)
Save: Elias (1)
HR: Do Santana (2)
Game Five: A's 4, Mariners 3
WP: Hunter (2-0)
LP: Gonzales (0-2)
Save: Fingers (3)
HR: Haniger (1), Rudi (1)
Game Six: A's 5, Mariners 0
WP: Holtzman (1-1)
LP: Kikuchi (1-1)
The 1973 champions got off to a ringing start in Game One, with both Reggie Jackson and Gene Tenace hitting first ining homers in Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Catfish Hunter allowed two runs in seven innings, both scored by Domingo Santana (homer and double). Paul Lindbald threw a wild pitch to plate a run in the eighth, and Rollie Fingers relieved in the ninth to pick up the save.
Seattle hit three homers off Ken Holtzman to take Game Two. The biggest blow was a three-run shot by Dylan Moore. Kyle Seager and Austin Nola hit solo homers off Holtzman, who went the distance. Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run in six innings, after which Austin Adams and Matt Magill each tossed a scoreless frame. Closer Roenis Elias staggered through a two-run ninth, which ended with two men in scoring position on Deron Johnson's deep fly ball.
The series moved to Safeco Field, where Vida Blue and Fingers combined for a four-hitter. Ted Kubiak, filling in for the injured Dick Green, hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Mike Leake to put the A's ahead, and they tacked on two more runs in the sixth.
King Felix Hernandez reached into his days of greatness in Game Four. He allowed one hit in his first seven innings and left after allowing a one-out double in the eighth. Tommy Milone retired pinch-hitter Johnson and Bert Campaneris to end the eighth, and Elias allowed a harmless single in the ninth. Santana homered off reliever Darold Knowles for the go-ahead run in the sixth, and Mallex Smith singled in the other run in the seventh.
With the series tied at 2, Seattle took a 2-1 lead on Mitch-Haniger's homer in the fifth. But Joe Rudi homered with a man on in the sixth to put the A's in front, and Jackson singled in an insurance run in the seventh. Fingers walked home a man in the bottom of the eighth but allowed nothing more.
Holtzman, battered in the second game, was masterful in the sixth game. He kept the visitors hitless until the seventh, when Seager singled, and finished with a one-hitter. He walked two and struck out four. The A's didn't hit any homers, but got doubles from Sal Bando, Johnson, Green and Ray Fosse and a triple from Tenace as they scored five runs off Kikuchi in four innings.
Player availability: If Holtzman pitches Game Two as planned, he will lose an inning of durablity for that start.
Projected rotation: Hunter-Holtzman (with penalty)-Blue-Odom-(Hunter)-(Holtzman {no penalty})-Blue
WP: Hunter (1-0)
LP: Gonzales (0-1)
Save: Fingers (1)
HR: Do. Santana (1), Tenace (1), Jackson (1)
Game Two: Mariners 5, A's 3
WP: Kikuchi (1-0)
LP: Holtzman (0-1)
HR: Moore (1), K Seager (1), Nola (1)
Game Three: A's 4, Mariners 2
WP: Blue (1-0)
LP: Leake (0-1)
Save: Fingers (2)
HR: Vogelbach (1), Kubiak (1)
Game Four: Mariners 2, A's 0
WP: F. Hernandez (1-0)
LP: Knowles (0-1)
Save: Elias (1)
HR: Do Santana (2)
Game Five: A's 4, Mariners 3
WP: Hunter (2-0)
LP: Gonzales (0-2)
Save: Fingers (3)
HR: Haniger (1), Rudi (1)
Game Six: A's 5, Mariners 0
WP: Holtzman (1-1)
LP: Kikuchi (1-1)
The 1973 champions got off to a ringing start in Game One, with both Reggie Jackson and Gene Tenace hitting first ining homers in Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Catfish Hunter allowed two runs in seven innings, both scored by Domingo Santana (homer and double). Paul Lindbald threw a wild pitch to plate a run in the eighth, and Rollie Fingers relieved in the ninth to pick up the save.
Seattle hit three homers off Ken Holtzman to take Game Two. The biggest blow was a three-run shot by Dylan Moore. Kyle Seager and Austin Nola hit solo homers off Holtzman, who went the distance. Yusei Kikuchi allowed one run in six innings, after which Austin Adams and Matt Magill each tossed a scoreless frame. Closer Roenis Elias staggered through a two-run ninth, which ended with two men in scoring position on Deron Johnson's deep fly ball.
The series moved to Safeco Field, where Vida Blue and Fingers combined for a four-hitter. Ted Kubiak, filling in for the injured Dick Green, hit a two-run homer in the fifth off Mike Leake to put the A's ahead, and they tacked on two more runs in the sixth.
King Felix Hernandez reached into his days of greatness in Game Four. He allowed one hit in his first seven innings and left after allowing a one-out double in the eighth. Tommy Milone retired pinch-hitter Johnson and Bert Campaneris to end the eighth, and Elias allowed a harmless single in the ninth. Santana homered off reliever Darold Knowles for the go-ahead run in the sixth, and Mallex Smith singled in the other run in the seventh.
With the series tied at 2, Seattle took a 2-1 lead on Mitch-Haniger's homer in the fifth. But Joe Rudi homered with a man on in the sixth to put the A's in front, and Jackson singled in an insurance run in the seventh. Fingers walked home a man in the bottom of the eighth but allowed nothing more.
Holtzman, battered in the second game, was masterful in the sixth game. He kept the visitors hitless until the seventh, when Seager singled, and finished with a one-hitter. He walked two and struck out four. The A's didn't hit any homers, but got doubles from Sal Bando, Johnson, Green and Ray Fosse and a triple from Tenace as they scored five runs off Kikuchi in four innings.
Player availability: If Holtzman pitches Game Two as planned, he will lose an inning of durablity for that start.
Projected rotation: Hunter-Holtzman (with penalty)-Blue-Odom-(Hunter)-(Holtzman {no penalty})-Blue
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