The final score says that the Marlins won by 3, but the game was closer and more tension-filled than that.
First the recap: The Marlins break the ice in the bottom of the first withh back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the first by Randy Craft and Mike Girard. The fish then put a singleton on the board in the bottom of the second on a two out RBI single by John Reel.
The A's made it a 2-1 game in the top of the third with a run on a single by Ed Class, a stolen base (by courtesy runner David Schillinger) and a two out RBI single by Jim Hicks.
The Marlins answered in the bottom of the inning on a single by Craft, a stolen base, and a couple of wild pitches to make it 3-1. Scott Travis brought the A's back to within one run in the top of the fourth with a two-out double that scored Moore, who had walked and stolen second. With only three innings left in someone's season, the game was at 3-2. The top of the fifth brought tightness to the right arm of Marlin starter, Jim Ansel. Enter Randy Craft. Randy set the A's down in order in the fifth and pitched around an error in the sixth, to keep the A's at bay.
In the bottom of the sixth was where the game was decided. The bottom three hitters in the Marlins order were due up. Bucky Kruzinski, pitching his 13th inning in three days, got the first two Marlins to fly out to left. John Reel singled to bring up the top of the Marlins order. Paul Miles doubled to put runners on second and third, still with two outs. Randy Craft followed with a single to score an important insurance run. Randy stole second leaving first base open. This brought about a meeting on the mound to discuss walking Girard to load the bases but with two outs, they decided to show confidence in their ace, and let him pitch to the batter. The next pitch was an elevated fastball that was hit hard to the right center field fence scoring Craft and Miles.
With the score 6-2 and only three outs to go, the Marlins sent Craft out to mop up, and Randy got the job done by giving up just one unearned run. SILVER MARLINS ADVANCE!

Now let me crow about some great performances:
Jim Ansel after throwing just seven innings all year, and rehabbing a hip replacement, took the ball in a huge game and limitted a very potent offense to just 5 hits and 1 walk over four innings, while striking out 3. Gutsy performance for a pitcher that didn't have his best stuff.
Curt Coons, who reinjured a very sore shoulder in in game two caught a great game again, while in considerable pain. He took his first swing of the game and the shoulder hurt so bad that he couldn't even keep his left hand on the bat. By the way, he ended up going 1-3, scoring a big run in the second.
John Reel, who would never put himself in the line-up and take a spot away from one of his players was forced to hit in the nine hole when the Marlins were only able to get ten players to the game. All he did was go 2-3 with two huge hits in the second and sixth inning rallies.
Bucky Kruzinski, throwing 14 innings in three days and doing a huge job shouldering the load for the A's.
Last, but not least, Randy Craft pitching the final pressure-packed three innings, giving up one hit and walking none. He also went 3-4, driving in one and scoring three times.

The entire A's line-up were gamers right to the last pitch. As always, they were as classy in defeat as they are in victory. If we had fourteen teams like that one, there would be no need for a code of conduct. Congratulations on a great season guys!!!