Saturday morning the A's and Cubs engaged in a tight, well-played ball game.
The A's jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a single and stolen base by Ryan Class; and after two outs and a walk and stolen base by Derek Rice, Jim Moore came through with a two-out two-run single.
The Cubs looked like they might answer in the bottom of the inning, but a line drive speared by Will Ferguson was turned into an inning-ending double play. Erik Samarija and Hall of Famer Ted Martin then settled into a pitcher's duel.
The Cubs were able to even the score in the bottom of the third when Jim McQuade singled, Massaroni reached on an error, Tom Maney hit a RBI single, and Mike Girard plated the tying run on a bloop single with two out.
Both pitchers kept the game fairly boring until the sixth inning.
In the top half of the inning, with Ron Massaroni on in relief of Ted Martin, Ryan Class doubled with one out and then immediately stole third. With one out and a runner on third, the Cubs brought the infield in for hot-hitting Alex Marin. Alex hit a grounder up the middle that looked like a go-ahead RBI, but Randy Craft ranged to his left, gloved the grounder, pirouetted toward home and made a perfect throw to nail the speedy Class. Even for us who are a bit jaded by seeing this kind of a play from Randy all the time, were wowed by the play. A real game-saver under pressure!!! Massaroni got the next hitter to end the rally.
The bottom of the sixth looked like it would be the last inning as a light rainfall had grown into a steady rain. Phil Gadomski led off with a walk and was pinch run for by Tom Sheperdson. Tom Maney sacraficed Shep into scoring position. Craft then grounded out to third and Girard reached on a walk. With men on first and second and two out, Andy Hoyle bounced a ball up the middle and Alex Marin dove to knock the ball down, but was unable to get anybody out. Bases were then loaded with two out. Ryan Class then ran in from center field and asked the base umpire to stop the game because the rain had gotten harder. The ump obliged, and this one was over. Tie 2-2.
I've got news for any team that has the misfortune to run into these A's in the playoffs. This is not the same team that started the season so poorly. This team is going deep into the playoffs! Good luck guys.

-- Edited by mgirard11 on Monday 26th of July 2010 07:49:12 AM