The Oakland Athletics might have blown their last chance to hang around the 2010 AL West playoff chase due to an ill-timed implosion by their bullpen. The A’s led 3-1 heading into the eight inning and a win would have guaranteed they would be no worse than seven games back of the Rangers heading into their upcoming four game set.
However, the A’s overworked bullpen couldn’t close it out. Boof Bonser gave up a couple bloop singles, one of which scored. The ninth inning saw Brad Ziegler give up punch-hit RBIs to former Oakland A’s Mark Kotsay and Mark Teahen. Those RBIs gave the White Sox a 4-3 lead, which their bullpen would lock up in the ninth.
The A’s welcome in the division leading Texas Rangers tomorrow for a four-game set at the Coliseum. The Rangers finish off their series at the Angels tonight. A win would move them to eight games up with eleven to go. A Rangers loss would keep the A’s seven back with a faint flicker of hope.