The Oakland A’s started off their final series of 2010 in style with an 8-1 pounding of the Seattle Mariners. Gio Gonzalez went seven strong innings and the top of the A’s lineup went 10 for 18 in guiding the A’s to victory.
Gonzalez closed out his 2010 season with his 15th victory, finishing the year 15-9 with a 3.23 earned run average. Gonzalez struck out eight to run his season total to 171, and finished off the season with 200 2/3 innings pitched. The emergence of Gonzalez is one of the many reasons Oakland A’s fans can be excited heading into 2011. The A’s head into 2011 with an incredibly deep rotation that should only get better. The twin emergences of Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill, coupled with Brett Anderson’s already proven ability and Dallas Braden’s veteran presence and the one through four on this staff is in great shape.
Another emerging player could be outfielder Chris Carter. Carter went 2 for 4 with a two-run bomb off Doug Fister in the sixth inning. Carter made his big league debut in Seattle back in August and struggled to an 0 for 33 start to his big league career. However, since then he has gone 10 for 29 (.344) with a pair of no-doubt home runs. He still has plenty to prove in the big leagues, but he’s finishing off 2010 in solid fashion and building a lot of momentum heading into 2011.
The A’s send out Trevor Cahill tomorrow looking to net his 18th victory of the season and move the A’s closer to the .500 mark.