The Oakland A’s extended their winning streak to three games as they defeated the Chicago White Sox 2-1 in ten innings. Although Mark Buehrle carried a no-hitter into the sixth and held the A’s to two hits and one walk over eight innings, it was not enough as Oakland’s bullpen helped them outlast the Pale Hose.
Buehrle and Dallas Braden were matching up as only the 21st contest between former perfect game pitchers, and the game lived up to their perfect history. Braden held the White Sox to one run over six innings, while Buehrle was dominant through eight innings. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen went to closer Matt Thornton in the ninth inning, but he was undone by his defense. He gave up a leadoff double to shortstop Andy LaRoche and then got Coco Crisp to line out to first. Daric Barton then hit a deep shot to left fielder Juan Pierre that should have been the second out. Pierre misplayed the ball and it allowed pinch-runner Cliff Pennington to score from second and tie the game. The A’s added a Kurt Suzuki homerun in the tenth inning, which was enough for Brian Fuentes to nail down the victory.
One could easily argue that Tyson Ross was the player of the game. Ross was called up to fill Michael Wuertz’s roster spot after Wuertz went on the DL last week. Ross lost out in the battle for the fifth starting pitcher position and was expected to remain stretched out in Sacramento. In his first start since returning to Oakland, Ross went three innings, giving up no runs, one hit and one walk, while striking out four White Sox.
It’s clear that for now the A’s offense will not be putting a ton of runs on the board on a consistent basis. The starting pitching will have to keep games close enough to get the bullpen out there and keep it close enough for the team to scratch a couple runs across the board. This probably won’t work all season, but it buys the offense time to get in gear. For now the A’s are back to .500 and in position to win this series.
The two teams return tomorrow at 5:10pm pacific with newly extended Trevor Cahill facing off in a battle of aces with Edwin Jackson. The game will once again be broadcast on CSN California.