The Oakland Athletics played the second game of their four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night at the Toronto Blue Jays. By now, the outcome seems almost routine: a 15-inning affair resulting in a 5-4 walk-off victory for Oakland.
Brandon Inge kept his hot streak going by driving in a run in the second inning with an RBI single to give the A's a quick 1-0 lead. Jonny Gomes hit a solo home run in the third inning; his 11th of the season.
The Blue Jays made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly from Rajai Davis in the top of the fourth, but the A's got that run right back in the bottom of the inning with a Chris Carter home run. Josh Reddick added what appeared to be an insurance run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly.
Oakland starter Dan Straily was great in his MLB debut, going six innings and allowing one run on six hits and one walk with five strikeouts. Grant Balfour also had one of his strongest outings of the season with two perfect innings of relief.
Things all went south in the bottom of the ninth as closer Ryan Cook blew the save with one out to go. After striking out the first two batters he faced, Cook allowed a pair of singles before giving up a Jeff Mathis homer that tied up the game, 4-4.
In the top of the 11th, Omar Vizquel hit a one-out single, which was followed by a Colby Rasmus double, but Brandon Moss made a perfect relay to Inge, who gunned out Vizquel at home.
The teams trudged along into the 15th inning -- the second such game in as many weeks for the A's. Jemile Weeks led off the inning with a triple and Coco Crisp promptly hit a sacrifice fly to end the game and give the A's their 13th walk-off win. Travis Blackley, who pitched three innings of one-hit baseball out of the bullpen, was awarded the decision.
The A's loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the tenth, but were unable to bring a run home. Perhaps even worse, Yoenis Cespedes left the game with a right wrist sprain in the top of the 11th inning. Hopefully this will not mean yet another DL stint for the Oakland outfielder.
For more on the Oakland Athletics, join the discussion over at Athletics Nation. For updates and perspective on the Toronto Blue Jays, head on over to Bluebird Banter. You can also check out everything we have to offer at Baseball Nation.
