This game was going brilliantly. We were winning 2-1 through the end of the 7th inning. I was at this game, and wondered at the time why Valdes came out of the game after 6 innings, having thrown only (by my count) 87 pitches. Turns out it was a blister. It’s too bad as he was pitching brilliantly.
My wife wasn’t feeling good this evening, so we left early. Right before she went to use the bathroom before we left, Dave Burba was called on to pitch. As she was leaving, I screamed out loud “That’s it – game’s over. Three run home run from Burba”. And of course, that’s exactly what happened. We left after that, but not FOR that reason, we left because my wife wasn’t feeling good, and needed to go home. So we started driving home. We hit I30 when the top of the ninth started. When we got home back into Garland, the top of the 9th had JUST finished. That’s pretty bad when you can drive from Arlington to Garland in the span of half an inning!
Anyway, I got out of there just in time, what a meltdown of epic proportions. We gave up 11 runs in the 8th & 9th. A side note is that when it all started, we were four outs away from the win. But hey, I at least got a free hat for going, eh? :)
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Chan Ho Park gave up four runs in the first inning, but shouldn’t have given up any, I think. We were “this close” to getting out of the first with no runs scored, and then bam, the A’s had four up. Given the way the season has gone, I figured the game was lost already. We did put up one in the bottom of the first (on an Arod solo HR), but I still didn’t feel good. Not until the third inning, when we put up a 5 spot, and were up 6-4. Carl Everett, who suddenly has discovered his power stroke this weekend chimed in with a massive three run HR that went over the seats in right field’s Section 44 and into the walkway.
We then pissed away the lead, and let the A’s tie it in the 6th at 6-6, and it remained that way (despite a few close calls) until the bottom of the 10th when Arod came up with the bases loaded against Billy “I still have the stupidest beard ever” Koch. Arod jacked a ball to right center field, and I figured the game was over, but it kept traveling, and he ended up with a grand slam in the 10th to win it 10-6. Was a nice finish to this one, for sure. :)

This game started off good – with a three spot in the first inning against Mark Mulder. At that time I felt that we had better hold it, because three against Mulder is an accomplishment – and I was right – he didn’t give up anything else – at least not until the 7th. In the 7th, we had fallen behind 4-3, but then we had what can only be called an explosion of epic proportions, scoring 9 runs in the 7th inning, capped off by TWO home runs by Carl Everett. That’s something that no other Ranger in history has ever done. Everett probably won’t have much longer in a Ranger uniform, but he did etch out a piece of history while he was here.
Wish I could have been there to see this in person, from what I saw on TV, it looked like a fun time that inning. :)
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We gave away the lead in the bottom of the first inning, and while we tied it back up in the top of the second, we gave it away for good, and never looked “back” after the second, when we gave up a five spot, which actually felt worse than it looked. I actually got disgusted, and turned the game off. As it was a 9PM start, and I felt we weren’t doing anything more after that (I was right), I wanted to go do some other things around the house. :)
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We picked up a win in Seattle behind the strong pitching of Kenny Rogers, also rumoured to be going to Seattle. Kenny looked great again this year, getting his 11th win. If he manages to stick with us for the rest of the season (doubtful), he’ll probably easily get 17 wins.
Anyway, we went ahead on the second pitch of the game, and never gave up the lead. Frank Catalanotto hit a home run on the second pitch over Ichiro into the stands, and we never looked back. Well, maybe we did late, when the Mariners made it 4-3, but it was still nice to get a win.

Valdes pitched great. We got no runs, lost it late. Yadda yadda yadda…
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Great pitching. Park looked great, our bullpen tried to give it away, but managed to keep it together. Great great win late.
I’d write more, but I’m busy trying to catch up with weekend work backlog and getting over being sick.
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Oh gee. We lose yet another one run game. About the only thing worth mentioning is HOW it happened – at least it was different.
Dave (can we get rid of this guy now) Burba plunked a batter with the bases loaded and the game tied in the bottom of the ninth. Sigh.

Well, what more can you say about this one except Cory Lidle? He pitched a masterpiece, giving up just one hit and one walk the whole game. Faced 28 batters total, and was brilliant. His only mistake was the double that Juan hit to lead off the eighth. After the 6th, I was actually rooting for Lidle to pitch a no hitter. Especially after we gave up a 7 spot. Figure, once you’re down like that, you might as well get a no hitter pitched against you.
Hate to lose, but when something like this is pitched against you, doesn’t matter when you give up 1 run of 50. Lidle was the name of this game.
Oh yeah, the retro uniforms were kind of goofy looking. For the first two innings, it didn’t look like the Rangers at all, but I agree with Tom Grieve, it had a very good classic feel to them. Too bad more teams don’t have uniforms like that. I think the Yankees are the only ones left doing that, aren’t they?