So I couldn't ask for a better opportunity. The A's were playing a Sunday afternoon contest in mid-September, the last game of the season at home, the A's could clinch the division with either a win or a Rangers loss and Sonny Gray was pitching so I got to see him pitch after missing him in AAA at Colorado Springs. I got my value deck ticket ($16 but included a $6 concessions/merchandise voucher) and headed across the bay to Oak town.
The Rangers game started earlier in the day so everyone among the 30,000 in attendance was keeping a close eye on the scoreboard along with their cell phones leading up to the game. When the first pitch occurred for the A's it was scoreless between KC and Texas.
The situation took an early toll on my finger nails. The Twins took a 1-0 lead over the A's in the first inning thanks to an Oakland error and then the A's went three and out. Meanwhile it was still 0-0 in the late innings in Kansas City. The next inning made me feel much better. The A's put a six spot on the board in the bottom of the second, all coming with two outs. The nerdman Eric Sogard blooped a two-run single, cereal lover Coco Crisp jacked a three-run shot to right and MVP Josh Donaldson doubled in a run. Crisp and Donaldson have been red hot and a big reason for the A's excellent September. Now I am feeling much better.
The next thing you know the crowd is going crazy in the top of the third. Not because the A's are up 6-1 but because Justin Maxwell hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the 10th to lift Kansas City past Texas. This lead to the A's owning the West for the second consecutive season. Between the top and bottom half of the inning the Umpires let a small delay occur while they put the K.C. score on the manual scoreboard and show the grand slam on the video board. The crowd was going nuts. Flat out awesome!!!
With the division in hand, Oakland's offense rolled to an 11-7 victory. Highlights included a Daric Barton home run, a Jed Lowrie dinger and Josh Reddick gunning out two runners at first base. Barton has secured a spot on the postseason roster after playing tremendous since being called up to the big club. Lowrie was a great pick up in the offseason and has been consistently good. Reddick is one of the best throwing outfielders and continues to amaze with his accuracy and arm strength.
A two-run single in the ninth brought the Twins a little closer but Evan Scribner tossed three straight strikes to K Josmil Pinto and end the game. Bring on the celebration.
It was great to see one of these celebrations live for the first time after seeing them happen so many times on TV. It takes me back to storming the court after our Duke guys won the national championship in 2010. That was my favorite moment in sports for sure but this one was pretty special too.
After a quick trip to the locker room the fun really began. Players started coming out with champaign and beer bottles. Sure they put tarps up in the locker room and did that whole thing but then in typical A's fashion they paid tribute to the fans. One player ran to the bullpen and showered the fans in the first couple of rows. Several players followed in running around the stadium and spraying fans. All three outfielders in Coco, Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick went around the outfield and waved to their cheering sections. The best was Reddick who came out in his Georgia helmet with two bottles, went to right field, sprayed both bottles up in the air and pointed to the rowdy fans who have been his biggest supporters. The entire thing was awesome. I was up so high I couldn't even smell the liquor but I was rocking my Stairway to Blevins t-shirt and loving every minute.
The 2013 clinch was amazing and now I can't wait to get tickets to the ALDS and watch the A's win in the playoffs. Green Collar all day long.
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