By Morris Phillips

 

If Saturday’s meeting of Athletics and Indians at Cleveland’s Progressive Field boiled down to some rudimentary mathematical equation, it would probably read like this:

Rally Squirrel to the Indians greater than Scott Kazmir to the A’s.

The defenseless, plenty scared critter that ran on the field in the third inning of the A’s 6-2 win over the Indians was more influential to the outcome than the A’s starting pitcher with the 5-1 record coming in.

Don’t believe it?  Well, do the math.  When Kazmir grew frustrated with home plate umpire Jerry Layne and his shrinking strike zone in the second inning, Kazmir fussed which earned the veteran pitcher an early shower.  Kazmir walked a batter in each of the first two innings with Layne ruling that a couple of close pitches were balls.  Then after Asdrubal Cabrera drew a free pass, Kazmir allowed Yan Gomes’ double, threw a wild pitch that allowed the Indians score a run, and then he walked rookie Jesus Aguilar.

As Aguilar trotted to first, Kazmir gestured and Layne immediately threw up the ejection sign.  Afterwards, Kazmir would say that Layne never issued a warning before throwing him out, and manager Bob Melvin rushed out of the dugout to argue that point.

Meanwhile, Kazmir took his frustration out on the nearest garbage can, and the A’s were without their outstanding, starting pitcher less than three innings in, trailing 1-0 after reliever Dan Otero induced an inning-ending double play.

Kazmir was gone, but Otero was in.  The reliever would go on to pitch three plus innings—getting the A’s through the fifth—without suffering any damage.

But while the A’s were none the worse for wear without Kazmir, all hell broke loose after Rally Squirrel’s cameo appearance in the top of third.  With John Jaso at the plate, and Coco Crisp on second after a one-out double, Rally Squirrel—or Rally Squirrel’s cousin—came running on to the field searching for something, although that something wasn’t immediately apparent.  First, he ran past center fielder Michael Bourne, and after a decision-making moment, quickly moved toward the infield. 

Progressive Field’s public address crew had seen Rally Squirrel’s act on April 21 in another impromptu appearance, and this time responded with the sounds of barking dogs on the stadium’s sound system.  That clearly spooked Rally Squirrel and he did some crazy jump on and off the rolled up tarp on the third-base side of the field.  Then with his internal clock ticking, Rally Squirrel retreated into the stands down the left field line.

Right after Squirrel’s departure, Jaso struck out, Josh Donaldson singled home Crisp, and Brandon Moss homered to put Oakland up, 3-1.

See the math?

While Saturday’s game could have been about Rally Squirrel, Kazmir, Jerry Layne or the Indians’ abysmal defense (43 errors in 43 games, which leads the AL), it really was about Otero and the A’s deep and effective bullpen.  Otero induced the double play on his entrance, threw first pitch strikes to nine of the 12 hitters he faced, and quickly got the A’s into the sixth on just 32 pitches without walking anyone.  The 29-year old right hander picked up the win and is 4-0 with a 1.78 ERA in 19 appearances.

Fernando Abad pitched the sixth, and allowed two hits and a run that got the Indians to within 3-2.  But Luke Gregerson pitched the seventh and eighth, striking out three and Sean Doolittle retired the side in the ninth.

All together, the A’s bullpen logged 7 2/3 innings on Saturday and only needed 81 pitches to finish the job.  Collectively, they stayed ahead in counts, by starting 22 of 26 batters faced with a strike.  Walks or further issues with Layne?  Nope, the A’s relievers didn’t walk anyone.

In the seventh, the A’s added on with Donaldson’s two-run triple and Moss’ RBI double.  The duo had a big day, combining for five hits and six runs batted in. 

The A’s have won seven of eight, and maintained their 3 ½ game lead in the AL West over the Angels, who blanked the Blue Jays in Anaheim on Saturday.

The A’s look for the sweep on Sunday with Jesse Chavez on the mound.  The Indians will give the ball to Justin Masterson who has a 2-2 record in nine starts thus far this season.