A’s take 2 of 3 from Twinkies to save fading playoff hopes

9/27 – 9/29 | Oakland Coliseum

GAME 1 – A’s 7, Twins 3

The Twins jumped out and scored 3 quick runs off of John “Blue Moon” Odom in the first, but Odom righted his ship and shut Minnesota out the rest of the way.  While Odom was righting his ship the stagnant Oakland offense resurrected itself.  A solo run in the bottom of the 4th came off the bat of Reggie Jackson’s bat.  With the score 3-1 the A’s unloaded on Twin starter Mike Smithson with 4 huge runs in the bottom of the 6th and never looked back.  Campy Campaneris bunted his way on with 1 out when Twin catcher Dave Engle booted the ball.  John Donaldson struck out looking for the second out of the inning.  Camp stole 2nd then scored on a Danny Cater single to make it 3-2 Minny.  Smithson tried pitching around Reggie, who shortened his swing and served one into center.  Sal Bando doubled off the left field wall to score Cater and tie the game at 3.  Rick Monday followed suit with a 2 run double of his own to put the A’s up by 2.  Oakland added 2 solo insurance runs in the 7th and 8th to win by 4.

GAME 2 – A’s 4, Twins 1

Minnesota scored first with a solo run in the second off of A’s starter Jim Nash (6-3, 3.03).  That unearned run would be the only run the Twins would post.  In the bottom of the 4th Sal Bando doubled home John Donaldson.  Rick Monday followed that up with a run scoring ground out to second.  Two innings later Oakland scored 2 more off of Twin starter John Butcher (3-4, 3.78), when Reggie hit his 11th homer of the season.  Danny Cater was on second with a lead off double when Reggie hit his tape measure clout.  Minnesota never threatened Nash, who won his 6th straight decision after dropping his first 3 to start the season.

GAME 3 – Twins 2, A’s 0

Oakland had the option to start Catfish Hunter on 3 days rest or go with Chuck Dobson (5-3, 3.27).  Dobson was the logical choice because, in the event the A’s need a play in game for the Wild Card or the division having Hunter on the hill would be a no-brainer.  As it turned out it wouldn’t have mattered if Cy Young himself was on the hill, because the A’s were unable to score off of Twin starter Frank Viola (3-3, 2.68) and reliever Pete Filson.  Due to a hour plus rain delay in the second inning, both starters were destined to not make it through the 5th.  Kudos to both pens for being stout !  Minnesota scored solo runs in the 2nd and the 4th and that’s all they needed.  In the second Dobson uncorked a wild pitch which moved both runners (Mickey Hatcher and Tim Teufel) up a base.  Houston Jimenez followed that with an RBI single for run #1.  In the fourth Jimenez, who normally is not known for his hitting prowess, singled home Tom Brunansky to give the Twin hurlers all they needed on the final day of the season.