Oakland A's Amazing Run

What a story the Oakland Athletics have become this baseball season. As we think they are getting to hot they are bound to slow down they only get hotter. Yesterday they beat the Astros 7-1 to tie them in the AL West even tying a single game record for the franchise with eight doubles in the win. The last three seasons the Athletics averaged 91 losses a season they are certainly on track for far better things this year. From Opening Day to June 15th the Athletics were 34-36, 11.5 games back in the AL West, and had -9 run differential. Now as we sit in late August they are tied in the AL West, having a 40-13 record since June 16th (that’s the best record in baseball since then both Boston and Oakland have that record), and with a 62+ run differential. They have been defying the odds in all types of ways. Even the other night Tony Sipp great bullpen piece for the Astros didn’t give up a home run all season, gave one up to Matt Olson that just so happen to be a walk off to give the Athletics a dramatic win. In the last eighteen series the Athletics are 15-1-2, winning the last 40 of their 53 games...now that is hot. Kind of reminding people of that 2002 moneyball season when they won 20 games in a row but this run might just be on right now could be something more. The offense is on but it’s the pitching that is really getting it done. At home Trevor Cahill is almost untouchable lately. Cahill is 4-0 with a 0.86 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitching at his home park in Oakland. It’s not just Cahill even Brett Anderson and Edwin Jackson have found some of their old form with them combining for a 3.17 ERA in 36 starts. However the main key to the Athletics great success is when the starters leave with a lead it stays, when the bats take a little longer than usual to get going they can still win because the Athletics bullpen has been absolutely amazing. The Athletics are 50-0 when leading after the 7th inning no other team can say that. They have only gotten that bullpen stronger with acquiring Shawn Kelley, Fernando Rodney, and Jeurys Familia at the deadline. The Athletics are 74-49 now but in the AL still need more to even clinch a wildcard spot.

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