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Hot A's bats enRich Harden
By Joe Stiglich, STAFF WRITER
May 12, 2008
ARLINGTON, Texas - There's a team-wide belief that when Rich Harden is on the mound, the A's have a great chance to win. Harden came off the disabled list Sunday to make his first start in nearly six weeks, but was hardly his usual dominant self.
Fortunately for the A's, they found lots of avenues to victory in a 12-6 thumping of the Texas Rangers that helped them avoid the broom at Rangers Ballpark.
They utilized some power - Emil Brown crushed a three-run homer that measured 424 feet during a four-run first inning, and Daric Barton added a two-run shot in the ninth.
And they also created some uncharacteristic havoc on the basepaths, including Bobby Crosby's improvised steal of home on a first-and-third situation that gave them the lead for good in the seventh.
"We got a little bit lucky (on the bases), but sometimes when you're aggressive you force the other team's hand," second baseman Mark Ellis said. "It's nice to do that every now and then."
Afterward, the A's packed their bags and headed to Cleveland to continue this nine-game road trip as sole owners of first place in the American League West. They hope to maintain that status with Harden as a regular member of the rotation.
The right-hander, coming back from a strained subscapularis muscle under his right shoulder, lasted just 3 innings and threw 90 pitches as the Rangers worked him deep into counts. He walked four and surrendered eight hits and five earned runs, numbers that didn't concern A's manager Bob Geren to alarge degree.
"The important thing is that we won the game," Geren said. "Secondly, (Harden) was healthy and felt great. His stuff was there, and I'm sure he'll be sharper each time out."
Texas scored all its runs off Harden with two outs. There were softly hit balls that found holes early, with the Rangers getting better wood on the ball as the game went on. Though Harden's command wasn't always there, his velocity was. He topped out at 97 mph on the stadium radar gun.
"Obviously I didn't get many innings in, and I gave up some runs, but overall I felt good," he said. "One thing I didn't want to do with a four-run lead was come out and give up runs. But the guys came back."
He said fatigue began setting in by the third inning. He left in the fourth trailing 5-4.
"When you haven't pitched for a while, it's tough to simulate the conditioning you need as a starter," Harden said. "It's still not the same as going out and pitching."
His next start is scheduled for Saturday in Atlanta, where he could be matched up against former A's pitcher Tim Hudson, depending on how the Braves' rotation sorts out after they were rained out Sunday.
The A's stole five bases in the game, their highest total since swiping five July 23, 1995, against Cleveland. Four of those came on two double steals, the most pivotal coming with runners on the corners and no outs in the seventh. Texas reliever Franklyn German executed a fake-to-third, throw-to-first move, as Ellis broke for second on a straight steal attempt. With Ellis caught in a rundown, Crosby, running at third, broke for home and slid in safely ahead of first baseman Frank Catalanotto's throw to put the A's up for good, 7-6.
Brown had four RBIs to give him 33 for the season, second in the AL behind Texas' Josh Hamilton, who has 39.
Ellis, who entered the game in a 3-for-25 slump, went 3-for-5. But he left the game after tweaking his left hamstring while rounding first on his second double of the day in the ninth.
His availability for Tuesday's series opener against the Indians is unknown.
"I felt a little tug rounding first base," Ellis said. "I've pulled a hamstring before, and this was nothing like that."
How they scored
A's first: With one out, M.Sweeney was hit by a pitch. Cust doubled, M.Sweeney to third. Thomas singled, M.Sweeney scored, Cust to third. E.Brown homered to center, Cust scored, Thomas scored. A's 4, Rangers 0.
Rangers first: With two outs, Hamilton doubled. Bradley doubled, Hamilton scored. A's 4, Rangers 1.
Rangers second: Saltalamacchia walked with one out. Vazquez singled, Saltalamacchia to second. Kinsler singled, Saltalamacchia scored. A's 4, Rangers 2.
Rangers third: Murphy singled with two outs. On Harden's wild pitch, Murphy to second. Boggs walked. Catalanotto walked, Murphy to third, Boggs to second. Saltalamacchia singled, Murphy scored, Boggs scored, Catalanotto to third. Saltalamacchia was out, right fielder E.Brown to first baseman M.Sweeney to shortstop Crosby. A's 4, Rangers 4.
Rangers fourth: Kinsler doubled with one out. Witht two outs, Hamilton tripled, Kinsler scored. Rangers 5, A's 4.
A's sixth: Hannahan walked. On wild pitch, Hannahan to second. R.Sweeney walked. M.Sweeney infield single with one out, Hannahan to third, R.Sweeney to second. Cust walked, Hannahan scored, R.Sweeney to third, M.Sweeney to second. Thomas hit a sacrifice fly, R.Sweeney scored, M.Sweeney to third. A's 6, Rangers 5.
Rangers sixth: Kinsler singled with one out. Kinsler stole second, on second baseman Ellis' throwing error, Kinsler to third. Young singled, Kinsler scored. A's 6, Rangers 6.
A's seventh: Crosby doubled. Ellis singled, Crosby to third. Crosby stole home and Ellis stole second. Hannahan singled, Ellis to third. R.Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly, Ellis scored. A's 8, Rangers 6.
A's eighth: Cust walked with one out. Davis running for Cust. Davis to second. E.Brown singled, Davis scored. A's 9, Rangers 6.
A's ninth: Ellis doubled. Murphy running for Ellis. Hannahan walked, Murphy to second. Murphy stole third. Hannahan stole second. On Saltalamacchia's error, Murphy scored. R.Sweeney walked. Suzuki grounded into a double play, R.Sweeney out. Barton homered, Hannahan scored. A's 12, Rangers 6.
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