A's 2, Angels 1

This game had the makings of a RISP nightmare.

First there was the runners on second and third and nobody out situation in which the A's failed to score. Then two innings later, the A's had runners on first and second with no outs and couldn't bring anyone home.

So in the bottom of the sixth inning, with the A's clinging to a 2-0 lead, Garrett Anderson singled and then Casey Kotchman doubled. I got scared. Then after Joe Blanton struck out Howie Kendrick, Geren pulled him in favor of Alan Embree. And then Maicer Izturis grounded a ball to Bobby Crosby, who threw to third trying to get Kotchman out. But he was safe! And the run scored! And I buried my face in my hands, expecting an explosion of Angel runs and another blown lead.

But Embree slammed the door on them just when it looked like they were about to blow the game open, striking out Mike Napoli and lefty killer and pinch hitter extraordinaire Robb Quinlan.

And even when the A's couldn't scrape across another run in the seventh, eighth, and ninth, it didn't matter, as Kiko Calero, Justin Duchscherer, and Huston Street breezed through the Angels lineup and didn't give the Rally Monkey a chance.

Pitching is how the west will be won, and today the A's showed that their staff is a force to be reckoned with.

Tomorrow night, it's home sweet home for the home opener in front of the Oakland faithful. It's sure to be a big crowd as Rich Harden takes the hills againt the White Sox.

GO A'S!!!